March 10, 2022
March 10, 2022
Big "A" Dear old friend, you are sorely missed. I know you are at peace.......and still writing........Love ya' as a friend should.....Brownie (aka 4pound)
"Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration." This was one of his favorite sayings and exactly how he lived his life.
Obituary
Arnold R. Highfield, longtime resident of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, and later Middlebury, VT, passed at the age of 79, on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, at the Porter Medical Center in Middlebury. At his side was his loving wife Shirley, and their family.
Arnold was born in New Boston, OH, on March 10, 1940, to the late Arnold and Hazel (Nichols) Highfield of New Boston. Arnold was an author, scholar, businessman, and poet. A graduate of the Ohio State University, he received his MA in Medieval History and a PhD in Romance Linguistics. Arnold met his wife, Shirley de Chabert, of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands while both were undergraduates at Ohio State. Arnold and Shirley’s love for education, language, and culture took them to Europe for some years before they settled back in St. Croix with their firstborn son, Kevin. Arnold was a teacher at Central High School and a professor of Caribbean History and Linguistics at the (CVI) University of the Virgin Islands as well as a visiting professor at Middlebury College in Vermont. Popularly known as “Dr. Highfield,” he is former teacher, professor, and mentor to thousands of Virgin Islanders. He has lectured at universities around the world and authored forty publications on Caribbean History and Linguistics. He dedicated his life to the study and preservation of the history of the US Virgin Islands. Upon retirement and due to health restrictions, Middlebury became Arnold and Shirley’s primary home. His dedication was such that he was writing about the Virgin Islands right up until the end of his life.
Arnold is survived by his wife Shirley de Chabert Highfield of St. Croix, USVI; his children Kevin Highfield, Leslie Highfield Carter, Kimberly Highfield and Christopher Highfield, his daughter-in-law Maria Constantinou Highfield, son-in-law Richard Elliot Carter, his brother Terrance Highfield, sisters-in-law Luz Suarez de Highfield, Mildred de Chabert, Rita de Chabert Schuster, Saturnina Viera de Chabert, brother-in-law Dr. Ralph de Chabert, his grandchildren Shareal Marshall, Christopher D. Highfield and Christian Highfield, nieces: Melissa Highfield Iliadis, Lorelie Highfield, Janine Schuster, Danielle de Chabert, Gisele de Chabert, Rosita de Chabert Swanson, Judy de Chabert, Nicole de Chabert, Jacqueline de Chabert-Rios, Regina de Chabert Petersen; nephews: Eugene Highfield, Gregory Schuster, Kenneth Schuster, Troy de Chabert-Schuster, Austin “Junie” de Chabert, Jr., Pierre de Chabert, Nicholas de Chabert, Michael de Chabert; along with many other great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends of the Highfield, Nichols and Cooper families of Ohio and the de Chabert, Schuster and Muckle, Bough and Schjang families of St. Croix. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brothers-in-law Austin de Chabert, Lowell Schuster and Mario de Chabert and nephew Dominique de Chabert.
The service will be held at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary’s) Church in Middlebury, VT on Oct. 12 at 10:00 a.m.Internment will immediately follow at the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Middlebury.
A second service will take place December 20, 2019 at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.
The following is a bit of Eulogistic Musings from Alfred L. Anduze, MD, to my friend and brother,
Arnold Ray Highfield, born March 10, 1940 in New Boston, Ohio, educated at Ohio State University where he met and married Shirley nee de Chabert, a very close family friend of ours. On behalf of the Anduze family, our children who were raised together and are still in close contact and the extended tribes of the entire US Virgin Islands that he loved so dearly, I offer our condolences and sincerest appreciation for letting us share in Arnold’s extraordinary life.
With degrees in Medieval history and Romance Linguistics, an admiration for culture, and after traveling Europe to places they would return on recurring cycles, Arnold and Shirley settled in St Croix and became immersed in the educational system from High School to University. It was at this time that I had the privilege of first meeting “Arnie” at a small dinner given by my sister, Alicia, a close friend of Shirley’s. She promised that I would relish the social and educational experience, and she was right. His command of Caribbean and European cultures and the ability to convey their inner mechanisms was inspiring and motivational beyond expectation.
Additionally, myself and many others would continue to enjoy the intellectual stimulation that became the legend of Professor Dr Arnold Highfield. From discussions of syzygy (alignment of celestial orbs, peoples’ ideas or ordinary events) to descriptions of island food; from all the accomplishments, honors and accolades bestowed upon him for his ability to acquire and impart knowledge over the years; and now, after his passing, the one thing that stands out in my mind above all else… was his mastery of the art of conversation.
To excel in this artistry, one had to first, be a good listener. This he could do effortlessly, include you in the conversation and give you a value that you could improve upon. Then with a twinkle in his eyes and the curling smile from one end of his mouth to the other, and in at least six languages of English, French, Spanish, Crucian and Creole, and perhaps more, Arnie could and would share ideas and convey concepts is such a way that the speaker-turned-learner always felt the comfort and accomplishment of ingesting and digesting something new, something worthwhile, …knowledge. In any conversation at no matter what level, he never left you out. That is genius.
