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Jean Victorin, 66, immigrated to America in the 1970s and spent his life pushing family members to achieve their educational dreams before a tragic pedestrian accident took his life on Jan. 11.Facebook<\/p>\n
Victorin, who was fluent in French, Creole and English, immigrated to the United States from Haiti in the 1970s, bringing with him a burning desire for learning.<\/p>\n
As the eldest of eight siblings, he spent his life encouraging educational achievement among his family members, a mission that extended to his professional life as an educator.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe taught math, his favorite subject, and was proud to be Haitian,\u201d his son, Patrick Victorin recalled. \u201cHe was proud to be from Haiti and to be in America. He was very cultural.\u201d<\/p>\n
No stranger to hard work, Jean worked at Macy\u2019s upon first arriving in America before finding his calling as a math teacher and later serving as a public safety officer at Borough of Manhattan Community College. Throughout his professional transitions, his commitment to teaching remained constant.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a big brother, a friend, a father. Jean was also like a teacher to us \u2014 keeping us out of trouble,\u201d said Miguel Victorin, one of Jean\u2019s younger brothers. \u201cHe would always give us counseling. He was a very good man.\u201d <\/p>\n
Miguel recounted how his brother was instrumental in his own educational journey after moving to the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I came to the United States, I lived with him for a long time. He made sure that I went to school,\u201d Miguel said.<\/p>\n
Under Jean\u2019s guidance, Miguel attended Susan Wagner High School and later earned degrees from New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn. <\/p>\n
\u201cI graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree and associate degrees in facility management and construction management. I also went to theology school because of him,\u201d Miguel explained.<\/p>\n
When Miguel struggled with mathematics during his engineering studies, his brother\u2019s expertise proved invaluable. <\/p>\n
![\"Jean](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VKD7W6MLZFBDBO2IEW4XJ2FADU.jpeg\")
Jean Victorin, 66, was a passionate advocate for education, he relentlessly pushed his family and community to pursue higher learning.Courtsey of Patrick Victorin<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I had a little problem with the remediation classes, he told me, \u2018Listen you come to me and I will help you out with the math problem that you have,\u2019 because he had a master\u2019s degree in math,\u201d Miguel remembered.<\/p>\n
A mentor beyond academics <\/p>\n
Jean\u2019s dedication to his family\u2019s success extended beyond academics. <\/p>\n
Perhaps nowhere was this more evident than in his relationship with his son, whom he coached in basketball. One particularly meaningful memory involved teaching Patrick how to shoot from the difficult corner position on a basketball court.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a difficult time shooting the ball from the corner,\u201d Patrick shared. \u201cHe used to tell me, \u2018hey, there\u2019s a certain way you have to throw the ball. You don\u2019t want to throw the ball too hard, because if you throw the ball too hard, you can go over the hoop.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
This lesson paid off with a triumphant moment during a Catholic Youth Organization playoff game on Staten Island. <\/p>\n
\u201cI remember getting the ball from the corner and actually making the shot. And I just remember him being right there,\u201d Patrick recounted, the pride in his father\u2019s reaction still evident in his voice.<\/p>\n
Beyond basketball, Jean shared his love of soccer with his family. <\/p>\n
A family man at heart, he married his wife in 1983. Their son, Patrick, was born in 1985. He embraced his stepdaughter as his own and later cherished his grandchildren, Jaden, Jayla, and Jovanni, whom he \u201cloved so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
His family ties remained strong throughout his life. As the eldest, Jean maintained close relationships with his younger siblings.<\/p>\n
According to Miguel, Jean maintained regular contact with all his siblings, who are now spread across New York and Massachusetts. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe called them every day. We usually don\u2019t go three days without speaking to each other,\u201d Miguel said, until Jean was tragically hit by a car.<\/p>\n
Jean\u2019s influence was profound and life-changing for Miguel. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know where I would have been if it weren\u2019t for him, because he was a very good motivator. He expected things from you. He looked out for you to do something and he will make sure to contact you to see the result,\u201d Miguel reflected.<\/p>\n
Processing the tragedy<\/p>\n
Jean\u2019s unexpected passing after a pedestrian crash has left his family still processing their loss. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt happened quickly… I saw him last weekend, then he got hurt and now he\u2019s gone,\u201d his son shared. Though still in shock, he offered advice to others: \u201cJust be careful crossing the street. Be more alert, pay attention, both drivers and pedestrians.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jean was predeceased by his beloved wife, Anne-Marie. He leaves behind son, Patrick; daughter Ginette; grandchildren Jaden, Jayla and Jovanni; and siblings Emmacula, Karine and Miguel Victorin.<\/p>\n
The crash<\/p>\n