ST. CROIX — Pedro “Pete” Encarnacion, a former St. Croix senator, longtime member of the Virgin Islands Fire Service, and senior government official, died Friday. He was 66.
Born on March 21, 1960, Encarnacion spent decades serving the people of St. Croix as a firefighter, lawmaker, and executive branch official.
His wife, Janie, announced his passing, noting that his life had been a cherished blessing to many.
“If you were lucky enough to be in Pedro’s life, you know the unbelievably kind, selfless, loving, and funny human being he was,” the statement read.
In addition to Encarnacion’s passion for emergency services, his wife noted that he enjoyed his family, serving and worshiping God, music, and serving his community.
“Nothing was more important to him than spending time talking, laughing and storytelling with the people he loved and reading to the children,” the statement read. “His heart had no boundaries and nor did his friendships. Pedro’s carefree and generous life energy repeatedly inspired people’s hearts and minds. Nobody could have asked for a better son, brother, father, friend, uncle and husband.”
Encarnacion spent more than 20 years in the Virgin Islands Fire Service, working his way up through the ranks from firefighter to fire marshal, arson investigator, chief, and ultimately to director of the agency. Along the way, he earned a fire science degree that sharpened his investigative skills and helped modernize department operations.
Marcellino Ventura Sr., a retired Fire Service colleague and close friend, remembered Encarnacion as a thorough leader who took his responsibilities seriously.
“Pete was a very fair-minded supervisor,” Ventura said. “Made sure that you know your job, made sure that you’re prepared for when that alarm rings, that you go out and do the best to your ability. He was also very, very concerned with fire safety, especially as it relates to the children and the elderly.”
Ventura said Encarnacion also helped modernize the department.
“He was also very instrumental in bringing us into the beginning of the computer era in the Fire Service,” Ventura said. “He was very meticulous in terms of his investigation techniques.”
Ventura said he and Encarnacion worshipped together for years at Speak the Word Ministries, where they both served as elders under Pastor Dexter Skepple.
Skepple remembered Encarnacion as a pillar of the congregation, noting he was faithful, talented, respected, and deeply devoted to his wife and two children.
“He played the saxophone for many years,” Skepple said. “I loved when he did his many solo parts.”
Skepple recalled when Encarnacion told him he was considering running for the Senate.
“I remember when he came to me and said, ‘man, I am thinking about running for the Senate. What do you think?’” Skepple said. “And I said, ‘let’s go for it.’ And he did such an awesome, awesome job.”
Skepple did not know how Encarnacion died but noted he had a brain tumor years ago, and he relocated to Florida for health care.
“He’s been fighting the aftereffects of it, and he moved to Orlando for better treatment,” he said.
After his time with the Fire Service, Encarnacion successfully ran for Senate in 2004 and served one term in the 26th Legislature.
Among those he served alongside was former Senator Neville James, a childhood friend who had grown up near Encarnacion’s family in Estate Sion Farm and who was also running for the first time that year.
“Two childhood friends actually ran for office the very first time back in 2004,” James said. “I knew that he was going to be a good senator.”
James remembered Encarnacion’s campaign.
“We ran first and third in the primary, and then we ran first and second in the general election,” he said.
Encarnacion chaired the Committee on Public Safety, Homeland Security and Justice during his term. James noted that public safety was a big issue at the time.
“That’s when we started to have a lot of victims of gun violence here in the territory,” James said. “During that first part of the new millennium, we had a guns-coming-into-the-territory problem.”
James said Encarnacion was focused on the public safety concern.
“Clearly, he was a firefighter to begin with, so law enforcement and providing protection for the people of the Virgin Islands, and emergency services was big with him.”
Infrastructure was another focus. James credited Encarnacion as the prime sponsor of legislation he co-sponsored that finally got Midland Road paved.
“That was arguably the worst piece of road on St. Croix, and we were the ones who got that paved,” James said.
James described his colleague as a level-headed, detail-oriented lawmaker.
“He was a stickler to details,” James said. “Always immaculately dressed, a professional in every sense of the word.”
When Encarnacion announced in 2006 that he would not seek reelection, James said he was disappointed but not surprised.
“There were certain aspects of politics — he had had a bad situation while he was the fire director; he had gotten undermined while he was the fire director,” James said. “I don’t even know if running for office was something that he always wanted to do. I think the fact that he only served one term kind of confirmed that.”
After leaving the Legislature, Encarnacion was appointed St. Croix administrator in January 2007 by then-Governor John de Jongh Jr. He later served in the de Jongh administration as assistant commissioner of the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation.
De Jongh said he first got to know Encarnacion while traveling St. Croix ahead of his governorship and was immediately struck by his reach within the community.
“As I got to know Pete, I liked his style,” de Jongh said. “I liked the way that he introduced me to people, the number of folks that he knew on St. Croix and that knew him, particularly the Hispanic community. And so, when I became governor, I wanted someone that could do that — that as my administrator, felt comfortable not being in the office, but going out, helping people, doing things. And Pete just impressed me as someone who could do that, and he did.”
De Jongh described Encarnacion’s leadership style as one of “quiet strength.”
“I don’t think I ever really heard him raise his voice,” de Jongh said. “His strength was more in the things that he did and people followed him.”
De Jongh said he eventually realized the administration was underutilizing Encarnacion’s community ties, which led to his move to the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation, which was reorganized during the de Jongh administration from the Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation to have a sharper focus on sports and youth programming.
“We thought that he would be better served in Sports, Parks and Recreation … we were trying to build up the number of events and activities and sports for young adults, for children, really,” he said. “And we thought he could help us with that, and he did.”
De Jongh said Encarnacion will be remembered for his progression through the Fire Service and what it represented for his community.
“Pete, more than anything else, will be remembered for service with Fire Service,” de Jongh said. “I think given his movements up the ranks will be something that people remember him for. I think the administrative position and what he did at Sports, Parks just add to that. But I think he’ll really be seen as someone who made an impact in Fire Service, as a Hispanic, and as a leader within this community.”
Tanya-Marie Singh, WTJX chief executive officer, spoke of her professional observations of Encarnacion.
“I met Pedro when I was in my early 20s reporting for Channel 8 news,” she said. “To this day, and with all due respect, I have not been more impressed with the level of knowledge and transparency of someone in a leadership role in the fire department. He was accessible and meticulous, fostering trust that the department was under competent stewardship. He knew the anatomy of a fire like the back of his hand, and after his investigations, he would provide detailed reports about the fire. He was indeed an exceptional person who was an excellent role model for young men.”
James said what set Encarnacion apart, above all else, was his love for the people he served.
“If there’s one thing I know that Senator Pedro ‘Pete’ Encarnacion did, was he had a love for the people of St. Croix, people of the Virgin Islands, you know, a love for the island,” James said. “I don’t think anybody could question his commitment to wanting St. Croix to be safe and wanting us to reach our potential, our maximum.”
