By Gemma Handy
A lover of life with a warm smile who was always thinking of others.
That’s how an Antiguan chef who died on Monday in a yacht disaster in Europe is being remembered by loved ones.
Recaldo Thomas was among 22 people aboard the Bayesian superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily during a violent storm.
The 58-year-old has been named as the sole confirmed death; six more people were still missing up to news time.
Thomas was born in Canada to Antiguan parents and raised in Calgary. He had made Antigua his permanent base almost three decades ago, living at his family’s home in Clare Hall.
Heartbreakingly, the ill-fated trip was to be one of his last before he retired here, his close friend of 30 years, Gareth Williams, told Observer.
“He was saving up and doing a lot of work to the house so he could finally retire here; that’s what he wanted to do. His plan was to do two more seasons just to finish the house and then kick back, cook food, do something different,” Williams explained.
“He had sciatic nerve issues and being on boats, standing up, was tiring but he would push on through and never let you see him miserable or upset. He was always just a positive human being.”
Thomas was an acclaimed professional chef and had worked aboard numerous luxury yachts over the years.
He was one of 10 crew members aboard the boat which capsized when it was hit by a tornado in the early hours of Monday morning, according to the Italian coastguard.
Fifteen people were rescued including a woman and her one-year-old baby. Those still missing are British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his teenage daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley boss Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, and US lawyer Chris Morvillo and wife Neda.
Thomas’ body is the only one recovered so far. While both his parents are deceased, he leaves behind an older brother and sister.
Williams said while Thomas spoke fondly of his childhood in Calgary, he was “an Antiguan through and through”.
“I will remember him for his very calming attitude,” he continued. “He had this aura, a warm smile, a really sultry deep voice. He also had something that all of us want that we’re not blessed with; he had the ability to just go through life and take it as it comes but always be positive.
“He was great with animals, kind and caring, always thinking of people.”
Williams said he believes Thomas’ last selfless act may have been shortly before his death.
“They say that they found his body in the water, that he had made it off the boat. I heard the last people off the boat were the mother and baby.
“I know in my heart of hearts that he probably could have jumped off earlier but heard things and would not leave the boat without trying to help. I know this,” he added.
Thomas’ cousin David Isaac told Observer “Rick died doing what he loved”.
“He was probably the freest spirit you could ever meet. He decided he wanted to move here from Canada many years ago and I said, go for it. He adjusted very quickly to living here and made tonnes of friends,” Isaac recalled.
“He travelled all over the world and would tell me about the places he’d visited. He was doing really well and had moved up from working on small boats to big yachts.
“No one who knew Rick ever saw him upset; he always had a big smile on his face,” Isaac added.
Another close friend of Thomas, Martin Dudley, described him as a “great friend in my darkest times”.
“He was kind, caring and a compassionate giant of a human,” Dudley told Observer.
Many others paid tribute on social media, noting Thomas’ friendly nature, sense of humour and passion for sailing.
