Trinette Wellesley-Wesley

Published 4:40 pm Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Saint Barthelemy– Trinette Wellesley-Wesley, born Henriette van Wyck, died February 6, 2022, in Saint Barthelemy, French West Indies. She was born on November 6th, 1933, in The Netherlands. She and her late husband, James, lived in the South of France, Rome, and Tryon before moving to St. Barths. They lived in Tryon on their farm, from 1977 to 1993, where they were very active in the then Pacolet Area Conservancy, the Tryon Fine Arts Center, the Tryon Concert Association, and the Upstairs Artspace. Trinette was involved in the initial funding for the creation of the Upstairs.

She and her parents and siblings escaped to England from The Netherlands during WWII and spent the war there. Their family home had been commandeered for use as Nazi headquarters. Known for her sparkling conversation, she was a deep thinker, with many intellectual and cultural interests. She also was an avid hiker and traveler. Her passion for traveling was instilled in her by her father, who took her on a year-long round-the-world tour at the age of 17. She was active in the affairs of the Anglican church in St. Barths, serving as a churchwarden, as well as running the weekly meditation group for many years. In an interview with the New York Times, when asked what her goal in life was, she replied to be a good person. In that, she was exemplary.

She is survived by her brother, Richard van Wyck, and sister-in-law, Lisbeth, of Brussels, Belgium, sister-in-law, Minou Wellesley-Wesley, of England, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Deborah J Fitzgerald