Governor de Jongh Saddened at News of the Death of Former Ambassador Henry Kimelman

Cancer Center at Schneider Regional Medical Center Named
 for Kimelman's Wife, Charlotte Kimelman

Governor John P. de Jongh Monday expressed great sadness upon learning of the death of former U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Virgin Islands businessman, hotel manager, developer and philanthropist Henry Kimelman. “Henry Kimelman’s relationship with the Virgin Islands was long lasting and in many regards, he contributed much to the development of this territory,” de Jongh said. 

The governor recalled that Kimelman served for ten years as the president of the V.I. Hotel, one of the first luxury resorts constructed after the World War. He later developed the West Indies Corporation as a premier beverage, wine and liquor business and served as its Chairman and CEO from 1969-1980. He was also Chairman and CEO of the Island Block Corporation before becoming deeply involved in national politics. de Jongh said Kimelman served as the first Commissioner of Commerce, Industry and Tourism for the Virgin Islands. “His tenure was a defining time in Virgin Islands history during which Henry Kimelman launched significant promotion of the territory as a tourism destination.” Kimelman was also director and chairman of the executive committee of Diners Club and served on the board of the American Hotel Association. 

Kimelman was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to the U.S. Delegation to the Independence Ceremonies of both Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. During the Johnson administration, Kimelman was appointed Chief of Staff to Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall. He was later appointed to the board of the newly created National Parks Foundation. During the Carter administration, Kimelman was named as U.S. Ambassador to Haiti. He was the first U.S. Ambassador to be awarded Haiti’s highest civilian decoration, the Grand Cross of Honor and Merit. 

Kimelman was chairman of the board and finance chairman of the George Mc Govern presidential committee in 1972. He was deputy chairman and finance chairman of Senator Frank Church’s presidential campaign in 1976 and served as a senior political advisor to Gary Hart’s presidential campaign. He became a partner at the prestigious investment bank LF Rotshchild, headquartered in New York City. 

de Jongh said Monday that “Ambassador Kimelman always held the best interests of the Virgin Islands at heart. “He provided the initial funding for the development of The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, was a long-time contributor to Partners for Health and together with his wife, Charlotte, contributed the start up monies for the cancer center at Schneider Regional Medical Center which is today named in Charlotte Kimelman’s honor. de Jongh also recalled that on February 4, 1998, former governor Roy L. Schneider proclaimed “Henry Kimelman Day.” 

Kimelman has also been honored by the government of Israel. Five years ago, Dakota Wesleyan University awarded Kimelman an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters. At the time of his death, Kimelman was co-chair of the Council of American Ambassadors and Chairman of its Endowment Fund. 

“The people of the Virgin Islands join me and my family in extending heartfelt condolences to the extended Kimelman family but especially his wife, Mrs. Charlotte Kimelman, the daughter of the late Sidney Kessler, and their three children.

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