The late Joe Ret serving roast pig at Festival Noel in Grand Bahama in December 2010. Photo: Derek Carroll

Ret, a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Lucaya, was originally from Germany, and reportedly arrived in Grand Bahama in the 1960s.

On Wednesday, December 29, 2010, Ret drowned, and three other men were injured, when the boat they were in ran aground on rocks in the Lucayan Waterway, near the canal entry.

A search for the vessel ensued after it had not returned some two hours after its expected arrival time. After the three other men were rescued, the search continued for Ret, whose body was discovered at approximately 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 30 in waters off the Club Fortuna Resort. An autopsy is expected to be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

Ret's close friend Peter von Albedyhll told The Freeport News yesterday that he worked with Ret, who was an electrician, at Bahama cement company in Grand Bahama in the 60s. Ret was later employed at a steel company on the island for some time and in later years worked as a caretaker of apartments.

According to von Albedyhll, Ret was in his early 70s, had never been married, and had no kids. He would visit Germany approximately every two years.

Ret was well-known on the island for one of his hobbies, roasting whole pigs, which he shared at various social gatherings.

"It was a hobby. He used to invite us to his home and do the pig roast and he made a business out of it in the last 15 years or more I believe," said von Albedyhll.

"He was definitely an asset to the community. He appeared in many of the festivities we had here doing his pig roast. He was very active."

Roger Pinder, a member of the Rotary Club of Freeport, told of how he was one of the first persons to get Ret to roast a pig about 20 years ago.

"Many years ago we had a very large group of Rotarians come from overseas to Freeport for our district conference, and I had a whole bunch of close friends of mine from the Key West Club and I had a big party for them at my residence. I had Joe bake the pig, and that's one of the first times he did it," Pinder said, adding that he spent a lot of time with Ret outside of Rotary activities.

"We'd go down to Lewis Yard and we'd sit there and have something to eat. We'd have a couple of drinks and we'd talk or we'd go out to Gold Rock Creek or Fortune Bay and do the same thing there," he said.

"Joe was just a socializing fella, he liked to have a good time with his friends, he loved giving back to Rotary. Every time we asked Joe to do something he was there to help, and gave a lot of his own personal time. He was a good man, he will be missed by all."

Pinder noted that Ret also enjoyed fishing, and worked with The Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA) in the past.

Rotary Club of Lucaya member Dudley Powell also shared his memories of Ret yesterday.

"Joe was just a good guy, he would go beyond the call of duty. He was a good person in terms of truly practicing service above self. Joe thought of himself last, and put others in front. He was just a solid citizen," he said.

Another club colleague of Ret's, Lisbeth Rutzou, described him as a "true Rotarian."

"He was very passionate about Rotary and did not want to miss a meeting. He was there for any event. One of his favourite events was a Christmas party for the Beacon School - he always wanted to make sure he was there for that."

Another fellow Rotarian, Carver Grant, said Ret was quite a lovable person who was always happy.

"Joe was truly a Bahamian -German. He was super. He'll be missed."

Rotarian Ambrose Gouthro said he believes Ret will be remembered mostly for his community activities.

"He considered Grand Bahama his home and loved it here and he was dedicated to the Bahamian idea and the Bahamian people, " he said.

"He was a great friend on a Tuesday afternoon (at Rotary meetings) and at other community and social events. We always sat at the bar and had a beer and enjoyed each other's company very much. We will miss him very much."

Rotarian Steve Dillet said although outside of the Rotary club Ret was known as the "roast pig man," in the Rotary Club of Lucaya he was known as the "hands-on man," as whenever there was a project, no matter what work was required, he would be there to lend a hand.

He said Ret was "very lucky' and would win the weekly raffle often.

"Joe was also the life of the club. He didn't say much, but he made everybody laugh," he said.

"If you check his record, he is a Paul Harris Fellow, he gave to the Rotary Foundation and every function that we had, Joe was in attendance, unless he was off the island."

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