Antoine Jean-Baptiste
March 13, 1936 ~ December 3, 2020
If you are not able to join in person, you are invited to click the link below to virtually join the visitation.
Antoine Jean Baptiste affectionately known as “Toto” to his family and friends was called home by his Heavenly Father and joined his ancestors on Thursday, December 03, 2020.
Toto was born on March 13, 1936, in Haiti to parents Mathilda and Ananias Jean-Baptiste. Toto grew up in Port- au-Prince where he attended primary school at L’ Institution de Notre Dame du Bon Conseille. Antoine completed secondary school at Lycee Alexandre Petion. He continued his education there until his Baccalaureate. Then to Julien Crane where he studied to become an accountant. He also earned a Diploma in Social Work. After graduating, Toto worked in Haiti. He was one of the first qualified social workers there. He later became the Director of an evening school for adults and disadvantaged children – a post he kept until he immigrated to the USA.
Toto had an overwhelming love and endearing devotion to family, and in 1965 Toto married his childhood sweetheart Michaella “Carmen” Ruban, and in 1969, they decided to leave their native country and immigrate to Brooklyn, New York. He worked several full-time jobs over the years, which led him to 35 years of service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital. He worked feverishly to support his family and to help his siblings in Haiti. He worked there until his retirement in 2001.
When God created Toto, He gave him a ready wit, charm, and grace that emanated from the beautiful physical presentation with which he was endowed. As a devout Catholic, Toto loved the Lord. He believed in God’s healing power, and his love for HIM remained steadfast and unshaken. Toto was a wonderful family man, a caring son, a loving husband, a devoted brother, and an outstanding father. He cared deeply for his family and community.
Family and friends were Toto’s passion and delight. He loved to entertain, listen to music, to sing, and to dance. He won many prizes and a first one in harmonica playing competitions, organized by the Radio Carib Station, in 1953-1954. His favorite music included: meringue, ranchera, and bolero, most Cuban and Mexican music. Some of his favorite artists were Leon Dimanche, Daniel Santos, Celia Cruz of the group Sonora Matansera, and Haitian bands Tropicana and Orchestre Spetentrional. Let’s not forget POLITICS! which he would talk about endlessly. He was active in Haitian politics and a proud member of the RDNP party which he joined in 1983 and remained active in for many years. Antoine was a philosopher, a historian, an artist and a political news enthusiast at heart. He truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures; chatting with his friends, creating things with his hands like, customizing jewelry, designing chandeliers, making pizza, and antiquing. Toto was charming, compassionate, and a jack of all trades, and known to do anything that would make his friends and family smile.
To know Toto was to love him, and if you were fortunate enough to have met him, you would know what it meant to have a loyal friend and a confidant. His life touched so many, and we are all affected by his sudden departure. Toto leaves a legacy of love. He was preceded in death by his wife Michaella “Carmen” Jean Baptiste. Left to cherish his memory are three daughters Lourdes Reginalde Ezell (Kenny), Natasha McSeed (Larry), Nureyev Bosquet (Fritz), and a son, Romane Jean Baptiste. His nine grandchildren, Tatianna, Brianna, Tristan, Jaden, Brielle, Nylania, Payton, Sulxana, and Noble. Toto is also survived by his companion Vierge Benjamin, his brothers Pierre, Sterne, and Hebert and his many nieces, nephews, cousins from the Jean-Baptiste, Lecoin, Metayer, and Champagne families. He will be dearly missed.
Services
Visitation: December 11, 2020 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Branch Funeral Home Smithtown
190 E. Main St.
SMITHTOWN, NY 11787
Mass: December 11, 2020 11:00 am
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary R.C. Church
33 Crown Acres Rd.
CENTEREACH, NY 11720
Uncle Toto,
You have always been a good uncle to me. Though I will miss you greatly, the memory we share together will always be in my heart. Rest in peace in the comfort of our savior arms.
Love and prayers.
RIP Uncle Toto, You will be missed.
Oncle Toto, que Dieu dans sa grande miséricorde t’accueille. chez lui pour le céleste repos ! Ton souvenir restera à jamais dans notre coeur. Bonne traversée !
Dear Larry, our love and prayers are with you. What a beautiful family and legacy Toto created. His life made us smile!
Our sincere condolences to the Jean-Baptiste and McSeed family. Love the Cutting family.
Natasha, my sincere condolences on the loss of your father. Praying for you and your family.
Love Beverley
Terrance and Jackie Perry and Family
Michael cutting so sorry for your loss
My deepest condolences to the family during this time. May his light shine in our hearts forever.
Thinking of all of you. Our sincere condolences to the Jean-Baptiste and McSeed Family. We love you and our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
To Reginald, Romane and Natasha my deepest sympathy to you and yours. Toto was a caring, fun and loving man. A pleasant person to be around with so much joy, a contagious laughter and an incomparable joie de vivre. He is with his Father and he will watch over you. Hang in there as you have one more angel praying, interceding for you. May God give you comfort and courage. With affection, Vertha
Mr. & Mrs Wilfrid Saint Surin,
May your soul JB Rest In Peace!
Sending my love to the family.
I have fond memories of always feeling so welcomed in the Jean-Baptiste home. I will never forget the big hugs and kisses, the food, and the laughter. You will be missed.
May God open his arms to him today and bring peace and comfort to his family.
Justin Camp
Rest In Peace Uncle Antione love ❤️ you thank for your blessings 🙏🏾
Our deepest sympathy to the family. We have beautiful memories of times spent together with Uncle/ Cousin Toto. He will be missed. May He rest in peace.
Christine Champagne
Ginette and Gary Carpenter
Yanique Joseph
Rest in Peace Uncle Antoine you will be miss very much you are now in heaven with my mother your sister Fernande. Your are a true King love you Toto…Jean Jean
My deepest sympathies to the family. I will forever cherish memories of our times spent together. I am so proud to be your goddaughter. Rest in peace.
Love,
Bianca Celestin
Our family is deeply saddened by the passing of your father. We’ll always remember him fondly and feel lucky that we had the pleasure of knowing him. Sending hugs and prayers your way. Uncle Toto will be very missed.
Our family is deeply saddened by the passing of your father. We’ll always remember him fondly and feel lucky that we had the pleasure of knowing him. Sending hugs and prayers your way. Toto will be very missed.
Repose en paix mon cher Toto
My sincere and heartfelt condolences
Please accept our deepest condolences on the passing of your dad . Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. – Mars Family
My deepest condolences to the Jeanbaptiste family
Natasha l, My deepest sympathies to the family. Praying for you and the family.
Lakiesha
Patrick Louis Joseph and family.
May you rest in peace Toto. We will miss you!
Praising God for the life of Mr. Jean Baptiste. Sending heartfelt prayers and love to the family during this time of bereavement.
Lovingly, Stephanie McDuffie and family
We are praying for the family during this time of loss. May God’s comfort and peace sustain you and keep you close.
Thinking of you and holding you and your family close in my prayers.
Cher J-B,
Tu as toujours pris soin de sourire à la vie.
La pureté et la grandeur de ton âme ainsi que ta sincérité et ton honnêteté ont positivement touché la vie de tous ceux qui ont eu la chance de te rencontrer.
Nous envoyons nos sincères sympathies et prières à la famille.
Au revoir cher ami.
Que ton âme repose en paix.