Alfred Barton Bird - Second in a line in a family of Alfreds. His father being the first and I being an Alfred am the third. No more Alfreds after me, my sons name is Dane. An Alfred here and Alfred there . But there was only one uncle Barton.
Born February 1923 at the family home in South Sound Grand Cayman Island. Oldest of three children by Alfred Decosta and Laurel Naomi Bird. Uncle Barton is survived by sister Francine Smith, the youngest sibling, my mother named Dawn passed away in 1989.
In the beginning Barton began school at a small Presbyterian church that doubled as the islands only school house. Back then there weren't many people on the island so most of the children went there to be taught by Mr. Hill.
During this early period Barton received his first swim lesson when some older boys tried to drown him by throwing him from a hill
into the ocean. Bullies then didn't stop at taking your lunch money. He survived it and by the way he became an excellent swimmer.
As a young boy he worked for the Merren family. They were the wealthiest people in town. His duties were yard boy and cow hand. Not cowboy he actually worked caring for cows on the property. He also worked loading and unloading ships in the harbor. Uncle Barton was determined from a very young age to do whatever it takes to make it.
Unc came to New York with the family at age 14. It took 10 days to come 1500 miles because they took a sailing ship that made a couple of stops. It was 1942, the United States was at war with Germany and the family feared being torpedoed by a Nazi U-boat while spending that much time on the open ocean. Ironically, Alfred Decosta's Merchant Marine ship was torpedoed that next year but he escaped unharmed by the grace of God.
When they arrived they settled in the Bronx, New York. Apparently his love for the ocean and the influence of his father (the aforementioned Merchant Marine seaman) prompted him to join the Navy at age 17. Soon after in 1947 he was assigned to a ship bound for Antarctica with the famous explorer Admiral Robert E. Byrd. It was called operation High jump and he was in Task Force 68. Unc never talked much about the mission that was cut short after a few of weeks. My research indicated there was a violent Naval encounter with Unidentified Flying Aircraft traveling at tremendous speeds. The task force came back to port missing ships and the Navy tried to cover it up by switching names on the ships. My guess, the men were sworn to secrecy.
After his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1953 he finished school and joined the New York police department. I knew him as a
modest man, when I asked him about shoot outs and such he would tell me not really. Just two or three fistfights while taking bad guys down. He must have done it well because he rose to the rank of Lieutenant relatively quickly, and in those days that took some doing for a man of color.
After he put in his twenty years he retired at full pension and eventually took Aunt Hazel to Florida. They had been married since 1955 and were looking to continue the good life.
In Florida he worked part time with local law enforcement public relations. He was very popular around the local schools with his police dog Amber. Uncle Barton and Aunt Hazel traveled extensively and knew people everywhere. He was a devout Christian and cherished his wife Hazel till the day she died. Sadly he passed away 5 days after her on Nov. 16, 2020. The cause of death, Covid 19 complications. They didn't quite make it to their 65th wedding anniversary on Dec. 24.
To say they will be missed is putting it mildly. They were a huge part of our lives and still remain in our prayers.