U.S. educator, active in Belize, dies at Caye Caulker

A good friend of Belize has died. Dr. Gay Wilentz, Director of Ethnic Studies at East Carolina University in the U.S.A., also worked as a visiting professor at the University of Belize. Her work here dated back to 1991 and she made it possible for a number of Belizeans to further their studies at E.C.U., while at the same time bringing American students to study in Belize. Wilentz edited several Belizean literature books, including the Belizean Women Writers series, the poetry anthology “She”, “Conch Shell” by Jose Sanchez, and “Speak To Me/Háblame” by Amado Chan. She is survived by her husband, John Sabella, and countless grieving students in Belize, the United States, and Africa. Gay Wilentz passed away on Monday at her home in Caye Caulker. She was fifty-five years old.