Eugene Theodore Agard

Eugene Theodore ("Theo") Agard was born on August 15, 1932, in Saint David’s Village, Parish of Christ Church in Barbados. He was the younger of two children born to Pearl Doris Agard (née Best) and Samuel Agard. Theo grew up in a family firmly dedicated to serving God. From childhood, he was an active and dedicated member of the King Street Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bridgetown, Barbados. His family, especially his Uncle George Best (a teacher and headmaster), strongly encouraged educational excellence. He attended the following educational institutions: Saint David’s Boys School; Foundation Boys School; Harrison College; the University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica; the University of London; and the University of Toronto, where he earned a Ph.D. in Medical Physics. His high school and higher education were funded through academic scholarships. In 1960 Theo married the love of his life, Joyce Elaine Phillips, from the Parish of Saint Michael in Barbados. Over the course of the next several years, the couple welcomed two sons and two daughters into their family and lived in various places--Boston, Massachusetts; Saint Augustine, Trinidad; Toronto, Canada; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Dayton and Toledo, Ohio. Additionally, he loved to travel and visited several countries--Canada, Australia, throughout Europe, throughout South America, Ethiopia, Egypt, Hungary, Japan, New Zealand, Kenya, Italy and Korea to name a few. His family was exposed to the world and how others lived as they traveled with him on road trips throughout the United States and to the various other countries. Theo set about teaching his children the truths in the Word of God: the value of education; the virtue of diligent and hard work; the joy of service to mankind; and the benefits of pure, clean fun, such as sea-bathing, i.e., swimming in the ocean, camping, rolling in the grass at parks, playing board games (including dominoes) and singing West Indian folk-songs. The children have many fond memories of him, but they remember him most as a dependable and trustworthy father--a strict disciplinarian who wanted the very best for them. Theo taught mathematics at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts; he taught physics at the University of the West Indies in Saint Augustine, Trinidad; at the Universidad de Puerto Rico; and at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio; and he taught radiology at Kettering College of Medical Arts in Kettering, Ohio. He was also instrumental in founding the Department of Physics at the University of the West Indies in Saint Augustine, Trinidad, and he built a successful career in medical physics, serving as the Director of Medical Physics at the Centro Nuclear (affiliated with the Universidad de Puerto Rico), at Kettering Medical Center in Kettering, Ohio, and at Flower Hospital in Toledo, Ohio. In addition, he wrote several scientific articles that were published in scientific journals. After many years of dedicated academic service, he retired with his wife in Apopka, Florida. But even in retirement, he consulted in medical physics--at times commuting from central Florida to El Dorado, Arkansas, and he tutored students in math at Forest Lake Academy and other schools. In his youth, Theo was also an amateur athlete--playing cricket, football (soccer) and basketball. As a university student he served as captain of a football team. He was accomplished at tennis, both singles and doubles, and played well into his seventies. He also took delight in playing the guitar. A God-fearing man, Theo loved to read, publish, and lecture about science and the Christian faith. Over many decades, he served the church in several capacities: deacon, elder, Sabbath School teacher, hospital board member, choir director, and Bible instructor. Most recently, he was an active member of the Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist Church in Apopka, Florida. Theo is survived by his beloved wife of over 57 years, Joyce Agard; children--Jahiz Noel (Farida), Ian (Debra), Wendy, Linda (Ronald); and grandchildren--Matthew, Lael, Shane, Jaden, and Hiba. He was preceded in death by both of his parents and his sister, Dorothy Agard. He died peacefully at the age of 85 in the company of his son, Ian, on December 31, 2017. He now sleeps in Jesus, awaiting the Second Coming of Christ.

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