Jonathon Hitesman, a former Edgartown resident, died on Jan. 11, 2017, in Wellington, Fla. He was 66.

Jon was born on March 10, 1950, in Montreal, Quebec, to Walter and Betty Hitesman. The family later settled in Bedford, N.Y., as Walter maintained what would be a long career of senior-level management positions at Reader’s Digest.

In the summer of 1950, the family purchased a home on Planting Field Way in Edgartown, which, along with the Vineyard itself, quickly became a cherished destination. Involvement followed in many island organizations including the Edgartown Yacht Club, the Chappaquiddick Beach Club, the Edgartown Golf Club, where Walter served as president, and the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, whose original property bordered the family land.

Following his graduation from Washington and Jefferson College in 1973, Jon moved to Boston and pursued a career as an on-air personality broadcaster. He found work at several area radio stations over the next decade, including WBZ, and mixed his lifelong appreciation of music and composition with a healthy dose of people relations and the art of sales.

In June 1982, Jon married Alison Leigh Smith at St. Andrew’s Church in Edgartown. Their son JP arrived in July 1984. With Alison having West Chop roots, the Vineyard continued to serve as a frequent family destination. Although Jon and Alison divorced in 1993, they remained amicable and kept JP’s interests at heart through continuing to reside on the North Shore of Boston and often traveling to the Vineyard.

Jon’s father Walter died in 1986, and his mother Betty followed in 1994, after which stewardship of the property in Edgartown passed to him. In 1998, Jon moved back to Edgartown full-time. Although he enjoyed an initial period of renewed involvement in the island community, he found the winter season to be challenging, which contributed to his decision to sell the house in the fall of 1999. Though he only visited the Vineyard once more for a single day in 2003, he grew to reappreciate the Island’s role in his life with the help of his son JP, who continues to be involved with Island causes and activities in the present day.

Following his departure from Edgartown, Jon returned to Manchester by the Sea. In the mid 2000s, he re-engaged with the Boston area broadcasting community, which led to many guest appearances on WBZ’s Jordan Rich radio show, several area speaking engagements, and a reconnecting with Sandra Younts, a fellow broadcaster whom Jon had dated in the late 1970s.

Jon and Sandi married in December 2006, and initially divided their time between the North Shore and the Palm Beach region of Florida, while enjoying their shared interests and times together. In 2011, the couple settled in Florida permanently. Jon was able to continue his broadcasting pursuits by working with a local web-based radio station, eventually hosting his own show devoted to film music appreciation.

Jon is survived by his wife, Sandi, of Palm City, Fla., and his son, JP, of Grosse Pointe, Mich. His gentle spirit and demeanor will be missed by all who knew him. in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jon’s memory to the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1829, Edgartown, MA 02539.

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On Jan. 8, 2017, John Morgan was finally able to find the peace that he yearned for so furiously in his too-short life. Born Nov. 29, 1986, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, John attended the Edgartown Elementary School and Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

John was technologically gifted, whether the task at hand involved wrenching on a bicycle or rebuilding a computer, and he found enjoyment in both. He was quite the wizard, and has been described by his brother as “too smart for his own good.”

John was a lover of music and an avid Boston sports fan, particularly the Red Sox and Patriots. He was rarely seen without a red B cap adorning his head. He was quite the audiophile, finding particular joy in hip-hop and electronic music. He was very talented in music production and creating beats.

To those closest to him, John will be remembered for his wry, borderline-appropriate sense of humor. Though his off-the-cuff one-liners and ongoing quiet commentary could only be caught by those within very close earshot, they were well worth the proximity. In the past few years, he delved into memoir writing, and his well-crafted stories were both hilarious and bittersweet.

John continues to be fiercely loved by those he has left behind, including his mother, Barbara Morgan; grandparents Ted and Floss Morgan; brother Dylan Morgan; sister-in-law Nili Morgan; his beloved nephews and niece, Ethan, Aaron, and Tibie Morgan; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A celebration of John’s life will be planned for the spring. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, 111 Edgartown Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

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Francine Esther Kelly died on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, at her daughter’s home in Culver City, Calif. Francine was born on Sept. 30, 1939, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated from Walnut Hills High School in 1957. She spent time as a youth in the Young Churchmen at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, where her grandfather, Edmund Oxley, was the rector. She matriculated to Oberlin College and graduated with a degree in history and international government in 1961. Francine married, began teaching history, social studies, and economics to middle and high schoolers, and became the mother of four daughters.