Then, when you thought all was finished and without any great announcement or fanfare, he would insert the “grace note”…that extra embellishment in the middle or at the end of a sequence of musical notes that all good jazz musicians give or extra word or flow of words of significance that all very good professors and orators have and display at exactly the right moment and for exactly the right situation…that adds that little extra you didn’t expect but greatly appreciate…the hidden spice that raises the dish to another level… the tidbit that made the interaction all worthwhile… the little “cate” that would make you remember the encounter for years to come.
Very few intellectual conversations of late, involving those who, like my wife, Sari, to whom he was a mentor, were privileged to have interacted with and known Arnie could proceed far without some mention of “Arnold Highfield said this and said that”.
We all just nod and smile and relish the good memory of an inveterate scholar and dear friend.
May he rest in peace.
Obituary
Arnold R. Highfield, longtime resident of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, and later Middlebury, VT, passed at the age of 79, on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, at the Porter Medical Center in Middlebury. At his side was his loving wife Shirley, and their family.
Arnold was born in New Boston, OH, on March 10, 1940, to the late Arnold and Hazel (Nichols) Highfield of New Boston. Arnold was an author, scholar, businessman, and poet. A graduate of the Ohio State University, he received his MA in Medieval History and a PhD in Romance Linguistics. Arnold met his wife, Shirley de Chabert, of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands while both were undergraduates at Ohio State. Arnold and Shirley’s love for education, language, and culture took them to Europe for some years before they settled back in St. Croix with their firstborn son, Kevin. Arnold was a teacher at Central High School and a professor of Caribbean History and Linguistics at the (CVI) University of the Virgin Islands as well as a visiting professor at Middlebury College in Vermont. Popularly known as “Dr. Highfield,” he is former teacher, professor, and mentor to thousands of Virgin Islanders. He has lectured at universities around the world and authored forty publications on Caribbean History and Linguistics. He dedicated his life to the study and preservation of the history of the US Virgin Islands. Upon retirement and due to health restrictions, Middlebury became Arnold and Shirley’s primary home. His dedication was such that he was writing about the Virgin Islands right up until the end of his life.
Arnold is survived by his wife Shirley de Chabert Highfield of St. Croix, USVI; his children Kevin Highfield, Leslie Highfield Carter, Kimberly Highfield and Christopher Highfield, his daughter-in-law Maria Constantinou Highfield, son-in-law Richard Elliot Carter, his brother Terrance Highfield, sisters-in-law Luz Suarez de Highfield, Mildred de Chabert, Rita de Chabert Schuster, Saturnina Viera de Chabert, brother-in-law Dr. Ralph de Chabert, his grandchildren Shareal Marshall, Christopher D. Highfield and Christian Highfield, nieces: Melissa Highfield Iliadis, Lorelie Highfield, Janine Schuster, Danielle de Chabert, Gisele de Chabert, Rosita de Chabert Swanson, Judy de Chabert, Nicole de Chabert, Jacqueline de Chabert-Rios, Regina de Chabert Petersen; nephews: Eugene Highfield, Gregory Schuster, Kenneth Schuster, Troy de Chabert-Schuster, Austin “Junie” de Chabert, Jr., Pierre de Chabert, Nicholas de Chabert, Michael de Chabert; along with many other great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends of the Highfield, Nichols and Cooper families of Ohio and the de Chabert, Schuster and Muckle, Bough and Schjang families of St. Croix. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brothers-in-law Austin de Chabert, Lowell Schuster and Mario de Chabert and nephew Dominique de Chabert.
The service will be held at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary’s) Church in Middlebury, VT on Oct. 12 at 10:00 a.m.Internment will immediately follow at the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Middlebury.
A second service will take place December 20, 2019 at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.
The following is a bit of Eulogistic Musings from Alfred L. Anduze, MD, to my friend and brother,
Arnold Ray Highfield, born March 10, 1940 in New Boston, Ohio, educated at Ohio State University where he met and married Shirley nee de Chabert, a very close family friend of ours. On behalf of the Anduze family, our children who were raised together and are still in close contact and the extended tribes of the entire US Virgin Islands that he loved so dearly, I offer our condolences and sincerest appreciation for letting us share in Arnold’s extraordinary life.
With degrees in Medieval history and Romance Linguistics, an admiration for culture, and after traveling Europe to places they would return on recurring cycles, Arnold and Shirley settled in St Croix and became immersed in the educational system from High School to University. It was at this time that I had the privilege of first meeting “Arnie” at a small dinner given by my sister, Alicia, a close friend of Shirley’s. She promised that I would relish the social and educational experience, and she was right. His command of Caribbean and European cultures and the ability to convey their inner mechanisms was inspiring and motivational beyond expectation.
Additionally, myself and many others would continue to enjoy the intellectual stimulation that became the legend of Professor Dr Arnold Highfield. From discussions of syzygy (alignment of celestial orbs, peoples’ ideas or ordinary events) to descriptions of island food; from all the accomplishments, honors and accolades bestowed upon him for his ability to acquire and impart knowledge over the years; and now, after his passing, the one thing that stands out in my mind above all else… was his mastery of the art of conversation.
To excel in this artistry, one had to first, be a good listener. This he could do effortlessly, include you in the conversation and give you a value that you could improve upon. Then with a twinkle in his eyes and the curling smile from one end of his mouth to the other, and in at least six languages of English, French, Spanish, Crucian and Creole, and perhaps more, Arnie could and would share ideas and convey concepts is such a way that the speaker-turned-learner always felt the comfort and accomplishment of ingesting and digesting something new, something worthwhile, …knowledge. In any conversation at no matter what level, he never left you out. That is genius.
