This is indeed a small world. So many people connected to Providence came to see WaterFire again in Singapore.
Among them was our dear friend Joe Fernandez’s family, including his sister-in-law Naomi Tinklepaugh, and his nieces and nephews, Leah, Benjamin, Ilana, and Jacob, and their gap year students from Venezuela, Carolina and Cameila.
Joe was a good friend of mine. He was originally from the Philippines, but I had the honor of getting to known him in Providence, through Brown University and Leadership Rhode Island. He was active with Brown as a fellow alum and was the very capable Providence City Solicitor for Mayor David Cicilline. Joe was running for RI Attorney General, when we lost him due to a heart attack. Joe was dearly loved and is missed by many of us.
To find so many of his family here in Singapore visiting WaterFire reaffirms how connected Providence is with the entire world. I also had the pleasure of meeting many other Rhode Islanders including Ann Maroni and Michael Greco.
It is a small world indeed.
Barnaby