Kevin Louis Colebrooke was born on Thursday, 1 July, 1954 in New Providence, TheBahamas to Edward and Iris Colebrooke and was the fourth of nine siblings. Hewas predeceased by his older brother, Edward Charles Colebrooke and two sistersKayla Riley and Pauline Clarke. Kevin was the middle child but used hisposition in the family to endear himself to both his older and youngersiblings. He had a happy childhood and was raised in a loving Christian homewhere he was taught that manners and respect will carry him through the world.
TheColebrooke family lived on Carew Street and worshipped at the historic St.George’s Anglican church in “The Valley”. He was christened, confirmed and wasmarried at this church, and though the family moved out of the area, Kevinnever lost touch with neighbors, friends and those he played basketball with onCenterville park on Saturday mornings.
Educationwas a priority for Kevin and he embraced every opportunity for personal andprofessional development. He attended St. George’s Kindergarten School, ShirleyStreet Primary and Eastern Junior School before relocating the Florida where heattended Miami Edison and Miami Jackson High Schools. He was an outstandingtrack and field athlete and was awarded scholarships to attend both Miami DadeJunior College and St. Augustine College, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Aftergraduation Kevin returned home and began his public service career as a TraineeSports and Recreation Officer, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Affairson 1 March 1981. During his thirty-eight (38) years of stellar service, he waspromoted through the ranks from Sports and Recreation Officer to Chief Sportsand Recreation Office and retired on 1 July 2019 as Deputy Director of Sports,Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.
He was an integral part of the nationalsporting fraternity, and served as the liaison officer for a number of national Core SportAssociations and Federations including Golf, Table Games, and Rugby. Kevin alsoplayed a major role in the organization and execution of every Bahamas Gamesheld from 1989 to 2001; and provided the impetus for The Bahamas to host theJunior Commonwealth Games in 2017.
His ultimate focus however was onSwimming /Life Guarding, in particular his involvement, supervision andoversight of the facilities and events at both the South Beach swimming poolsand the Betty-Kenning Aquatic Center. Additionally, he implemented a number ofdevelopmental programmes at the National Swim Complex and provided theframework for many others.
Overthe years he became a true friend and mentor to many sports enthusiasts andparents, and was always willing to provide encouragement, guidance andassistance to student athletes in achieving their goals.
Justlast year, he became actively engaged with the planning of the Golden JubileeBahamas Games scheduled for 2023 and was delighted to visit the islands ofAcklins and Inagua on fact finding missions. He thoroughly enjoyed Acklins andCrooked Island and began making plans to return for an extended vacation.
Kevinand Cora met on 25 December, 1979 at a Christmas celebration hosted by one ofKevin’s friends, and developed a friendship. Years later, while at a stafforientation seminar organized by the Ministry of Youth, they becamereacquainted and began dating. Kevin was assigned as an officer to the SportsDivision and Cora to the Youth Division. They maintained a level ofprofessionalism in the work environment for many years before Cora wastransferred to another Ministry. As fate would have it, less than a year agothey both returned to the Ministry to serve in separate capacities.
Kevinloved his family and took good care of them. On 17 September, 1988 he marriedhis longtime friend, lover, confidante and work colleague. This union wasblessed with one daughter, Kristin Lauren. As a husband he provided for and supported his wife in all of herendeavors. As a proud father, he couldbe seen dropping off and collecting Kristin from school, taking her along withhim to his office and sporting events, especially swimming, or just hanging outat the Potter’s Cay dock where they both got to know most of the vendors andtheir families. As a brother and uncle he was present at all family functionsand was available to provide support, guidance and advice when needed.
Adevout Anglican, Kevin and his family worshipped at St. George’s church in theValley. Later, he became a faithful member of the St. Matthews church, howeverjust five years ago he visited and fell in love with the congregation at St.Anne’s. Kevin absolutely loved worshipping his God at St. Anne’s. He wascommitted, faithful and intentional about his service. He prepared his clothesfor Sunday service on Saturday morning, left home at least an hour beforeservice time and was intent on learning everything there was to know aboutserving God and his children. It was as though Ecclesiastes 9:10 came alive tohim “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in therealm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planningnor knowledge nor wisdom.”
Shortlybefore his retirement in 2019, Kevin identified a few projects and beganworking diligently on them. There were house renovations to be completed and ayard to maintain with various species of clippings and plants, but specialattention was paid to his backyard garden. He was always elated when he could walk into the yard and pick sugarapples, bananas or papayas for breakfast, lettuce, kale, tomatoes or sweetpeppers for a salad, or thyme and peppers to season a dish for dinner. He oftenboasted to his neighbors about his produce but was always eager to share withthem.