Francine lived in Cincinnati, Ohio; Iowa City, Iowa; Ankara, Turkey; Basel, Switzerland; and Lynbrook, Long Island, before settling in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1972. She became a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority in the Cincinnati Chapter in 1973.

Francine credited the strong influence of her mother (a physician, artist, and pianist/organist), her exposure to the arts at Oberlin, and her extensive worldwide travel in making her a champion of and for the arts. Francine always encouraged artists and promoted the arts. She was an art collector and art dealer, but most important an arts supporter. Francine was a major civic volunteer in Indianapolis — she served as a docent at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, served on the boards of the Indianapolis Art Center, Young Audiences, and Very Special Arts. She was a member of the Indianapolis Chapter of Links, the Coalition of 100 Black Women, and Jack & Jill.

Francine served as the director of programs at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum (the world’s largest children’s museum) from 1986 to 2000. She created thousands of innovative programs for children of all ages, and managed a staff of more than 20 programmers. She became the director of community initiatives in 2000, with a groundbreaking role of using the Children’s Museum’s influence to revitalize the surrounding neighborhood, creating partnerships with Lilly Endowment, the Community Development Council, Neighborhood Resource Centers, and Habitat for Humanity. She retired from the museum in February of 2003.

Francine first came to Martha’s Vineyard in 1951. She summered on the Island ever after. Francine loved the Island, and knew that this was where she would retire. Francine fulfilled her dream, “retiring” to the Island in March 2003. On April 1, 2003, she was named the executive director of Featherstone Center for the Arts (the first paid executive director). Francine increased the number of gallery shows as well the class offerings, and initiated collaborations with numerous organizations including Polly Hill, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, and the Yard. She was particularly proud of Featherstone’s five-year partnership with the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, where each March, Featherstone showcased high school art for the entire month, providing these students the opportunity of presenting their artwork in a professional setting, preparing their portfolios for college, and readying them for future art experiences. Mentoring the next generation of artists was one of Francine’s strongest passions. Francine truly fulfilled Featherstone’s mission of a year-round community center for the arts, creating a welcoming and inspiring environment for all and nurturing personal relationships with Island artists. Known for never saying “no” and dubbed the “Queen of Collaboration,” Francine retired as Featherstone’s executive director on Labor Day 2010. As director emerita, she consulted for Featherstone’s 15th anniversary celebration in 2011, and the 20th anniversary in 2016. She continued to be present at all Featherstone special events and opening receptions, and was a catalyst for fundraising for Featherstone’s current capital campaign. The Martha’s Vineyard Museum honored Francine with the Martha’s Vineyard Medal in 2011. Francine and her daughter, Ann Smith, were the recipients of the Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard’s Creative Living Award in 2015. And just this past summer at Featherstone’s Annual Gala, Featherstone celebrated Francine’s many accomplishments in conjunction with Featherstone’s 20th anniversary.

Francine served as the Oak Bluffs appointee to the MVTV Board and the Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council. She was a past board member of the Oak Bluffs Association, and a proud participant of the Savor the Moment Della Hardman Day Committee. She often served as a judge at the All-Island Art Show. Francine was instrumental in drafting the Arts Section of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s Island Plan. Francine enjoyed being in the pool at the YMCA for water aerobics and catching up with her cronies. She loved a good meal, and was often seen frequenting her favorite dining establishments on the Vineyard. Most of all, Francine was extremely proud of her family, and loved to celebrate their achievements and successes.

Francine was preceded in death by her parents, Frances Jack Kelly and Dr. Lucy O. Oxley. She is survived by her four daughters: Ann Smith (William Green), Janis Smith- Gomez (Todd Gomez), Gwen Smith (Haim Steinbach), and Jill Moniz; five grandchildren: Anna Gomez, River Smith Steinbach, Jonathan Moniz, Jackson Moniz, and Julian Moniz; her only niece: Kimberly Christmas Goins (Rick Goins); her great-nieces: Kristin Goins and Kelsi Goins; her aunt Elizabeth Oxley Hatcher; and a host of cousins. Her presence will be missed by so many — extended family, friends, and colleagues. Donations in her memory may be made to Featherstone Center for the Arts at featherstoneart.org or by mail: P.O. Box 1145, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

A celebration of Francine’s life will take place at Featherstone this summer.

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Mariana Aguayo Gill of Vineyard Haven died at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017. A memorial service is being planned for a later date and time to be announced. A complete obituary will follow in a later newspaper edition. Arrangements are under the care of Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Oak Bluffs.

