Daryl George Sr. Photo Credit: GOVERNMENT HOUSE, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Daryl George Sr., director of Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services, has died, Governor Albert Bryan has announced.
Mr. Bryan, who made the announcement Tuesday afternoon, called Mr. George a "dedicated public servant and cherished member of my Cabinet."
Mr. George's unexpected passing weighed heavily on the governor, who has known the man colloquially called "Mousy" since the two were children. "Mousy was more than just a member of my Cabinet, he was family," the governor said. "His unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our people was nothing short of remarkable. As a firefighter and first responder, he dedicated his life to protecting others, often risking his own safety to ensure the security of our community," Mr. Bryan said in a statement.
In 2022, Mr. George realized a long-time goal after the Legislature agreed to merge the territory's fire and emergency medical services. The former fire services director was perhaps the natural choice to lead the newly consolidated agency, and thus Mr. George was duly appointed as VIFEMS director to fulsome praise from lawmakers.
Mr. George served as head of VIFEMS until this Friday, when a medical emergency left him hospitalized, where he remained until his passing. In his honor, Governor Bryan has ordered flags in the territory to be flown at half-staff until Wednesday evening. "This is a small yet significant gesture to remember and pay tribute to a life that touched so many," Mr. Bryan remarked.