Then, when you thought all was finished and without any great announcement or fanfare, he would insert the “grace note”…that extra embellishment in the middle or at the end of a sequence of musical notes that all good jazz musicians give or extra word or flow of words of significance that all very good professors and orators have and display at exactly the right moment and for exactly the right situation…that adds that little extra you didn’t expect but greatly appreciate…the hidden spice that raises the dish to another level… the tidbit that made the interaction all worthwhile… the little “cate” that would make you remember the encounter for years to come.
Very few intellectual conversations of late, involving those who, like my wife, Sari, to whom he was a mentor, were privileged to have interacted with and known Arnie could proceed far without some mention of “Arnold Highfield said this and said that”.
We all just nod and smile and relish the good memory of an inveterate scholar and dear friend.
May he rest in peace.
Tributes
Leave a tribute
November 18, 2019
November 18, 2019
Arnold Highfield – Eulogy
St. Mary's Church Funeral Mass, Middlebury VT 10/12/19
Delivered by Henry Flores - Middlebury Class of 2001
Good morning everyone. We are all here today to celebrate the amazing life of a truly remarkable and exceptional human being, Dr. Arnold Highfield. Arnold, as you all know, was a devoted scholar of world history and languages having taught at the University of the Virgin Islands for over 50 years. Arnold dedicated his life to the pursuit of knowledge and in service of his students, his community, his family and his friends. To be a teacher is to have a special calling in life. Christ was a teacher who taught us how to live our lives and how to treat others to make this world better. Christ through his teachings changed the course of human history.
Like Christ, exceptional teachers such as Arnold can impact and change the trajectory of their students’ lives. Arnold had such an effect on my life and the lives of countless other students he taught throughout the course of his career.
I first met Arnold as a student at Middlebury College in January of 1998, while he was a visiting professor teaching Caribbean History and Anthropology. There were a handful of students of Caribbean descent like me who took Arnold’s class to learn more about ourselves. Boy, did we get more than what we bargained. From the very first class, Arnold was entertaining, thought-provoking and at times a little controversial: it was always hard to tell if Arnold believed a statement he made or if he was just trying to get a reaction out of you to further inspire more debate! Arnold’s class was originally slated to just have 20 students, but as word got out about the brilliant, funny and down to earth visiting professor from the Virgin Islands, soon the class swelled to 50 students and was standing room only! After class, students would swarm Arnold to ask him to further clarify the history of colonialism or the religions practiced by the local indigenous populations. I was standing off to the side on one of these occasions not saying much, very unlike me, and Arnold who always noticed everything asked me how I was doing. I explained to him that I didn’t feel like I socially fit in at Middlebury and that academically I was struggling. I was thinking of transferring to another school. Arnold invited me over to dinner at his home that night with his wife, Shirley. I remember pulling up to their driveway in Chipman Park, like I would countless times in years to come, and knocking on their front door. Arnold always in his library, would peek over at the front door and say, “Hey Henry, come on in and make yourself at home.” When he was done, we sat in Arnold’s library and we just talked. I remember asking him, “Dr. Highfield, how do you do it? I mean don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a white guy from Ohio teaching Caribbean history in St. Croix to black people; How do you fit in?” I can still hear him laughing and saying, “Well, Henry, you get right to the point, don’t you? Well, I’ve come to realize that if you sincerely
take an interest in other people and just be your true self, you will be accepted no matter where you go. That doesn’t mean some people may not like you, but that’s their issue, not yours.” Arnold taught me how to embrace others while at the same time being unapologetically myself. In regards to my academics, Arnold helped me catch up during the remainder of my first year by reviewing my papers prior to submission, having intense discussions about my readings over Chinese food at the Panda House in Marble Works and by recommending additional readings that would help me challenge what I was being taught in class and think more critically. On Arnold’s memorial website, his daughter, Leslie Highfield Carter included one of his favorite sayings, “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent
perspiration.” Arnold was teaching me to overcome adversity and to succeed the only way he knew how - through hard work and constant study.
Since Arnold’s passing last month on September 8th 2019, I’ve tried to come to terms with my own grief by trying to remember some of the many conversations we had over two decades. The conversation that stands out the most is one I had with Arnold late in the evening at the
Highfield’s home in St. Croix. Since religion was one of my areas of study at Middlebury, Arnold and I had spoken about religion and theology on many occasions. I asked Arnold how he was coping with his illness and how his mind was doing, and he replied, “Henry, my whole life I thought with pride that my mind could help me overcome anything. If I thought about any problem, long enough I could fix it. My mind was everything. I’ve realized that my intellect isn’t enough anymore, and I’ve found some peace going to Catholic Mass, reading the bible and in meditation.” As someone who was struggling with his own faith, I found it extraordinary that Arnold, someone who was a devout rationalist was able to find his way back to God with such humility and clarity and ultimately was able to receive some semblance
of peace.
