So Long, Captain Jonathan Smith
“My dad wanted to be buried out at sea. It was his wish, and we fulfilled it.”
Tuesday 17 August 2021 | 12:12
Close family members prepare to release the body of the late captain Jonathan Smith in the burial at seaon August 16 2021. Inset: The late Captain Smith. Photo: Leon Lord
The late Captain Jonathan Smith was described as an honest man by his eldest son, Tristan Smith.
Captain Smith died on August 9 aged 48, following a road accident.
He was buried at sea yesterday as he had always wished. The late Captain Smith hailed from Lovoni, Ovalau and has maternal links to Lagalevu in Kadavu.
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Post mortem report stated that he died from a heart attack.
“My dad was always a cheerful person, supportive, positive, honest and always full of energy,” Mr Smith said.
“He was someone we could always count on, and he would never let us down. I miss him so much.
“My dad was someone who spoke his mind and says it as it is and that was something I loved about him.
“My dad wanted to be buried out at sea. It was his wish, and we fulfilled it.”
Farewell my love...Wife of the late captain Jonathan Smith says her last goodbye on August 16 2021. Photo: Leon Lord
He is survived by his wife, Mavis, his children, Tristan, Jeric, Carter and Shaula.
ABOUT CAPTAIN JONATHAN SMITH
- Captain Smith was the Operations Manager for Dive Centre Fiji Limited where he led a group of divers that salvaged wrecks at sea.
- He started as a cadet, second officer, chief officer on foreign going cargo ships operating out of Australia and New Zealand.
- He became a Captain, sailing around Fiji as well as the Pacific with his other notable achievements including captaining the traditional ocean-going canoe Uto Ni Yalo between 2010 and 2012.
- Captain Smith traveled extensively during the course of his maritime career and spent a lot of his recent time at the Royal Suva Yacht Club Marina where he carried out his marine engineering work.
Edited by Selita Rabuku
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