KRALENDIJK – Janet Thibault, life partner of diving pioneer Captain Don Stewart of Bonaire, has passed away.
Captain Don’s Habitat announced the news and described Janet as a beloved and cherished member of the Habitat family. Her connection with the resort began in 1976, the year Captain Don opened Habitat Bonaire. From those early days, Janet was a familiar and welcoming presence, whose warmth, kindness and genuine interest in others left a lasting impression on generations of visitors.
Those who were fortunate enough to know Janet personally will remember her generous spirit, her lively conversations and the many stories she loved to share. In the kunuku that she and Don called home, the coffee was always on, often accompanied by homemade cookies, and guests were welcomed as friends. She had a remarkable gift for making people feel at home, and visits to Janet and Don were somehow always an adventure in themselves.
From the early 1980s, Janet shared her life with Captain Don Stewart (1925–2014), the American conservationist whose arrival on Bonaire in 1962 helped shape the island into one of the world’s finest diving destinations. Together they built a simple life at their plant nursery Island Grower, embracing a lifestyle powered by solar and wind energy. Janet devoted herself with unconditional love, strength and dedication to caring for Don in his later years.
While Captain Don was the public face with many activities, Thibault remained largely in the background. At the same time, she was the one who always stood beside him, supporting him and shaping their life together, right up until his passing on 30 May 2014.
With the passing of Janet, Bonaire loses a strong woman whose kindness, generosity and quiet strength have touched the lives of many. She will be remembered not only as the devoted partner of Captain Don, but also as a friend and warm-hearted hostess to the Habitat family and the diving community of Bonaire.
