The daughter of a prominent Barbadian-born jurist and Grenadian-born dentist residing in Brooklyn has followed her father’s footsteps in graduating last month with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree from Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, D.C.
Jenneate Radix, the daughter of Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Associate Justice, New York State Appellate Division, Second Department, and dentist Dr. Joseph Radix, was awarded her D.D.S. during Howard University’s graduation ceremony.
In addition to her studies, Jenneate remained active outside of the classroom. She was the chairwoman of the White Coat Committee, director of public relations and treasurer of the Student Council.
“Since Jenneate was nine years old, she knew that she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps to become a dentist,” said Justice Hinds-Radix in an exclusive Caribbean Life interview. “I remember when she was young, she always wanted to go to work with her dad, Dr. Joseph Radix.
“She would want to help the staff with taking x-rays and passing the dental tools to her dad while he worked,” added Justice Hinds-Radix, a graduate of Howard University’s School of Law. “She always volunteered to spend any extra time she had at the clinic, where she could learn as much as possible about dentistry.”
But the judge said that the family was amused when Jenneate left for dental school.
“We laughed that she would be back in a week’s time, because she dislikes seeing dead bodies,” she said. “Well, on her first day, she had to cut up a cadaver. Jenneate called us that evening, and she was so excited about what she’d done that day that we knew that she had found her life’s work and that she would become an excellent dentist.”
Justice Hinds-Radix said while the family is “so proud of all that Jenneate has accomplished,” she and her husband “did not raise her alone.”
“Our family believes in the old adage that says, ‘It Takes a Village to Raise a Child,’” the judge said. “We have a huge village of family, friends and loved ones. Thirty-eight members of our village traveled to Washington, D.C. to see Jenneate graduate and to celebrate her success with us.
“We are grateful to all of them, and the ones who could not make the trip, for all they have done to help raise Jenneate to be a person any parent would be proud of,” she added.
Justice Hinds-Radix said the importance of hard work, dedication and community service was instilled in Jenneate while growing up in Brooklyn.
For example, on Saturday mornings, Jenneate, along with her parents and sisters, provide free tutoring services to children in grades 2 through 12, in conjunction with the Brooklyn-based Barbados Ex-Police Association.
“In this way, she gives back to the community that helped to raise her,” Judge Hinds-Radix said.
To further assist those in need, she said Jenneate plans to go into community dentistry, following in her father’s footsteps in “assisting members of her community to receive quality dental care.”
Jenneate is also following in the footsteps of her late great-uncle, former Grenada Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus, a dentist by profession and also a graduate of Howard University College of Dentistry. Dr. Stanislaus was Jenneate’s father’s uncle.
Jenneate’s eldest sister, Jovia, a lawyer, in April, was among eight candidates who contested the seat, in the special election, for the 45th Council District in Brooklyn. The seat was vacated when the representative, Council Member Jumaane Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, was elected New York City Public Advocate.
Haitian American Farah Louis won that race. Jovia Radix, who placed third, said she will not contest the Democratic Primary for the same seat on Jun. 25.
Monique Chandler-Waterman, the daughter of Barbadian and Jamaican immigrants, who was first runner-up in the special election, said she is challenging Louis in the Democratic Primary for the 45th Council District.
