The "Buncamper Family" Story

It was an ordinary day.  My wife and I decided it was time to take a break from lounging on the beach day after day during our vacation to the island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten.  So, we decided to head to Philipsburg, which is the capital of the Dutch side of the island known as "The Friendly Island", and buy a few bottles of rum for gifts for family members.  We usually park on the east side of town at a parking lot known as Bobby's Marina.  As we drove along the edge of town toward the lot, we always pass this really neat house that seems as if no one ever lives there.  

The Buncamper home at the end of Front Street as
it appeared years ago.

Then one day as I am looking online about something, up pops this old photograph of the same house.  Seems it was the home of one of the islands most influential families in the early 1900s.  The Buncamper family was very influential in development of the Dutch side of the island.  The home was a two-story located at the end of Front Street.  The family icon, Mr. Walter Buncamper had been the Acting Lieutenant Governor of the Windward Islands for years.  

Photo as the home appears today.

He finally retired and opened an office in his house where he would give legal advice to people.  It was said that when you visited with Mr. Buncamper he would offer a glass of fine whiskey to you.  He was quite a talker and loved to reminisce about his career with the Courts and as Administrator of Saba and later as Governor of the island.  The house was an enormous building with large rooms.  The downstairs was at times rented to retail businesses.  There were many generations of relatives that lived in that house, but the one that I enjoyed reading about the most was his son, young Eddie.  Eddie was the son that he had the most trouble with as a child.  Eddie had his father's height and his mother's color.  The tall blond, blue-eyed young man who at the age of thirteen told his dad that he was going to quite school and work on the pier that was close to the family home.  His dad tried to talk him out of it, but to no avail.  Eddie loved working on the new pier that was a recent addition.  Just so happened that by the time he was sixteen or seventeen he had started his own shipping company and was on his way to becoming a millionaire by the age of eighteen.  He had borrowed ten thousand guilders from his father to start his business and his father was so concerned about the money that Eddie paid back the loan in record time.  It was said that in the book "The Rich and the Super Rich", nine out of ten of the most successful businessmen had dropped out of high school.  Eddie was one of them who even though he never read much, was very successful in business.  He was charismatic and easily attracted friends.  Whatever spare time he had was dedicated to having a good time and accommodating the fairer sex.  It was said that if you travelled with Eddie, when you returned you had to go to confession for two weeks.  Eddie had one of his good friends from Front Street, Harold Philips, as his boat captain and body guard.  Eddie had converted a WWII mine sweeper into a yacht that he shared with friends.  Eddie died at the age of 41 after living a fantastic life on Sint Maarten.  His funeral was held at the Roman Catholic Church on Front Street.  The local newspaper published his obituary which told of his life working at the island's harbor and leaving behind a well-oiled organization which will continue to perform after his death.  When Carol and I passed the old Buncamper family home as we drove into Philipsburg, we will alway remember the family that was one of the most memorable and influential in Sint Maarten.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - The following was the Eulogy offered at the funeral for Mr. Edward Francis Buncamper.

“Edward Francis Buncamper was born on Saint Maarten on April 12^th, 1949. He was the son of former Lt. Governor of the Windward Islands the late Walter Granville Buncamper of Saint Maarten and the late Olga Elena Hassell of Saba.

     At an age when most young people are agonizing about the uncertainties of high school, Edward decided to forego all of that and to take a short cut to success. At the age of fifteen he was already working as a Jack-of-all-trades on the A.C. Wathey pier at Pointe Blanche. Because of this he came in contact with the owners of various shipping companies.

    By the time that most young people are trying to make up their mind as to which College they should attend, Edward had started his own business and was well on his way to becoming one of St. Maarten’s most successful entrepreneurs. He had not passed on life’s highway the stone that marks the highest point, but, being weary for a moment, he lay down by the wayside, and, using his burden for a pillow, fell into a dreamless sleep that kisses down his eyelids still. While yet in love with life and raptured with the world he passed to silence by his untimely death.

    He was a giant among men. A man of great enterprise and vision. Where others saw failure, he saw opportunity. He was always planning and getting involved in new business ventures, and was active in various businesses on all three Dutch Windward Islands. Although he never ran for political office, he was considered by all who knew him to be a true politician. Whenever you saw Eddie in a group there were always one or two politicians in tow. He loved the intrigue of the political world and obviously savoured the intricacies which are part of political life. He appreciated the ribald irreverence and the street defiance of the high and mighty, which are the backbone of West Indian politics. Even when he did not see eye to eye with an adversary he dealt with them in a spirit of joviality and with no animosity whatsoever. When anger was necessary he expressed it in a theatrical more than in an angry way.

    In a world where true friendship and compassion seem to have been lost, Eddie proved to be both compassionate and a true friend. His wealth was displayed in the season of beneficence and not in the vanity of discourse. Neither his success as a businessman, nor his political influence ever went to his head. His employees of many years, as well as his friends can attest to the fact that he was EDDY and just that. No Mr. Buncamper, No “Boss man” or any such title.

    And so we are here today, family, friends, and the community at large, including those from the neighbouring islands to say a final farewell to this great son of the Windward Islands.

  We share in the sorrow of the entire Buncamper family. While for them few comforting words can be found at this time, I would like to quote from an oration by Robert Green Ingersoll at his brother’s grave;

    “The loved and loving brother, husband, father, friend died where manhood’s morning almost touches noon, and while the shadows still were falling toward the West. This brave and tender man in every storm of life was OAK and ROCK, but in the sunshine was VINE and FLOWER. He climbed the heights and left all superstitions far below, while on his forehead fell the golden dawning of a grander day. He sided with the weak and with a willing hand gave alms; He added to the sum of human joy; and were every one to whom he did some loving service to bring a blossom to his grave, he would sleep tonight beneath a wilderness of flowers.”

   And as for myself, I have not attempted to excite your emotions, I am trying to repress my own; Instead of the language of a public speaker, you will hear only the lamentations of a wailing friend.

MAY HE REST IN PEACE.