Tristan da Cunha Family News 2005 to 2007

Obituary for Albert Glass BEM

We regret to announce the death of Albert Glass on 18th August 2007 aged 72. Albert was a great-great grandson of the founder of the Tristan community Corporal William Glass. He was the only son of Frank and Clara (Mary) Glass (nee Swain) and was born on 25th January 1935. He married Rose Repetto and became one of the leaders of the modern Tristan da Cunha community after the return from volcanic exile in 1963. In 1967 Albert became Tristan's first policeman after training at Hendon Police College in England, continuing in distinguished service until his retirement in 1989, and he has always been known as 'Sarge'. His friendly smile, wisdom and renowned hospitality will be sadly missed. He served as Tristan's second elected Chief Islander from 1973 -1979 and also 1982-5.

Obituary for Neville Glass

We regret to announce the death of Neville Glass, on 19th May 2007, aged 67. Neville was the youngest child of Joseph Fuller Glass and Elsie Glass (nee Swain) and was born on 2 March 1940. He is survived by his wife Minnie, son Kevin, and his sister Pauline Green.

Neville was part of the team of 12 islanders who formed part of the Resettlement Survey Party who returned to Tristan on 8th September 1962. They prepared the island for resettlement following the volcanic eruption in October 1961, prior to the remainder of the islanders returning in March and November 1963. Neville worked for the Health Department and later the Agriculture Department until he retired.

Obituary for Olive Repetto

We regret to announce the death of Olive Rose Repetto (nee Lavarello) on 2nd September 2006, aged 82.  Olive was born on 16th April 1924 and was the daughter of Robert and Mabel Lavarello. She married Michael Repetto, son of Arthur and Edith Repetto who lived in the UK after the volcano.  They had five children.  Olive is survived by daughters Jill Repetto( now living in the UK) and Vera Glass on Tristan and by 5 grandchildren (3 in the UK and 2 on Tristan).

Obituary for Catherine Glass

We regret to announce the death of Catherine Glass (nee Green) who died on 25th August 2006 at the age of 86.  She was born on 14 April 1920 and was the daughter of Johnny and Sophia Green. She married Godfrey Glass and is survived by son Lewis on Tristan and daughters Joanna and Evelyn in the UK, four grandchildren (Trevor and Simon Glass on Tristan and Katie & Andrew Cunningham in the UK) and four great-grandchildren (Nicole, Chloe and Jamie on Tristan and Alex Cunningham in the UK).

Obituary for Asturias Annie Rogers

We regret to announce the death of Asturias Rogers on 29th June 2006 in her home town of Leicester, England aged 79. Known as Ann in England, and as Tordy on Tristan, she was born on 13th February, 1927 to Agnes and William Rogers. Agnes, who began the Roman Catholic faith on Tristan, had previously been married to Joe Glass who had died, leaving her with three small children - Joe, Thomas and May. Tordy left Tristan in the late 1940's when she married a soldier who had been stationed with the top-secret wartime HMS Atlantic Isle Radio Station and moved to England . She has lived in Leicester for over 30 years where she is survived by daughters Alison and Jackie, and five grandchildren. Her Tristan da Cunha resident brother ‘Uncle Ken’ Rogers is her only surviving sibling there.

Obituary for Vivien Jane Baker (nee Repetto)

We regret to announce the death of Vivien Baker on 20^th June 2006 in Hampshire, England aged 64. Vivien was born on Tristan da Cunha on 7th June 1942, the youngest daughter of Arthur and Edith Repetto (nee Swain). She settled in England where she married Nigel Baker following her forced evacuation after the 1961 volcanic eruption. Vivien is survived in England by her three children, Eddie, Marie and Tina, seven grandchildren, her sisters Dora, Millie and Violet in England and on Tristan by her brother Ernest Repetto.

Obituary for Peter Swain

We regret to announce the sudden death of Peter Fredrick Swain on 20th May 2006. Peter was born on 10th November 1942, the eldest son of Willie and Cissie Swain. He married Nora Rogers and they had five children. - Christopher, Cliff, and Tracey are married and Alison & Maria, who still live at home. He also has five grandchildren. At the time of his death he worked for the Transport Department on Tristan. He was also a fisherman, usually partnered by his son Christopher.

Obituary for Granny Gertie

We regret to announce the death of Annie Gertrude Ellen Lavarello (nee Green) on 19th January 2006. Known almost universally as 'Granny Gertie', she was born on 14th September 1906 and was Tristan's oldest resident at 99 years. Granny Gertie was the daughter of Bill and Louisa Green (nee Rogers). She married Percy Lavarello, a son of the shipwrecked sailor Gaetano Lavarello, and they had four children, three of whom survive and live on Tristan, together with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, in addition to grandchildren and great grandchildren overseas in South Africa and in Europe.

Obituary for Herbert Green

We regret to announce the sudden death of George Herbert Green, known locally as 'Shot,' on 10th January 2006 aged 82. Herbert died aboard the MV Edinburgh shortly before docking in Cape Town where he was going for medical treatment, accompanied by Nurse Beverley Cooper. Herbert was one of the sons of Johnny and Sophie Green (nee Rogers). He married Irene Lavarello and leaves daughters Rosemary and Jean, grand-daughters Melanie and Shirley in the UK and great grandchildren Dave and Kaleigh. Herbert was cremated on 20th January in Cape Town in a service attended by several islanders, with a simultaneous service being held in St Mary's Church on Tristan da Cunha.

Obituary for May Repetto

We regret to announce the death of May Ellen Repetto (nee Glass) on 25th November 2005, aged 91. May was the daughter of Joseph Fuller and Agnes Glass (nee Smith), and married Joseph Repetto, son of Andrea and Frances Green. Together they had 10 children and May is survived by three sons and five daughters as well as numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren both on Tristan and in the UK. Two of May's sons died at sea: Matthew, who was lost at sea whilst fishing in 1968; and Bernard, who died in a tragic fishing accident in the 1970's. Two of May's children who are living overseas, Joy Stoffberg and Gerald, returned in November and were able to see their mother before she passed away.

Obituary for Louis Swain

We regret to announce the death of Louis Swain on 16 th November 2005, aged 79, after a long illness. ‘Uncle’ Louis was the son of Fred and Mary Swain and is survived by his widow Isabel (nee Lavarello), his children Stanley, Douglas, Marlene, Shirley, Julian and Mark, thirteen grand-children & four great-grandchildren. Our sympathy is extended to family and friends.

The family have written:

Your memories live on within our hearts,
Although we cannot see you we are never far apart.

Birth in the UK

Paul and Geraldine Repetto are delighted to announce the birth of their daughter Chantelle Mary Ann on 5th November 2005. Mum and the 6lbs 5oz baby are both very well.

Birth in Hampshire

Dawn and Stuart Smith are pleased to announce the birth of Oliver Tristan Smith born on the 24th October 2005 at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, weighing 4lb 7oz. Oliver is the grandson of Joan (nee Rogers) and David King and the great grandson of Lilian Rogers.

Obituary for Marjorie Rogers

We regret to announce the death of Marjorie Rogers (nee Green) on 13th October 2005, aged 85. Marjorie was the daughter of Alfred and Lily Green, married Rudolph Rogers and is survived by five children and seven grand-children. Our sympathy is extended to family and friends.

Tristan da Cunha Wedding of Mariah Green and Marko Leitner