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Maitland Armstrong Edey,  81, sailor, jazz musician, philosopher,  died on Dec. 30 at Massachusetts General Hospital of complications from multiple myeloma.

Mait was born on Dec. 28, 1935, the oldest child of Maitland and Helen (Kellogg) Edey. He grew up on Long Island and spent summers in Edgartown, where his love of sailing was born.  He successfully skippered his wooden Beach Boat to many a victory at the Edgartown Yacht Club.  In sailing races, his expert racing skills and subtle knowledge of Vineyard waters made him a force to reckon with.

In 1968, Mait and his friend Peter Duff founded the renowned boat shop, Edey & Duff. His aesthetic for the lines of classic wooden sailboats motivated him to build fiberglass versions of the Crocker Stone Horse and the Herreshoff Doughdish. Mait’s deeper purpose was to revive the beauty and functionality of traditional wooden sailing craft for the general public, whose appetite for ‘modern’ fiberglass designs saddened him.

As a young man, Mait spent time living in Europe with his first wife, Anna Jufors, with whom he had three daughters. Mait and his family then moved to Brooklyn, where he had a popular jazz radio show called “The Scope of Jazz” on WBAI; and then to Cambridge, where he and his band played frequent gigs in the greater Boston area.

Mait’s connection to classic jazz was so great that it moved him to tears to hear a solo or riff played by one of his many favorite musicians — even if he had heard it a thousand times.  He could recognize all the great players of that era by their voicings and tone; they would only have to play a few notes, and he could identify each one, like family.  His deep love of this music prompted him to start playing himself. He enrolled at the Berklee School of Music in his 20s, learning piano and composition techniques.  He founded a small independent record company, Seeds, and his band made several records of original tunes.  His almost ecstatic embrace of this musical genre sustained him throughout his life.  He continued to listen and to play gigs until he got too sick to do so.  His last public appearance was at the grand finale of the  2016 Pathways Gathering Space, which can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/167325060

Mait graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University, where he won the Philosophy prize. His intellectual curiosity remained one of his most notable attributes throughout his life.  Mait was an unusually voluminous reader; a large stack of the books he was currently reading defined all of his favorite spaces and was a mark of his presence. He had a committed meditation practice, and was a dedicated philosopher and writer.  He continued to focus on his philosophical works throughout his various activities, writing on consciousness and on the question of subject and object. He published articles in the Journal of Consciousness Studies, and was working on a much longer book at the time of his death.

Mait served on the board of the Vineyard Conservation Society, and spent one term as its president. He was on the board of the Edey Foundation.  He fervently believed in living lightly on the earth, and was a recycler, energy conserver, and generally right-minded citizen long before these things became politically correct.

Mait and Fausta Hammarlund met and fell in love in 1978;  in 1988 they were finally married on the Vineyard at a celebration at Seven Gates Farm. The two of them cruised frequently in New England waters, walked the beaches in all weather, and made an effort to tame the local crows. Many evenings would see the couple ghosting through Tashmoo opening in his dory, Mait bent, barefoot, and smiling at the oars, bound for a sunset or moonrise viewing.  

Mait is survived by his wife, Fausta Hammarlund Edey, of West Tisbury; by his children, Lisa Pierce,  Kirsten Edey, and Annika McCann; by his stepchildren Marc Hammarlund, Nooni Hammarlund, Shira Hammarlund, and Erik Hammarlund; by his sisters Beatrice Phear and Marion Edey; and by 18 beloved grandchildren who brought joy to his heart: Laura, Russell, Zane, Eva, Riley, Elijah, Abigail, Shiloh, Bluma, Sadie, Delilah, Oscar, Simon, Jonah, Zuki, Levi, Zeke, and Estelle.

Mait was a gentle spirit: a kind, focused, patient, honorable, intensely deep-feeling man.  He wanted to minimize his wake, living his life with empathy and generosity.  He did not like to be rushed, nor did he rush others.  He was calm and soft-spoken, but could be raised to a joyful passion by the arc of a jib or the wail of a saxophone. When he found his passion he brought a fierce intensity to bear, whether for his own sake or to help another — this, combined with his underlying brilliance, was the source of many of his proudest accomplishments.

In his personal life he was outwardly reserved, but was immensely caring, loving, and connected to those who were closest to him. His solidity of purpose inspired loyalty in his friends and caring in his family. He tried to live the golden rule, treating all beings as he would want to be treated.  His deep spiritual practice, which was probably the most profound part of his existence, tapped into his natural pure-hearted core; he tried to manifest this openness, however imperfectly, throughout his entire life.  To know Mait was to feel somehow changed for the better.  He wasn’t trying … he just had that effect.

