Feb. 19, 2003 – The death of Vitalia L. Wallace, 81, of St. Thomas has been announced. She died Feb. 13 at the Roy L. Schneider hospital. Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at Calvary Baptist Church, with viewing at 9 a.m.
She was a retired educator and administrator with the V.I. Education Department and the university when it was the College of the Virgin Islands.
On Tuesday Gov. Charles W. Turnbull issued a release expressing "profound condolence to the family and friends of the late noted educator."
The University of the Virgin Islands has extended condolences to the family of Professor Emerita Wallace, who served as director of financial aid, associate dean and director of student affairs at the College of the Virgin Islands during its formative years, said a UVI release.
"She will be remembered as a person who cared very much for CVI’s students and maintained high standards for them," UVI President Dr. LaVerne Ragster said.
UVI personnel Jose Raul Carrillo, Doris Battiste and Dr. Ronald Harrigan all recall Vitalia Wallace as a mentor early in their respective university careers.
"She was a wonderful person. She was my mentor," Harrigan said. "I really learned a lot from her."
Mrs. Wallace was aunt to Hilda Joyce, UVI's director of academic administration. "Auntie Vita, as we affectionately called her, was my 90-year-old mother's youngest sibling," Joyce said. "I think because we both worked at UVI we were particularly close. I will miss her."