But when I look back at Arnold’s life as a scholar it was one of perpetual contemplation. It was as if Arnold was an honorary member of a monastery his whole life! As a historical scholar, Arnold dedicated his life to preserving this world’s memory and imparting that knowledge to the next generation. As a poet and philosopher, Arnold dedicated his life to preserving the things of beauty, love, and nature that were found in this world. In all his varied relentless intellectual pursuits, it was as if Arnold was striving to experience existence in its fullest and purest forms.
Arnold’s renewed relationship with God reminded me of a passage from St. Augustine’s Confessions:
“Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you. And
see, you were within, and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state, I plunged into those lovely created things which you made. You were with me, and I was not with you. The lovely things kept me far from you, though if they did not have their existence in you, they had no existence at all. You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent, you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you. I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.”
Shirley Highfield recently told me that two months ago Arnold had the most beautiful dream ever--that he was running and walking all around St. Croix! As Arnold told Shirley this dream, his eyes beamed with joy! May our dear brother, Arnold be running and walking in Heaven. May Arnold be in eternal peace contemplating the wonders of God’s universe. May he finally be experiencing life in its fullest no longer limited by the illness of his body. May his eyes be fully enjoying the wonder that is all of creation.
Arnold, you will be missed by all of us you’ve left behind but may we continue your legacy while we still live on this earth. And, when the day comes that we too shall pass on, we hope to see you once more in your heavenly home
saying to us, “come on in and make yourself at home.”
St. Mary's Church Funeral Mass, Middlebury VT 10/12/19
Delivered by Henry Flores - Middlebury Class of 2001
Good morning everyone. We are all here today to celebrate the amazing life of a truly remarkable and exceptional human being, Dr. Arnold Highfield. Arnold, as you all know, was a devoted scholar of world history and languages having taught at the University of the Virgin Islands for over 50 years. Arnold dedicated his life to the pursuit of knowledge and in service of his students, his community, his family and his friends. To be a teacher is to have a special calling in life. Christ was a teacher who taught us how to live our lives and how to treat others to make this world better. Christ through his teachings changed the course of human history.
Like Christ, exceptional teachers such as Arnold can impact and change the trajectory of their students’ lives. Arnold had such an effect on my life and the lives of countless other students he taught throughout the course of his career.
I first met Arnold as a student at Middlebury College in January of 1998, while he was a visiting professor teaching Caribbean History and Anthropology. There were a handful of students of Caribbean descent like me who took Arnold’s class to learn more about ourselves. Boy, did we get more than what we bargained. From the very first class, Arnold was entertaining, thought-provoking and at times a little controversial: it was always hard to tell if Arnold believed a statement he made or if he was just trying to get a reaction out of you to further inspire more debate! Arnold’s class was originally slated to just have 20 students, but as word got out about the brilliant, funny and down to earth visiting professor from the Virgin Islands, soon the class swelled to 50 students and was standing room only! After class, students would swarm Arnold to ask him to further clarify the history of colonialism or the religions practiced by the local indigenous populations. I was standing off to the side on one of these occasions not saying much, very unlike me, and Arnold who always noticed everything asked me how I was doing. I explained to him that I didn’t feel like I socially fit in at Middlebury and that academically I was struggling. I was thinking of transferring to another school. Arnold invited me over to dinner at his home that night with his wife, Shirley. I remember pulling up to their driveway in Chipman Park, like I would countless times in years to come, and knocking on their front door. Arnold always in his library, would peek over at the front door and say, “Hey Henry, come on in and make yourself at home.” When he was done, we sat in Arnold’s library and we just talked. I remember asking him, “Dr. Highfield, how do you do it? I mean don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a white guy from Ohio teaching Caribbean history in St. Croix to black people; How do you fit in?” I can still hear him laughing and saying, “Well, Henry, you get right to the point, don’t you? Well, I’ve come to realize that if you sincerely
take an interest in other people and just be your true self, you will be accepted no matter where you go. That doesn’t mean some people may not like you, but that’s their issue, not yours.” Arnold taught me how to embrace others while at the same time being unapologetically myself. In regards to my academics, Arnold helped me catch up during the remainder of my first year by reviewing my papers prior to submission, having intense discussions about my readings over Chinese food at the Panda House in Marble Works and by recommending additional readings that would help me challenge what I was being taught in class and think more critically. On Arnold’s memorial website, his daughter, Leslie Highfield Carter included one of his favorite sayings, “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent
perspiration.” Arnold was teaching me to overcome adversity and to succeed the only way he knew how - through hard work and constant study.
Since Arnold’s passing last month on September 8th 2019, I’ve tried to come to terms with my own grief by trying to remember some of the many conversations we had over two decades. The conversation that stands out the most is one I had with Arnold late in the evening at the
Highfield’s home in St. Croix. Since religion was one of my areas of study at Middlebury, Arnold and I had spoken about religion and theology on many occasions. I asked Arnold how he was coping with his illness and how his mind was doing, and he replied, “Henry, my whole life I thought with pride that my mind could help me overcome anything. If I thought about any problem, long enough I could fix it. My mind was everything. I’ve realized that my intellect isn’t enough anymore, and I’ve found some peace going to Catholic Mass, reading the bible and in meditation.” As someone who was struggling with his own faith, I found it extraordinary that Arnold, someone who was a devout rationalist was able to find his way back to God with such humility and clarity and ultimately was able to receive some semblance
of peace.
