11/02/2016
In Memoriam
So many of us in Vieques, including the VCHT, lost a true friend this past week. Haydée Piñero Buck died unexpectedly in her sleep on February 4, 2016 at her home in Vieques. Haydée was well known for her support for the young people of Vieques, her love for the animals in Vieques,her passion for Puerto Mosquito, and for her legendary generosity.
There are not many people about whom one can say, "No one had a bad word to say about her", but Haydée was one of those.
When Haydée was growing up in Puerto Rico out sailing with her family, she often saw Vieques in the distance, but it wasn’t until about 30 years ago that she first came to la Isla Nena. Her father, Jésus Piñero, the first native born governor of Puerto Rico, moved to Washington as Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico when Haydée was a young girl — so her schooling took place in the US and she spent most of her adult life there. She met
and married her husband Peter Buck, worked for 20 years as a social worker among poor Puerto Rican unskilled laborers, and founded Subway restaurants all before she happened to see a small ad for Vieques in Travel and Leisure and found her way back to her roots in Puerto Rico.
What is it that drove Haydée to get involved in so many aspects of Vieques life? Hayée said, “Vieques has given me back my culture.” For many years living in the States, she was cut off from her history, but “to be reintroduced to my culture later in life” was a “joy” and in Vieques she found her identity again. She said she
was “deeply American, but to be proud and help your people is an honor.”
She served on the VCHT Board for many years and also on its Advisory Council. She was a force behind the Trust scholarship program (which now has 15 young people receiving 4-year scholarships to higher education); she helped fund the thrilling Vieques Pops concerts that allowed us all to appreciate the excellence of Puerto Rican musicians and culture. She was a founding board member of the Vieques Concert Society; she was one of the biggest supporters of the Vieques Humane Society; a proud member of the Navy League, especially its school programs; and she helped support the fledgling Montessori school in Vieques.
Oddly, she did not seek the limelight; she vastly preferred to support young, bright people with dreams of their own. Over the years she quietly supported many start-ups including the Vieques newspaper, Vieques Events, and more recently the Crab Island Rum distillery. And she mentored any number of young people as they began their careers.
Haydée must have had a secret, because she was without doubt one of the most optimistic people we all have ever met. We can hear her greeting, her booming voice, “H-e-l-l-o” she would call out, and we were always so glad to see her; her optimism and unfailing good humor were infectious.
If anyone will be much missed and often remembered it is our dear friend Haydée Pinero Buck, who taught us so much about generosity, about the glass being half full, and about loyalty and commitment to Vieques.
This is the citation on the Community Builder Award given to Haydée in 2011 at the Celebrating Vieques dinner:
For her long-term support for Vieques and many individual Viequenses. For her dedication to Vieques institutions including the Vieques Humane Society, the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust, the Montessori School, the Navy League and the Vieques Concert Society. For her passionate concern for the children of Vieques.
A waterfront gathering to celebrate Haydee’s life will be held at sunset Friday, March 11th, in Sun Bay, Vieques
