Venice-Based Chaplain Speaks at Prime Minister's Funeral in Trinidad and Tobago

From a UCLA Medical Center submission:

Chaplain Joseph Hepburn of Venice couldn’t believe it when he was asked to speak at the state funeral of Trinidad and Tobago’s former President and Prime Minister Arthur Robinson.

“I knew Prime Minister Robinson when I was his pastor in Trinidad, but I hadn’t been in touch with the family for at least four years,” Hepburn said. “So it came as a bit of a surprise when they invited me to serve as the preacher at his funeral.”

The honor shouldn’t have been too surprising for Hepburn, 70, who is currently into the fourth year of his second career, serving as a chaplain for UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica.

His interesting story started in his homeland of Trinidad, where he began his career. After receiving his degree in theology he served as a minister in Guyana, South America and then transferred to the Virgin Islands and St. Kitts.

He ultimately returned to Trinidad and was named superintendent of the North Trinidad Circuit of Churches where we oversaw 11 congregations and was pastor for five. Prime Minister Robinson was an active member of one of Hepburn’s churches and the two became close, especially when Robinson took ill.

“I used to minister to him while he was in the hospital and I also organized visits from church members,” Hepburn said. “I hadn’t seen him since 2010 when I retired and moved to California to begin serving as a hospital chaplain at UCLA.”

PHOTO: UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica Chaplin Joseph Hepburn seen here leading a procession after the state funeral of Trinidad and Tobago’s former President and Prime Minister Arthur N. R. Robinson in which he presided as pastor. During the funeral Hepburn spoke from Judges 6; 12: “The Lord is with you, O most valiant of men.” Courtesy UCLA Medical Center.