Berkeley To Pay Tribute To Dr Clifford Maxwell

November 7, 2013

berkeley logo avi thumb genericAt 10am on Friday morning [Nov 8], the school bell will toll and the school flag will continue to fly at half mast, as the Faculty and student body pause in tribute to the late Dr. Clifford Maxwell, the fifth principal of the Berkeley Institute.

As an additional mark of respect, faculty, staff and students will assemble to discuss the life works and contributions of Dr. Maxwell and then proceed to form Guard of Honour outside St. Theresa’s Cathedral during his funeral service.

The school choir will perform at the funeral service and at the interment. Classes will resume immediately following the lunch break.

The Board of Governors offered the following tribute: “According to the writings of a former student, Dr. Maxwell could well be described as the embodiment of his predecessors. Like Mr. DaCosta, he demonstrated an untiring devotion to the Berkeley and to his role as educational leader.

“Like Mr. Innis, his educational philosophy was sound, Like Mr. James, he was an excellent mathematician and not unlike Mr. F.S. Furbert, he was a man awed by Berkeley’s great tradition, the tremendous contribution it has made and must continue to be made to Bermuda through its teachers and students.

“Not only was Berkeley’s fifth principal highly qualified academically, he also brought with him the invaluable qualification of experience. He had taught Mathematics for almost a decade at the Bermuda Technical Institute where his dedication to the whole development of the child earned him the highest respect from his students and colleagues alike.

“And only those who knew him well, could appreciate why he chose a former “Tech” student, Captain Alvin Daniels ADC to his Excellency the Governor, to be the keynote speaker at the first Prize Giving of his tenure as Principal.”

“The smile of Dr. Maxwell camouflaged a giant of a man whose insistence on truth, justice and integrity often led him into the arena of quiet but unyielding social disobedience.

“His engagement, and that of his now widow Mrs. Florenz Maxwell, in the struggle to bring about social justice in Bermuda is well documented. Dr. Maxwell brought that same intensity of spirit variously in his capacity as Principal, as a member of the Management Committee of the Berkeley Educational Society and the Governing Body of the school as he fiercely and fearlessly defended the hard fought and well earned status of The Berkeley Institute as an aided school. This is his legacy to his alma mater”.

The Chairman of the Berkeley Educational Society, Mr. Sinclair White said, “The school will have a condolence book on display in the Berkeley Educational Society Historical Room on the main floor of the main building for Berkeleyites – old and new, faculty, staff, students, family and friends to sign. The condolence book will then be presented to Dr. Maxwell’s family as a keepsake”.

Mr. White concluded by repeating: “On Friday, November 8, the school bell will toll and the school flag will fly at half mast. The Berkeley family will pause with the rest of Bermuda to celebrate and recognize the contributions of this man of immense faith whose constancy and concern for loyalty, integrity and justice were unparalleled”.

He added: “May his Soul find Eternal Rest.”

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  1. Pastor Syl Hayward says:

    Ah, NO! Didn’t know he had passed. Deepest sympathies to Mrs. Florenz, his children, and family as well as all the Berkeley family.