Valentino A Toulon

Valentino A. Toulon, 93, died peacefully on January 10, 2026 after a brief illness.

Born and raised in Roseau, Dominica to the late David and Louisa Toulon, Val sought out opportunities for growth and success.

Val and the love of his life Elvina both emigrated from Dominica in the West Indies to England in the 1950s, where he served in the British Army. In 1963, Val, Elvina and their two daughters Gail and Karen boarded the ocean liner The Queen Mary to continue their adventures in America. They lived in Queens, NY before moving to Long Island and finally to Bridgewater, NJ.

Fueled by fierce determination and relentless optimism, Val and his family prospered in their new home country. Val served as an aircraft engine mechanic for Pan Am at JFK Airport, while Elvina became a CPA and earned both her undergraduate and MBA degrees from NYU. Their daughters also enjoyed professional and personal success. Gail, a lawyer, raised her family in England, while Karen chose a career in journalism and settled with her family in NJ.

Val and Elvina not only encouraged each other and their daughters and granddaughters, they also championed others, generously offering practical and inspirational advice and support. Val truly believed that the sky was the limit. Known for his witty stories and marathon conversations, Val had an infectious interest in world history, current events, and family folklore. He was a dedicated tennis fan and a ruthless dominoes player.

Val and his family traveled extensively, with frequent trips to England to visit Gail and her family, in addition to Dominica, Martinique, Curaçao, Belgium, France and Venice. Vacations to Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Mexico were particularly memorable.

Val remained active after he retired. A fitness buff, he developed his boxing skills and worked with free weights to maintain what he called his “physique.” Val and his “angel” Elvina took special trips to France and St Martin and spent some family holidays in Vermont and Martha’s Vineyard. In his later years, Val ventured to Denver and Curaçao for family celebrations, and to Long Island and Florida’s “Emerald Coast” for beach vacations. He relished the time he spent “visiting” on his phone with family and friends from around the world.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Elvina in 2020, his cherished daughter Gail in 2023, and his eleven siblings.

Surviving are his loving daughter Karen Amanda Toulon and her husband Eric Rhinehart, his precious granddaughters Zoë-Eve, Dominique, and Phoebe-Anne, and several generations of nieces and nephews, extended family, and friends.

Memorial visitation will be held from 11:00AM to 1:00PM on Sunday, February 1, 2026 at Cusick Funeral Home, 80 Mountain Avenue, Somerville.

A Prayer Service will be held at 1:00pm