But when I look back at Arnold’s life as a scholar it was one of perpetual contemplation. It was as if Arnold was an honorary member of a monastery his whole life! As a historical scholar, Arnold dedicated his life to preserving this world’s memory and imparting that knowledge to the next generation. As a poet and philosopher, Arnold dedicated his life to preserving the things of beauty, love, and nature that were found in this world. In all his varied relentless intellectual pursuits, it was as if Arnold was striving to experience existence in its fullest and purest forms.
Arnold’s renewed relationship with God reminded me of a passage from St. Augustine’s Confessions:
“Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you. And
see, you were within, and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state, I plunged into those lovely created things which you made. You were with me, and I was not with you. The lovely things kept me far from you, though if they did not have their existence in you, they had no existence at all. You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent, you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you. I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.”
Shirley Highfield recently told me that two months ago Arnold had the most beautiful dream ever--that he was running and walking all around St. Croix! As Arnold told Shirley this dream, his eyes beamed with joy! May our dear brother, Arnold be running and walking in Heaven. May Arnold be in eternal peace contemplating the wonders of God’s universe. May he finally be experiencing life in its fullest no longer limited by the illness of his body. May his eyes be fully enjoying the wonder that is all of creation.
Arnold, you will be missed by all of us you’ve left behind but may we continue your legacy while we still live on this earth. And, when the day comes that we too shall pass on, we hope to see you once more in your heavenly home
saying to us, “come on in and make yourself at home.”
September 23, 2019
September 23, 2019
Dr. Highfield was on of my favorite professors at UVI. I had him early on in my undergraduate career. His style of teaching had me coming early to class to get a seat in the front of the room. I remember one Southern student was giving a presentations and she kept saying "Rice" as "Rass" and Dr. Highfield chimed in to say, "In St. Croix, 'rass' means something different." and the whole class just busted out laughing! I'll never forget him.
September 19, 2019
September 19, 2019
SHIRLEY and FAMILY;
: OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALL..ARNOLD WILL BE MISSED BY HIS FAMILY and FRIENDS.
.
LOVE FROM THE COURSEY FAMILY---ST.CROIX
September 19, 2019
September 19, 2019
I was born and raised in New Boston. "Big "A" and I have known one another since the Second Grade of elementary school. All through our formative years Butch loomed large wherever he set his foot. There are many cooperative exploits I will not mention, I'll just say we never broke the law, growing boy stuff. Hail Budweiser!! My memories are fond and numerous. As I can recall, I will tell from time to time many of our escapades, I am sad. I wish for he, Shirley and his extensive family my sincerest condolences, May God hold you all in the palm of His hand
September 18, 2019
September 18, 2019
When I was young I thought Butch was my Uncle. He was so much older to me at that time. As time went on and Butch went off to college we would see him periodically and I still remember the first time he brought Shirley home! We fell in love with her immediately of course. Then as time went on we would not get to see them as often. I remember how excited my brothers, sisters and I would get when we heard they were coming for a visit. We were always so proud of our cousin Butch. He was so kind and loving and caring and so much fun to be around. I will miss you Butch but we will see each other again someday. Until that time comes we will remember. We will remember the love you had for us, the special person you were, your stories of our family and of yourself. God bless you and comfort you Highfield family. I love you all and will be praying for you.
September 13, 2019
September 13, 2019
My heart goes out to Arnold's family that their broken hearts will mend and their tears eased by sweet memories.
My own memory is of the dashing upper-class man who was always neat, kind and seemingly observing whether at school or at that great Hi Hop Dance on Saturday afternoons! He could have starred in a teen movie!
I regret that I never told him or Terry Highfield how much my brother and I enjoyed the things they wrote and shared from time to time. God bless you, Terry, in your grief.
My heart goes out to Shirley's broken one and to everyone who loves Arnold.
My own memory is of the dashing upper-class man who was always neat, kind and seemingly observing whether at school or at that great Hi Hop Dance on Saturday afternoons! He could have starred in a teen movie!
I regret that I never told him or Terry Highfield how much my brother and I enjoyed the things they wrote and shared from time to time. God bless you, Terry, in your grief.
My heart goes out to Shirley's broken one and to everyone who loves Arnold.
Leave a Tribute
Recent Tributes
March 10, 2022
March 10, 2022
Big "A" Dear old friend, you are sorely missed. I know you are at peace.......and still writing........Love ya' as a friend should.....Brownie (aka 4pound)
November 18, 2019
November 18, 2019
Arnold Highfield – Eulogy
St. Mary's Church Funeral Mass, Middlebury VT 10/12/19
Delivered by Henry Flores - Middlebury Class of 2001
Good morning everyone. We are all here today to celebrate the amazing life of a truly remarkable and exceptional human being, Dr. Arnold Highfield. Arnold, as you all know, was a devoted scholar of world history and languages having taught at the University of the Virgin Islands for over 50 years. Arnold dedicated his life to the pursuit of knowledge and in service of his students, his community, his family and his friends. To be a teacher is to have a special calling in life. Christ was a teacher who taught us how to live our lives and how to treat others to make this world better. Christ through his teachings changed the course of human history.
Like Christ, exceptional teachers such as Arnold can impact and change the trajectory of their students’ lives. Arnold had such an effect on my life and the lives of countless other students he taught throughout the course of his career.
