Anguilla has lost a multi-repeat visitor from Oshkosh, Wisonsin, Mr. Jerry Mueller, a retired real estate agent who, along with his wife, Linda, fell in love with the island and purchased a condo at the Sandy Hill Beach Club several years ago. He was an avid subscriber to The Anguillian newspaper both in the United States and while on holiday in Anguilla.
He died on the island on Wednesday morning, March 3, after becoming ill when he returned home from his customary raking of the beach. He was 72. He was a well-known and amicable person – often seen doing what he loved best: methodically cleaning the Sandy Hill Beach, just down from his residence.
The following statement, announcing his passing, was sent to The Anguillian newspaper, with the approval of his wife:
“Sandy Hill residents are saddened by Jerry’s sudden passing. Jerry Mueller and his wife, Linda, of Oshkosh, Wisonsin, were loved and admired residents of the Sandy Hill Club condo community and the surrounding area for decades, while spending their winter months in their residence at the Sandy Hill Condos. Their community involvement, participation and sharing, cascaded far beyond the perimeter of Sandy Hill and District 2. Jerry’s annual arrival on the island was instantly recognisable as both the seaweed on Sandy Hill beach and the surrounding litter began to disappear. He believed in participating in all matters that improved the physical wellbeing of his Sandy Hill Community, reaching out to his neighbours to assist with bush-clearing, cultural site restoration and anything else that he could lend a hand with.
“Both children and adults knew him because of his various holiday arrangements of shells and coral which he painted and decorated, and then placed on the beach for all to enjoy. In fact, the current Valentine Day display was soon replaced with a St. Patrick’s display. His love for metal detecting took him all over the island in search of treasure. A keen student of the history of the island, he delighted in finding old coins and other not-so-valuable artifacts buried in the island’s soil and sand. He recently assisted in locating a lost ring in the sand at Sandy Ground.
“Jerry’s sudden passing on Wednesday, March 3, has saddened and shocked his community. They will miss his low-key presence and high wattage community spirit dearly. They extend their heartfelt condolences to Linda and their extended family in the United States of America.”
It is recorded in the archives of The Anguillian newspaper that when Mr. Mueller first came to Anguilla he distributed a number of gold coins to children and adults. One of the recipients was Owen Mussington, a noted community worker at East End. “Owen was at the time raking and taking care of Sandy Hill Beach,” he recalled in an interview with the newspaper in February, 2016. “One day I saw Owen picking up garbage on the beach and asked him: “Owen, do you need help?” He replied: “Sure”. Since then I have been raking the beach.”
Mr. Mueller was usually in Anguilla for four-and-a-half months a year, with his wife, enjoying the island and interacting with its people. “I like to see the children in the water, but nobody likes to swim among that seaweed,” he said. “I go to Sandy Hill Bay from Monday to Saturday to rake the beach. My fancy is to see the children and the tourists enjoying the beach.”
In addition to cleaning the beach, he found time to assist Owen with his activities for children in the Pond Ground/East End area – and also gave him a hand with his vegetable garden at Mount Fortune.
In his younger years, Mueller served in the US Military. “I served in Vietnam and got wounded,” he recalled. “The bullet lodged about a quarter inch from the femur and almost killed me.”
At the time of his passing in Anguilla, he was back on the island for an extended stay to continue his voluntary beach-cleaning activities. Sadly, as fate dictated, it was his last time to enjoy that community service.
The Anguillian newspaper offers heartfelt condolences to his grieving wife, Mrs. Linda Mueller, their family and friends, over theirs great loss.