The family is trying to assemble a book on his life, and would be deeply appreciative to receive any relevant writings, clippings, or photos from anyone who wishes to contribute. The mailing address is Fausta Edey, P.O. Box 814, West Tisbury, MA 02575.

There will be a memorial service for Mait on Saturday, May 6, at 2 pm at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury.

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Lynn Murphy died last Thursday, Jan. 12, in his own bedroom at his home in Chilmark. He was 88.

Lynn was born on Mount Desert Island in Maine, the sixth of seven boys, the eighth of nine children. He learned to walk on his father’s sardine carrier. His father, Ernest Albion Murphy, died when Lynn was 6 and his baby brother Gordon was 2. His mother, Helen Lawson Murphy, moved the three youngest children to Fairhaven when Lynn was about 12, in order to be closer to some of Lynn’s older brothers who captained some of the big yachts that were serviced in the shipyards nearby.

Lynn lied about his age in order to join the Navy, which is why his service record falls under the World War II umbrella. He served on board the aircraft carrier Randolph (CV-15) as store keeper.

In the summer of 1948 he came to Menemsha on a fishing boat with his older brother Ernest. Menemsha reminded him of his home in Maine. At a midnight dance at the tavern in Chilmark he met Valerie Norton, and after a brief courtship they married in January of 1949. Together they had seven children.

Internationally, he will be remembered for the work he did on the movie “Jaws.” Locally, there must be dozens, if not hundreds of stories about Lynn, gleaned from almost 70 years of living a very rich, action-packed life on the Vineyard. Knowing the Vineyard’s propensity for “not letting the facts get in the way of a good story,” some of those stories may actually be true.

Lynn is survived by his second wife of over 40 years, Susan (Bainbridge), and their two sons, Lynn C. Murphy II of Chilmark, who shared caregiving duties with his mother for the past seven years; and Lucas Lawson Murphy and his wife Patricia (Kessler) Murphy, of North Easton, and the four surviving children of his first marriage: Dana Leonard Murphy of Edgewater, Fla.; Wanda Elizabeth and her husband Bert Irion of Wellsboro, Pa.; Sherry Lynn and her husband Carl Flanders of Menemsha; and Brian Ernest and his wife JoAnn (Kinnecom) Murphy of Vineyard Haven. Lynn had 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Lynn was predeceased by an infant daughter and his beloved boys, Jay and Lee.

If so inclined, please remember Lynn with a gift to the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living, P.O. Box 1729, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, a truly remarkable organization whose Supportive Day Program enabled Lynn to live a very full life right to the end.

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Leigh C. Carroll, 80, died on Friday morning, Jan. 20, 2017 at his Vineyard Haven home on West Chop. He was predeceased by his wife Priscilla Cummens Carroll in May 2005.

Visiting hours in Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Rd, Oak Bluffs will be held on Friday, Jan. 27 from 5 to 7 pm. His funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 10 am in St. Augustine’s Church, Franklin Street, Vineyard Haven and burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery, State Road, Vineyard Haven. Donations in his memory may be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group, PO Box 2214, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568. Visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.

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Leigh C. Carroll, 80, died on Friday morning, Jan. 20, 2017, at his Vineyard Haven home on West Chop. He was predeceased by his wife, Priscilla Cummens Carroll, in May 2005.

Visiting hours at Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs, will be held on Friday, Jan. 27, from 5 to 7 pm. His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 10 am in St. Augustine’s Church, Franklin Street, Vineyard Haven, and burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery, State Road, Vineyard Haven. Donations in his memory may be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group, P.O. Box 2214, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.

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Douglas K. Look died on Sunday morning, Jan. 22, 2017, at Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Oak Bluffs. He was 77 years old.

Doug was born in Oak Bluffs on Jan. 2, 1940, the only son of Ralph A. Look Jr. and Millicent Luce Look. He grew up and lived most of his life in the family home on the corner of Franklin and Center Streets in Vineyard Haven. He graduated from Tisbury High School in 1958. He was drafted and trained at Fort Hunter Liggett in California, where he learned to be a hospital laboratory technician. As a boy he was an art student of local artist Sidney Riggs. He later studied art at the Art Students League and the New School in New York City.

Doug worked as a lab tech at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, but returned to Martha’s Vineyard and became a landscape gardener. He cared for several homes in Vineyard Haven for more than 40 years.

