DR. Donald Knowles, 80, first principal of the College of the Bahamas died of a massive heart attack at the Princess Margaret Hospital at 4pm Thursday. Dr. Knowles, an educator, was rushed to hospital from his Little Orchard, Village Road home where he was taken ill at lunchtime on Tuesday.

Donald Roland John Knowles, elder of the two sons of the late Bishop Donald Knowles, and his wife, was born in Eleuthera where his father was then stationed at the Anglican Church. Bishop Knowles became the rector of St. Matthews Anglican Church in 1938 and remained there for a number of years until 1953. He was The Bahamas’ first native Bishop of the Anglican church.

Dr. Knowles, Bishop Knowles’ elder son, was a professor in modern languages at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, where his own son, Roland, now lectures. Dr. Knowles returned to Nassau to assist in the setting up of the College of the Bahamas and to become its first principal.

Dr. Knowles later established the school for International Language Studies in Grosvenor Close off Shirley Street, which he operated for a number of years. He then opened the Tamarind Hill restaurant on Village Road and the Orchard Hotel.

Dr. Knowles was predeceased by his first wife, Carmen Motoya Knowles. He is survived by his second wife, Dr. Carol Thomas of Ft. Lauderdale, three sons, Roland Juan Antonio Knowles, Michael Knowles and Donald Knowles and two daughters, Carol Elizabeth Ebelhard and Mary Frances Knowles, and his brother, Stephen B. Knowles of Nassau.

Funeral services will be announced later.

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