Inthe Winton community, Kevin was fondly referred to as the Security officer orcommunity policeman. He knew all of his neighbors, the composition of theirfamilies, their employment status and schedule and provided surveillanceservices to their homes and property whenever they traveled. He can be seempatrolling the area early morning and late evening, or just sitting in hischair in the carport or garden observing the goings on. At other times, he willjump in his jeep and drive around the streets and the Yamacraw foreshore sothat he was always aware of any new developments.
Kevinwas enjoying his retirement immensely, he walked early mornings, spent time inthe yard, played dominoes during the late afternoon and made plans to revisitthe Family Islands he had come to know and love. He appeared to be in goodhealth, but on the evening of Thursday, 15 September he went to sleep, never toawake. On Saturday, Kevin and Cora would have celebrated their 34thwedding anniversary; but as peacefully as he lived, he died. His life’s work isended, his purpose has been fulfilled, a reward awaits in his name. May his soulrest in peace.
Cherishedmemories will forever linger in the hearts of his family and friends:
Wife: Cora Bain Colebrooke
Daughter: Kristin Lauren Gabrielle Colebrooke
Sisters: Sandra Campbell, Colleen Odim(Chicago, ILL), Denise Rolle and Shawna Strachan.
Brothers: Edward Colebrooke II, and EenColebrooke
Sisters-in-law: Trudy Colebrooke, Andrea Bain,Donnalee Minnis, Velma Clarke, Lavette Bain
Brothers-in-law: Philip Rolle, Neil Strachan,Frederick, Darren, Terrell and Lamont Bain
Aunts: Willamae Colebrooke & family andDelores Colebrooke & family.
Motherin law: DedreannaBain
Niecesand nephews:Theus Fountain, Roderick and Christina Colebrooke, Lisa Humes and NadiaCampbell, Tonya Knowles, Vanessa, Audra and Malik Riley, Usim and Nnenna Odim, OlayinkaBurrows, Ashley Clarke, and Clinton Clarke Jr., Edward Colebrooke Jr. andCassie Beneby, Hillary and Iris Rolle, Cato and Cai Strachan, Ira and IlianaColebrooke.
Grandnieces and nephews:Erin, Eric and Ethan Knowles, Faith Riley, Andre and Eric Humes, Tierra andRontre Rolle, Ashley and Roderick Colebrooke Jr., and Jayden Black
Godchildren: FrancineRussell, Jamaal Cox and Kareem Maynard
Relativesand friends:Mr. Anthony “Ans” Miller, Mrs. Vivian Colebrooke and family, Ms. Diana Dean andfamily, Mr. Bede Sands, Mr. & Mrs. Austin Ferguson and family, Mr. &Mrs. Alexis Dean and family, Mr. Michael Basden and family, Mr. Keith Basdenand family, Mr. & Mrs. Arnold Wilson and family, Ms. Valerie Gaitor andfamily, Mr. Clinton Clarke Sr., Ms. Theresa Colebrooke and family, Mrs. ShericeColebrooke and family, Mr. Linton Ritchie and family, Mr. & Mrs. GarryRussell and family, Mr. Loftus Roker and family, Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Stuartand family, Mr. & Mrs. Donzel Huyler and family, Mr. & Mrs. Alexander“Doyle” Burrows and family, Mr. & Mrs. Ishmael Rolle & family, Mrs.Patrice Roker and family, Mr. & Mrs. Mancer Roberts and family, Dr. AustinDavis & family, Mr. Spence Finlayson & family, Mr. Freddie Burgzorg andfamily, Ms. Roykell Bowleg and Mr. Trevor Bowleg, Mr. Ali Culmer and family, Mrs.Stacia Thompson and family, Mr. & Mrs. Deno Smith and family, Mr. &Mrs. Derek Knowles and family, Mr. & Mrs. Vincent King and family, Mr.& Mrs. Edwin Balfour and family, Mr. & Mrs. Hamilton and family, Mr.& Mrs. Williams and family, Mr. & Mrs. Farquharson and family, The Pennfamily, The extended Winton Meadows family, The staff of the Ministry of Youth, Sports andCulture; Mr. Martin Lundy and the Bahamas Games Secretariat, The Potter’s CayDock Dominio Association, The Fox Hill Road Domino crew, Fr. Stephen &Italia Davies and family, Senior Pastor Timothy Johnson & Minister DeanneJohnson and the extended Church of God of Prophecy family, Canon Peter Scottand the Holy Cross family, Fr. Hugh Bartlett and the St. Anne’s Anglican churchfamily.