Doug was an artist and a landscape gardener, a tennis player and a scientist. A lifelong learner, he loved books, ideas, and good food and conversation. He went back and forth from drawing and painting tiny worlds to studying them under microscopes until he became completely blind from advanced glaucoma three and a half years ago.

He leaves behind many Island friends and extended family. He is survived by his daughter Sara Luce Look and granddaughter Zelda Jane Look of Pine Lake, Ga.

Donations in his memory may be made to Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library, 200 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, or to the Oliver Sacks Foundation, 225 West 83rd Street, Suite 12A, New York, NY 10011.

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Patricia Ann Blanc died peacefully at home in Hidden Cove on Dec. 31, 2016, surrounded by her loving family. First and foremost, Patricia was a devoted wife, mother, and matriarch of a large extended family, and she left an indelible impression on the many people she touched.

Patti, as she was known to her loved ones, was born in New York City in 1930 to Richard H. Burke and Elizabeth Donnelly. She graduated from the College of Mount St. Vincent with a B.S. in nursing, and trained at St. Vincent Hospital in New York City. In 1953, she met her husband René on a blind date. They married in June 1954, sharing a dream of raising a large family together. René’s job brought them to Jacksonville, Fla., where desegregation was in its early stages. Patti joined the faculty at the Brewster-Duval School of Nursing, a training hospital for African-American women, and created the curriculum to enable accreditation for this newly established school. A liberal thinker, talented teacher, and generous-hearted nurturer, Patti loved her work helping others.

In 1963, Patti and René moved to Simsbury, Conn., with four children. There they welcomed two more “duckins” to the family, and lived for the next seven years, raising their family in a rented three-bedroom home. These were halcyon days with not much money, but the house was filled with mountains of love, mishaps, and laughs. Patti accepted a job as nursing supervisor at Hartford Hospital, working nights, so she and René could juggle child care. She always made time to create a beautiful and nurturing environment for the family, orchestrating daily schedules, creating traditions, and being the conduit to both sides of the family.

In 1969 her brother, Richard Burke, introduced Patti and René to Martha’s Vineyard. They began taking family vacations together in Oak Bluffs, where they would squeeze four adults, nine kids, and a 150-pound, sand-covered, drooling Newfoundland into the back of a Ford Econoline van and head to various Island beaches. This would be the beginning of the famous beach cookouts, and the catalyst that brought Patti and René to spending summers on the Island, eventually making it their full-time home in 1986.

Patti had a natural aptitude for creativity and drawing, and entered a painting contest, which eventually led to a second career as an accomplished artist and art teacher. Combining her incredible artistic ability, her eye for beauty and color in the world around her, and her love of teaching, Patti was a magnet for aspiring artists. Over the years, her studios would be a place where she enthusiastically shared her talent, finding the inner artist in all her students, and creating lasting friendships and memories for all who passed through.

The family moved to Norwell in 1970, where they built a beautiful house with an attached apartment for René’s parents and an art studio in the basement for Patti. She cultivated a beautiful garden and home there. René traveled quite a bit for work at that time, and Patti cheerfully (mostly) managed a household with six kids, her in-laws, a couple of cats, and a stray dog. She helped with homework and in giving “artistic flair”to the kids’ report covers! Her love of all things beautiful was infectious, and she was so demonstrative that it was impossible not to appreciate it. She taught her kids about classical music, art, and flowers, but also to be curious learners and compassionate people. Family dinners were a nightly and memorable routine, always at a nicely set table. Many paintings were sold, and she taught art to enable her family to spend summers on Ocean Park, a few houses down from her brother’s rented house. Patti’s photo albums depict their many happy times together on the beach and on their porches. Memories created during Vineyard summers are an integral part of the entire family’s history.

During the ’80s, Patti helped her three daughters plan and orchestrate their weddings on the Island. She enjoyed the process so much she decided to start her own wedding consulting business, An Island Affair. While the Vineyard has always been a popular wedding destination, Patti was one of the first people to offer planning services. Her artistic influence, cheerful demeanor, and excellent organizational skills helped create wonderful wedding memories for countless families. She enjoyed lasting friendships with many of her brides and their families.

René’s French upbringing and ancestry inspired Patti and René to take several trips to Europe to visit family. Patti especially loved these trips, and created many beautiful paintings there. Dubbed “les Americains” by their French relatives and friends, they returned with lots of wonderful stories, photos, and memories to share.

