Joe and Cristina Kessler – photo by Kevin Norris

 

by Sara Kirkpatrick  Virgin Islands Daily News

 

Friends and colleagues of former St. John residents Joe and Cristina Kessler are invited to gather for an online memorial celebration of the couple at noon Sunday. They died earlier this year.

The Kessler and Dombrowski families have asked participants to join them on Zoom and raise a glass at 12 p.m. EDT for a simultaneous, worldwide toast with a drink of their choice. Dombrowski is Cristina’s maiden name.

Following the toast, family, friends and colleagues will be able to share remarks and remembrances in smaller break-out rooms.

Joe and Cristina Kessler were well-known throughout the Virgin Islands. Joe served as president of the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park for 17 years before retiring in 2018. He also organized the Friends’ annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim, which was recently renamed in his honor.

Cristina, an activist and a writer, was best known in the territory for her children’s book “Hope Is Here,” which featured a bird that made regular migrations to St. Croix.

The couple died instantly on April 25 when a train smashed into their 22-foot RV as they were driving across railroad tracks in rural Taylorville, Ill.

The couple loved to travel and were on vacation at the time of their death. They had visited more than 100 countries, had served in the Peace Corps, and worked in Africa, Asia, and South America, according to family members.

“Two things are true about Joe and Cristina,” said Jeff Kessler, Joe’s brother. “They have family, friends and colleagues around the world, and they loved to celebrate.”