Valentino Constantine St. Ignatius Johnson
January 21, 1939 to October 14, 2011
Val Johnson was born in Kingston, Jamaica and attended Kingston College in the 1950's. He went on to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of the West Indies. Later he earned a Master's degree from the New School for Social Research after migrating to New York in 1967.
Val was not only a brilliant mind but careful and meticulous in how he did things. For instance, regularly he would send the same dollar amount to the Kingston College Development Trust fund. It was Val's way of telling us that KC mattered to him and contribution to the trust fund was one way of giving back to his high school.
He had a keen sense for fashion and was well known for his impeccable style and distinguished appearance which occasionally graced the pages of Esquire Magazine.
He retired from the New York City Department of Corrections after working 28 years as an analyst. Others jobs included stints as Social Worker and Bank Manager. At one point, he returned to Jamaica where he worked as a personnel manager for several Jamaican resorts, including one that is now known as Hedonism.
Valentino leaves to cherish his memory his step-mother, Hazel Johnson; Faye Dunkley-Johnson and Claudette Smith; Children: Dwight, Jeremy and Tina; as well as grand-children, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Neville Samuel Ignatius Rodney
We regret the passing of Neville Rodney, father of KCOBA New York's first Vice President, Robert "Rodo" Rodney on October 13th, 2011. He was born on March 16, 1927.
Mr. Rodney's funeral was held at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin on Molynes Road in Kingston, Jamaica on October 27th, 2011. He was interred at Dovecot Memorial Park in Spanish Town.