I first met Arnold as a student at Middlebury College in January of 1998, while he was a visiting professor teaching Caribbean History and Anthropology. There were a handful of students of Caribbean descent like me who took Arnold’s class to learn more about ourselves. Boy, did we get more than what we bargained. From the very first class, Arnold was entertaining, thought-provoking and at times a little controversial: it was always hard to tell if Arnold believed a statement he made or if he was just trying to get a reaction out of you to further inspire more debate! Arnold’s class was originally slated to just have 20 students, but as word got out about the brilliant, funny and down to earth visiting professor from the Virgin Islands, soon the class swelled to 50 students and was standing room only! After class, students would swarm Arnold to ask him to further clarify the history of colonialism or the religions practiced by the local indigenous populations. I was standing off to the side on one of these occasions not saying much, very unlike me, and Arnold who always noticed everything asked me how I was doing. I explained to him that I didn’t feel like I socially fit in at Middlebury and that academically I was struggling. I was thinking of transferring to another school. Arnold invited me over to dinner at his home that night with his wife, Shirley. I remember pulling up to their driveway in Chipman Park, like I would countless times in years to come, and knocking on their front door. Arnold always in his library, would peek over at the front door and say, “Hey Henry, come on in and make yourself at home.” When he was done, we sat in Arnold’s library and we just talked. I remember asking him, “Dr. Highfield, how do you do it? I mean don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a white guy from Ohio teaching Caribbean history in St. Croix to black people; How do you fit in?” I can still hear him laughing and saying, “Well, Henry, you get right to the point, don’t you? Well, I’ve come to realize that if you sincerely
take an interest in other people and just be your true self, you will be accepted no matter where you go. That doesn’t mean some people may not like you, but that’s their issue, not yours.” Arnold taught me how to embrace others while at the same time being unapologetically myself. In regards to my academics, Arnold helped me catch up during the remainder of my first year by reviewing my papers prior to submission, having intense discussions about my readings over Chinese food at the Panda House in Marble Works and by recommending additional readings that would help me challenge what I was being taught in class and think more critically. On Arnold’s memorial website, his daughter, Leslie Highfield Carter included one of his favorite sayings, “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent
perspiration.” Arnold was teaching me to overcome adversity and to succeed the only way he knew how - through hard work and constant study.
Since Arnold’s passing last month on September 8th 2019, I’ve tried to come to terms with my own grief by trying to remember some of the many conversations we had over two decades. The conversation that stands out the most is one I had with Arnold late in the evening at the
Highfield’s home in St. Croix. Since religion was one of my areas of study at Middlebury, Arnold and I had spoken about religion and theology on many occasions. I asked Arnold how he was coping with his illness and how his mind was doing, and he replied, “Henry, my whole life I thought with pride that my mind could help me overcome anything. If I thought about any problem, long enough I could fix it. My mind was everything. I’ve realized that my intellect isn’t enough anymore, and I’ve found some peace going to Catholic Mass, reading the bible and in meditation.” As someone who was struggling with his own faith, I found it extraordinary that Arnold, someone who was a devout rationalist was able to find his way back to God with such humility and clarity and ultimately was able to receive some semblance
of peace.
But when I look back at Arnold’s life as a scholar it was one of perpetual contemplation. It was as if Arnold was an honorary member of a monastery his whole life! As a historical scholar, Arnold dedicated his life to preserving this world’s memory and imparting that knowledge to the next generation. As a poet and philosopher, Arnold dedicated his life to preserving the things of beauty, love, and nature that were found in this world. In all his varied relentless intellectual pursuits, it was as if Arnold was striving to experience existence in its fullest and purest forms.
Arnold’s renewed relationship with God reminded me of a passage from St. Augustine’s Confessions:
“Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you. And
see, you were within, and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state, I plunged into those lovely created things which you made. You were with me, and I was not with you. The lovely things kept me far from you, though if they did not have their existence in you, they had no existence at all. You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent, you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you. I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.”
Shirley Highfield recently told me that two months ago Arnold had the most beautiful dream ever--that he was running and walking all around St. Croix! As Arnold told Shirley this dream, his eyes beamed with joy! May our dear brother, Arnold be running and walking in Heaven. May Arnold be in eternal peace contemplating the wonders of God’s universe. May he finally be experiencing life in its fullest no longer limited by the illness of his body. May his eyes be fully enjoying the wonder that is all of creation.
Arnold, you will be missed by all of us you’ve left behind but may we continue your legacy while we still live on this earth. And, when the day comes that we too shall pass on, we hope to see you once more in your heavenly home
saying to us, “come on in and make yourself at home.”
St. Mary's Church Funeral Mass, Middlebury VT 10/12/19
Delivered by Henry Flores - Middlebury Class of 2001
Good morning everyone. We are all here today to celebrate the amazing life of a truly remarkable and exceptional human being, Dr. Arnold Highfield. Arnold, as you all know, was a devoted scholar of world history and languages having taught at the University of the Virgin Islands for over 50 years. Arnold dedicated his life to the pursuit of knowledge and in service of his students, his community, his family and his friends. To be a teacher is to have a special calling in life. Christ was a teacher who taught us how to live our lives and how to treat others to make this world better. Christ through his teachings changed the course of human history.
Like Christ, exceptional teachers such as Arnold can impact and change the trajectory of their students’ lives. Arnold had such an effect on my life and the lives of countless other students he taught throughout the course of his career.
