Francis Tobias was born in Pointe Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago to Moses and Florita Tobias. He was the second of four children St. Omer (Santo), his older brother and two younger sisters, Zenobia and Drucilla. He was a dedicated Roman Catholic and quite active in the Trinidad and Tobago Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). In the summer of 1959, Toby, as he was affectionately known, visited Saint Lucia on an exchange programme with the Saint Lucia arm of the CYO. He was an accomplished sportsman and had a go at many sports, including basketball, cricket, football and athletics. His primary sport however was basketball and anyone who saw him play can attest to his on-court prowess. When he wasn’t involved in sports Tobias or teaching, which was his profession at the time, he was behind the lens of his camera, albeit as a hobbyist at the time intent on capturing every moment. In 1969, Toby made the decision to migrate to Saint Lucia to settle closer to Edgitha Blaize whom he had met on one of his earlier trips. He married the love of his life on June 19, 1969. He had his hopes set on continuing his teaching career in Saint Lucia, unfortunately, there were no vacancies at the time. Unperturbed by this stark reality Tobias resorted to his calling - photography. Shortly after moving to Saint Lucia, he pursued studies in Mathematics and Statistics at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados. At UWI, his photography was a life saver, helping him pay his way through school. He graduated in 1975 and although he had attained a degree in Mathematics and Statistics, he continued along his chosen path of being a professional photographer because, as he put it, by that time he had gained more experience in photography than he had in Mathematics and Statistics. It was around that time that he assumed the moniker "PhoTobias". In the years to come, PhoTobias became a staple at all national sporting, cultural and entertainment events. In addition, he was an avid volunteer getting involved with and contributing to organizations such as the Saint Lucia Girl Guides Association, the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF), the St. Lucia Co-Operative Bank and the Elks Credit Union, among others. His volunteerism also led him to mentor the youth; of note was his facilitating of training sessions in photography for students of the St. Joseph’s Convent who were preparing to obtain the Duke of Edinburgh Award. He was always willing to offer advice and assistance to those who showed an interest in photography. PhoTobias later added videography to his repertoire. He would frequently provide video footage for broadcast on Helen Television Systems (HTS) and would occasionally do some reporting. How PhoTobias was able to be present at almost every event, some of which were taking place at about the same time and in different places, remains a mystery to many. Toby loved travelling, and being the sports fanatic that he was, travelling to photograph sporting events would have been an absolute delight. Two highlights of his career were when he had the opportunities to accompany St. Lucia’s Special Olympics team to the Rio games in 2007; and the St. Lucia Olympic Team to the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Toby’s usual energy and non-stop activity was interrupted on the Easter weekend of 2010 when illness got the better of him. On May 15, 2010, after a brief battle with this illness and to the shock of many, he succumbed. Francis Tobias passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family. Without doubt, he is missed by family and friends who speak fondly of his candor, advice, generosity, wit and sense of humour.

• published: 03 Aug 2015
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