Peter “Ducho” Thomas, 85, well-known boxing coach and a People’s United Party loyalist, is dead. He died in his home on Partridge Street Extension in Belize City around 8:00 a.m. today, Thursday, March 15.
He was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital around 9:00 a.m., and was declared dead around 11 a.m. this morning. No foul play was suspected in his death.
His daughter, Jennifer Thomas, told Amandala that she went to see her father and found him dead in his room after she received a call from a family friend that he looked as if he had died. She called the police and the undertaker, who came and took him to the Karl Heusner Hospital Morgue.
Jennifer said that Ducho had been suffering with a terminal illness. She said that he was released from the hospital on Wednesday, March 14, and was taken to his house. She insisted that she had to stay with him, but he was adamant that she go home to do her business, and that he would call her. She was shocked to later learn that he had died.
Jennifer said that she will miss her father dearly, and it will be difficult for her to live without him. She had refused to go to the United States and opted to stay here in Belize to care for him. She said that he was a well-known boxing coach and trainer.
He was often at the Battlefield Park, where he loved to spend time with various individuals who viewed the park as their home. Jennifer said that he was a PUP loyalist and in the March 7 elections, he was working in Hattieville for Dolores Balderamos Garcia, on behalf of his party. She said that he loved Belize so much that he refused to go to the United States, despite frequent invitations by his children.
Ducho Thomas was the father of eight children, including Yvonne, Joan, Jennifer and Ernest Harrison, among others. Funeral services have been set for Thursday, March 22, at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Martin de Porres Church on Partridge Street in Belize City, and the internment will follow at the Lord Ridge Cemetery.
Jennifer said that her father had requested that Evan X Hyde read his eulogy when he died.
Amandala offers sincere condolences to the family and friends of Peter “Ducho” Thomas.