I first met Arnold as a student at Middlebury College in January of 1998, while he was a visiting professor teaching Caribbean History and Anthropology. There were a handful of students of Caribbean descent like me who took Arnold’s class to learn more about ourselves. Boy, did we get more than what we bargained. From the very first class, Arnold was entertaining, thought-provoking and at times a little controversial: it was always hard to tell if Arnold believed a statement he made or if he was just trying to get a reaction out of you to further inspire more debate! Arnold’s class was originally slated to just have 20 students, but as word got out about the brilliant, funny and down to earth visiting professor from the Virgin Islands, soon the class swelled to 50 students and was standing room only! After class, students would swarm Arnold to ask him to further clarify the history of colonialism or the religions practiced by the local indigenous populations. I was standing off to the side on one of these occasions not saying much, very unlike me, and Arnold who always noticed everything asked me how I was doing. I explained to him that I didn’t feel like I socially fit in at Middlebury and that academically I was struggling. I was thinking of transferring to another school. Arnold invited me over to dinner at his home that night with his wife, Shirley. I remember pulling up to their driveway in Chipman Park, like I would countless times in years to come, and knocking on their front door. Arnold always in his library, would peek over at the front door and say, “Hey Henry, come on in and make yourself at home.” When he was done, we sat in Arnold’s library and we just talked. I remember asking him, “Dr. Highfield, how do you do it? I mean don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a white guy from Ohio teaching Caribbean history in St. Croix to black people; How do you fit in?” I can still hear him laughing and saying, “Well, Henry, you get right to the point, don’t you? Well, I’ve come to realize that if you sincerely
take an interest in other people and just be your true self, you will be accepted no matter where you go. That doesn’t mean some people may not like you, but that’s their issue, not yours.” Arnold taught me how to embrace others while at the same time being unapologetically myself. In regards to my academics, Arnold helped me catch up during the remainder of my first year by reviewing my papers prior to submission, having intense discussions about my readings over Chinese food at the Panda House in Marble Works and by recommending additional readings that would help me challenge what I was being taught in class and think more critically. On Arnold’s memorial website, his daughter, Leslie Highfield Carter included one of his favorite sayings, “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent
perspiration.” Arnold was teaching me to overcome adversity and to succeed the only way he knew how - through hard work and constant study.
Since Arnold’s passing last month on September 8th 2019, I’ve tried to come to terms with my own grief by trying to remember some of the many conversations we had over two decades. The conversation that stands out the most is one I had with Arnold late in the evening at the
Highfield’s home in St. Croix. Since religion was one of my areas of study at Middlebury, Arnold and I had spoken about religion and theology on many occasions. I asked Arnold how he was coping with his illness and how his mind was doing, and he replied, “Henry, my whole life I thought with pride that my mind could help me overcome anything. If I thought about any problem, long enough I could fix it. My mind was everything. I’ve realized that my intellect isn’t enough anymore, and I’ve found some peace going to Catholic Mass, reading the bible and in meditation.” As someone who was struggling with his own faith, I found it extraordinary that Arnold, someone who was a devout rationalist was able to find his way back to God with such humility and clarity and ultimately was able to receive some semblance
of peace.
But when I look back at Arnold’s life as a scholar it was one of perpetual contemplation. It was as if Arnold was an honorary member of a monastery his whole life! As a historical scholar, Arnold dedicated his life to preserving this world’s memory and imparting that knowledge to the next generation. As a poet and philosopher, Arnold dedicated his life to preserving the things of beauty, love, and nature that were found in this world. In all his varied relentless intellectual pursuits, it was as if Arnold was striving to experience existence in its fullest and purest forms.
Arnold’s renewed relationship with God reminded me of a passage from St. Augustine’s Confessions:
“Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you. And
see, you were within, and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state, I plunged into those lovely created things which you made. You were with me, and I was not with you. The lovely things kept me far from you, though if they did not have their existence in you, they had no existence at all. You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent, you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you. I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.”
Shirley Highfield recently told me that two months ago Arnold had the most beautiful dream ever--that he was running and walking all around St. Croix! As Arnold told Shirley this dream, his eyes beamed with joy! May our dear brother, Arnold be running and walking in Heaven. May Arnold be in eternal peace contemplating the wonders of God’s universe. May he finally be experiencing life in its fullest no longer limited by the illness of his body. May his eyes be fully enjoying the wonder that is all of creation.
Arnold, you will be missed by all of us you’ve left behind but may we continue your legacy while we still live on this earth. And, when the day comes that we too shall pass on, we hope to see you once more in your heavenly home
saying to us, “come on in and make yourself at home.”
September 23, 2019
September 23, 2019
Dr. Highfield was on of my favorite professors at UVI. I had him early on in my undergraduate career. His style of teaching had me coming early to class to get a seat in the front of the room. I remember one Southern student was giving a presentations and she kept saying "Rice" as "Rass" and Dr. Highfield chimed in to say, "In St. Croix, 'rass' means something different." and the whole class just busted out laughing! I'll never forget him.
