Canute Chiverton Jr. shall be missed.
By Alberto Vasallo, III
I have been cutting my hair with the same barber for over 21 years now. I put my trust with my most sacred bodily possession in the hands of Nelson Mejia at least once a month.
In that same barber shop on Tremont Street in the South End of Boston, there is a great, fun and hardworking bunch of cool barbers – I call them the “Cut N Edge” boys.
One of those guys recently lost a battle to cancer. Many of you may have crossed paths with him as he was a social butterfly who enjoyed the Boston night life more than anyone I know – myself included.
His name was Canute Chiverton, described by all as a true free spirit with a passion for life, travel, food, and fashion.
“Canute was very special. He enjoyed life and always looked at the bright side of things. I will miss him so much. His loss was devastating to all of us here at the barber shop” said Mejia, the owner of “Cut n Edge” and Canute’s longtime friend and colleague.
Canute was a proud Bostonian, with roots in his homeland of St. Croix, VI where he was born on July 7, 1972. After a short battle with cancer, Canute passed on November 18, 2020. He was only 48 years old.
I didn’t find out about it until December 21st when I came for my monthly haircut. I knew Canute was battling cancer because he had confided me with that information via a WhatsApp message sometime during the summer as he would always comment on my social media posts.
I always got along great with Canute as he too loved good music, especially Prince and Michael Jackson, and we would bump into each other at different Boston spots. Canute loved the Latino culture and was well known and liked in many Spanish-food restaurants and Latino clubs around town.
We even hung out once in Miami, another common love we had.
I also found out through his brother Curt that Canute was a great graffiti artist in high school and that his mom had signed him up with a modeling agency when he was younger. I must admit, he was a suave, well-dressed handsome guy – but also very down to earth.
By all accounts, he was a great father, brother, son and partner to his love Jen Grenier, who spent many sleepless nights and visits to the ER caring for Canute, staying by his side during the battle with cancer the last 9 months of his life.
What I also learned was how much of a family man Canute was.
In his obituary the family wrote: “More than anything, Canute loved his children and family. Canute always made it a point to have his children and siblings wherever he was and made sure they were taken care of.”
Canute is survived by his loving children; Canute Jr (CJ), and Aria Chiverton; his parent’s, Sylvia Chiverton Moore and Canute Chiverton Sr; his step father Mack Moore; his siblings Curt, Kevin and McKeisha; and his one year old nephew, Brixton.
Loving father, brother and son, beloved community member, outstanding barber, and faithful friend are just a few ways those who knew him well describe him.
He will not be forgotten especially in the South End of Boston community where he worked, spent most of his leisure time and supported many local businesses.
Rest in peace, my friend, knowing that your children – who you loved so much – will carry on your legacy.
