Anthony JohnAlbert Dinspel was born on 11th October, 1933 in Germany, to Kathrynand Anthony Dinspel. He was a young boy during World War II andmoved from place to place with his mother, younger sister andgrandparents to avoid the bombs that destroyed several of theirhomes. His father, who was a Police Officer, served in the Army and diedwhen Anthony was 13 years old, due to post-operative complications.This left him as the sole provider for his family and he managedto feed them by working for farmers in the area. After graduatingfrom High School with honours, he completed an apprenticeshipin textiles and this became his trade.
Anthony left his homeland in 1957 and traveled by boat to Canada.He worked in the Uranium mines in Elliott Lake, Northern Ontariofor the first nine months before moving to Toronto where he becamea successful insurance salesman. It was at this time that he methis future wife Shirley who was studying Nursing.
In 1959 he moved to Kitchener, Ontario where he worked in textilesas was his trade. After a courtship of four years he and Shirleywere married on 16th September, 1961 and they lived in Kitchenerfor another ten years.
During that time Anthony worked writing for a German newspaperand he also produced a radio programme for a broadcasting corporationin Germany. In addition he was a professional freelance photographer.In the Fall of 1970 Anthony and Shirley lost their first child,a son Kent, who only lived two days, and not long after, theymoved to Owen Sound, where Shirley had grown up and they had builta home.
Over the next seven years they were blessed with two daughters,Kathryn in 1971 and Kendra in 1973. Anthony continued to workin Kitchener and commuted every week to his job as ProductionManager and Modulator for the local Cable Television Network.Due to Kathryn's ill health, the family moved to the Cayman Islandsin July 1978 where Anthony and Shirley had vacationed and mademany friends. This was Anthonyís home until his passing.
He fulfilled a lifelong dream by purchasing acreage in Northwardthat was good for farming. A family company was started and initiallyhe grew a variety of vegetables, before switching to herbs andspices that he sold to many of the local supermarkets, restaurantsand hotels. Shirley worked as a nurse at the George Town Hospitaland also helped him on the farm, and together they built the familyhome on the property, doing much of the work themselves.
Anthony raised his daughters to know the value of an honest day'swork and to believe that the family is the most important institutionin society. He always encouraged them to be independent, but couldnot help but refer to them as his 'little girls' long after theyhad both left home. He was proud of their academic accomplishmentsand their attainment of professional qualifications.
He enjoyed listening to classical music as well as reading theclassics. He took an avid interest in world affairs and localissues and was a frequent caller to Radio Cayman's 'Open Line'programme in its day. He also became well known for assistingmembers of the financial community with translations for theirGerman clients.
Anthony was ill for eight months prior to his death, and althoughthis limited his mobility a great deal, he managed to remain ingood spirits and retain his sarcastic wit. He will be deeply missedby his widow Shirley, daughter Kathryn and her fiancé,Hank Powell, daughter Kendra and son-in-law Leroy Whorms, granddaughtersKaylee and Jessica, son Frank Peters and sister Annelie Horbuschin Germany, as well as host of other family and friends.