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"Big A"
September 8, 2023
by Larry Brown
Arnie left a huge influence wherever he set his footprint. I consider it an honor to have known him
September 25, 2019
The following is a bit of Eulogistic Musings from Alfred L. Anduze, MD, to my friend and brother,
Arnold Ray Highfield, born March 10, 1940 in New Boston, Ohio, educated at Ohio State University where he met and married Shirley nee de Chabert, a very close family friend of ours. On behalf of the Anduze family, our children who were raised together and are still in close contact and the extended tribes of the entire US Virgin Islands that he loved so dearly, I offer our condolences and sincerest appreciation for letting us share in Arnold’s extraordinary life.
With degrees in Medieval history and Romance Linguistics, an admiration for culture, and after traveling Europe to places they would return on recurring cycles, Arnold and Shirley settled in St Croix and became immersed in the educational system from High School to University. It was at this time that I had the privilege of first meeting “Arnie” at a small dinner given by my sister, Alicia, a close friend of Shirley’s. She promised that I would relish the social and educational experience, and she was right. His command of Caribbean and European cultures and the ability to convey their inner mechanisms was inspiring and motivational beyond expectation.
Additionally, myself and many others would continue to enjoy the intellectual stimulation that became the legend of Professor Dr Arnold Highfield. From discussions of syzygy (alignment of celestial orbs, peoples’ ideas or ordinary events) to descriptions of island food; from all the accomplishments, honors and accolades bestowed upon him for his ability to acquire and impart knowledge over the years; and now, after his passing, the one thing that stands out in my mind above all else… was his mastery of the art of conversation.
To excel in this artistry, one had to first, be a good listener. This he could do effortlessly, include you in the conversation and give you a value that you could improve upon. Then with a twinkle in his eyes and the curling smile from one end of his mouth to the other, and in at least six languages of English, French, Spanish, Crucian and Creole, and perhaps more, Arnie could and would share ideas and convey concepts is such a way that the speaker-turned-learner always felt the comfort and accomplishment of ingesting and digesting something new, something worthwhile, …knowledge. In any conversation at no matter what level, he never left you out. That is genius.
Then, when you thought all was finished and without any great announcement or fanfare, he would insert the “grace note”…that extra embellishment in the middle or at the end of a sequence of musical notes that all good jazz musicians give or extra word or flow of words of significance that all very good professors and orators have and display at exactly the right moment and for exactly the right situation…that adds that little extra you didn’t expect but greatly appreciate…the hidden spice that raises the dish to another level… the tidbit that made the interaction all worthwhile… the little “cate” that would make you remember the encounter for years to come.
Very few intellectual conversations of late, involving those who, like my wife, Sari, to whom he was a mentor, were privileged to have interacted with and known Arnie could proceed far without some mention of “Arnold Highfield said this and said that”.
We all just nod and smile and relish the good memory of an inveterate scholar and dear friend.
Arnold Ray Highfield, born March 10, 1940 in New Boston, Ohio, educated at Ohio State University where he met and married Shirley nee de Chabert, a very close family friend of ours. On behalf of the Anduze family, our children who were raised together and are still in close contact and the extended tribes of the entire US Virgin Islands that he loved so dearly, I offer our condolences and sincerest appreciation for letting us share in Arnold’s extraordinary life.
With degrees in Medieval history and Romance Linguistics, an admiration for culture, and after traveling Europe to places they would return on recurring cycles, Arnold and Shirley settled in St Croix and became immersed in the educational system from High School to University. It was at this time that I had the privilege of first meeting “Arnie” at a small dinner given by my sister, Alicia, a close friend of Shirley’s. She promised that I would relish the social and educational experience, and she was right. His command of Caribbean and European cultures and the ability to convey their inner mechanisms was inspiring and motivational beyond expectation.
Additionally, myself and many others would continue to enjoy the intellectual stimulation that became the legend of Professor Dr Arnold Highfield. From discussions of syzygy (alignment of celestial orbs, peoples’ ideas or ordinary events) to descriptions of island food; from all the accomplishments, honors and accolades bestowed upon him for his ability to acquire and impart knowledge over the years; and now, after his passing, the one thing that stands out in my mind above all else… was his mastery of the art of conversation.
To excel in this artistry, one had to first, be a good listener. This he could do effortlessly, include you in the conversation and give you a value that you could improve upon. Then with a twinkle in his eyes and the curling smile from one end of his mouth to the other, and in at least six languages of English, French, Spanish, Crucian and Creole, and perhaps more, Arnie could and would share ideas and convey concepts is such a way that the speaker-turned-learner always felt the comfort and accomplishment of ingesting and digesting something new, something worthwhile, …knowledge. In any conversation at no matter what level, he never left you out. That is genius.
Then, when you thought all was finished and without any great announcement or fanfare, he would insert the “grace note”…that extra embellishment in the middle or at the end of a sequence of musical notes that all good jazz musicians give or extra word or flow of words of significance that all very good professors and orators have and display at exactly the right moment and for exactly the right situation…that adds that little extra you didn’t expect but greatly appreciate…the hidden spice that raises the dish to another level… the tidbit that made the interaction all worthwhile… the little “cate” that would make you remember the encounter for years to come.
Very few intellectual conversations of late, involving those who, like my wife, Sari, to whom he was a mentor, were privileged to have interacted with and known Arnie could proceed far without some mention of “Arnold Highfield said this and said that”.
We all just nod and smile and relish the good memory of an inveterate scholar and dear friend.