It was a heart-warming experience for those mourning the sudden passing of one of Anguilla’s repeat visitors, the late Mr. Jerry Mueller, and a touching celebration of his life and contribution to the island.
That was when a considerably large number of Anguillians, and members of the expatriate community, gathered at Sandy Hill Beach to pay tribute to him on Friday evening, March 19. The event was held mainly to celebrate Mr. Mueller’s many years of coming to Anguilla, and painstakingly cleaning the Sandy Hill Beach where he lived and owned a condo at the Sandy Hill Beach Club.
In addition to raking the invasive seaweed off the beach, Mr. Mueller always left his artistic mark on the sand with decorated coral and other formations. The latest was for the observance of Valentine Day – his contribution of love for Anguilla and the people of the island. He was on one of his beach-raking exercises on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, when he returned home, fell ill and unfortunately died.
He and his wife, Mrs. Linda Mueller, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, endeared themselves to many Anguillians and members of the expatriate community. There was an abundance of refreshment – and a number of persons took to the microphone to deliver tributes to Mr. Mueller.
The tributes were commenced by Ms. Dawn Hodge who frequents Sandy Hill Beach and was familiar with his work which included the planting of a row of coconut plants. She, and her mother, Mrs. Molly Hodge, have been longstanding friends of the Muellers. Part of Dawn’s tribute was a striking funeral poem entitled: “Miss me, but let me go” by Christina Rossetti. It read in part:
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room;
Why cry for a soul set free?
Several persons joined Ms. Hodge in paying tribute to Mr. Mueller.
A subscriber to The Anguillian newspaper, Mr. Mueller once remarked: “I go Sandy Hill Bay from Monday to Saturday to rake the beach. My fancy is to see the children and the tourist enjoying the beach.”
Commenting on the response of the gathering paying tribute on the beach to her husband, Mrs. Mueller told the newspaper: “All the love and support has been overwhelming. It warms my heart. Jerry touched the lives of many – and he will certainly be missed.”
