In profound sorrow we the Management & Staff of Turnbull's Funeral Home & Crematory Services announce the passing of Ari Arri, 76, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands who passed away in Los Angeles, California Saturday, February 03, 2024. Ari was a man of many dimensions guided by energy, music, light and the universe.  As an early teen he developed the love for music which allowed him the ability to master the flute, piccolo and drums. He took part in different cultural and sporting events. Ari was a member of the Traditional Inidans,  Jesters baseball team and CAHS track team to name a few.  He graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School Class of 1966 . He attended Southern University on a track scholarship becoming a member of the Southern University Marching Human Jukebox.  While at Southern, Ari changed the world of all HBCU's introducing the melodic Caribbean Indian drumming style; when he co-authored the cadence Jack with Instructor Don Dillon. This cadence, is still played by the Southern's Band as an entrance and exit cadence as well as also being played to this day in some variation throughout the Marching Band Culture.  While at Southern, Ari became a Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc, in which he later became a Charter Member of the first Omega Psi Phi Chapter in the United States Virgin Islands. Along with several other Fraternity Brothers, they successfully applied and were able to charter  Zeta Xi Chapter on August 15,1976.  Ari t
served his country in the US Air Force where he garnered the rank of Sergeant while active in the Vietnam War. After serving his country he decided to serve his community as he became a music educator for 24 years where he served as band director at the following schools; Wayne Aspinall Junior High School, Charlotte Amalie High School, Bertha C. Boschulte Junior High School retiring from Charlotte Amalie High School in 2000. He paved the way for many of our local musicians, as he was instrumental in fostering the love of music and implementing said love in everyday life being exactly what everyone needed at the time, a Teacher, Father, Brother, Friend, Trainer and Healer. Ari was an avid sportsman that traveled with the VI in many different facets, as a representation of our islands' many talents he played the sport he loved most with a passion, Baseball. He played on many teams throughout his time, local to include the Jesters, and 40 plus; nationally, as he made it to the Baltimore Orioles Training camp and international as he played with the Military Travel Baseball team.   As an Olympic team trainer, he traveled to many different corners of the world meeting many nationalities, bridging the gap of traditional and holistic therapy as he was also an Ordained Rehki Master. He spent his retired years in Burbank CA where he was an active mentor for many disabled veterans at the Sepulveda Veterans Medical Center.