Patti’s depth of character and ability to see beauty was an inspiration to all who knew her. Her enormous spirit and love are beautifully woven into the fabric of her family. She leaves her beloved husband of 62 years, René, and her brother Richard Burke. She also leaves sons Richard Blanc, Christopher Blanc, and Timothy Blanc, and daughters Deborah Duhon, Linda Young, Lisa Stewart, and their spouses. She adored her 14 wonderful grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families. It has been incredibly poignant exchanging stories with family and friends who have shared the ways she influenced their lives. She will be missed and appreciated forever.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.

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Harold Augustus Bauld of Edgartown and Dania Beach, Fla., died peacefully in the hospice unit at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 6, after a very brief illness. He was 86. His daughter, Robin Bauld, and wife, Dr. Patricia Tyra, were at the bedside, and his sister, Donna Marshall, and her husband David were also in the room.

Born on August 5, 1930, in Somerville, Harold graduated from Medford High School and worked with his father in the building and plastering trade for a short while before joining the U.S. Air Force for four years. Later he graduated from Tufts University and began his lifelong computer career, first with ECA in East Cambridge, and then as an independent contractor working for Blue Cross, DOT, and others in New York City, Syracuse, Phoenix, West Virginia, and New Jersey. He and high school buddy, Charley Hoarty of Medford, had a part-time tax-preparation business for several years.

A sports enthusiast all his life, he enjoyed running track and handball at the Cambridge Y, attending Red Sox games at Fenway Park and later at their spring-training fields in Florida. He played tennis and racquetball with his wife, Pat, and let her teach him to ski in New Hampshire. In Florida he regularly rode his bike until a fall had him sticking to golf, the pool, and the gym. With the beginning of Parkinson’s disease, he was often seen this past summer using a four-wheel walker for his regular walks in town.

After his wife, Pat, designed their modular home on Shurtleff Way, they spent summers and early fall on the Vineyard. Harold enjoyed lunches and entertainment at the Anchors, Vineyard Haven Band concerts and Edgartown library lawn concerts, fishing with friends, the Ag Fair, Illumination Night, art shows and plays, Martha’s Vineyard Museum exhibits, dinners at local restaurants, riding his bike on local bike trails in the early years, and anything else his wife planned for them, including yearly birthday celebrations with daughter Robin and granddaughter Caitlin.

A secret poet, in 2006 he received an award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry from the International Library of Poetry for his poem “Appalled.” To keep his mind alert, he daily worked on crossword puzzles and nightly watched “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy.”

Harold was predeceased by his parents, Gladys (Churchill) and Harold Bauld, and first wife Lorraine (Cino) Bauld. He is survived by his wife, Pat, siblings June Silva of Topsfield and Donna Marshall (and husband David) of Reading; three children and their spouses, Robin Bauld and Gary Conserva of Medford, Harold Bauld and Ines Gomez-Ochoa of New York City, and Steven and Lori Bauld. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and nine nieces and nephews.

His body was donated to the University of Miami and to Science Care for research, tissue donation, and education. No services will be held, but family and friends will gather in Edgartown later this year to celebrate his life.

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Bruce K. Young died suddenly and of natural causes on Jan. 22, 2017, at his home in Madison, N.Y. He was 86.

A native of Syracuse, Bruce was one of two children born to Eugene D. and Mabel D. Young. A graduate of Onondaga Valley Academy in 1948, Bruce served in the U.S. Air Force for two enlistments, ending in 1957. Trained as an aircraft mechanic, he never forgot the beauty of his post at Andersen AFB on Guam, fondly reminiscing about the island’s tropical sun, pristine beaches, dramatic cliffs, and deep, brilliant blue ocean.

He is survived by three children from his first marriage in 1957 to Nancy Ann Butler: Sarah Young of Martha’s Vineyard, Ted Young (and his former wife Sandra, along with their children Chris and Therez) of Middletown, N.Y., and Dan Young of Madison, N.Y. They, along with countless friends, remember Bruce as a gentle man whose mellow nature belied a mischievous sense of humor. As a child, he cultivated his mechanical aptitude by loading a small cannon with dynamite charges pilfered from the local railroad yard to blow holes in the back of the family’s garage. There were no casualties.

In a career with IBM that spanned more than 25 years, Bruce worked as a field engineer and technical writer and editor in both Endicott and Armonk, N.Y. His precocious mechanical abilities were honed through his passion for tinkering with automobiles, including a classic Cadillac and a sedate 1980 Volvo 264 that he retrofitted with a powerful Mustang engine, as well as model airplanes. In recent years, Bruce derived a great deal of satisfaction by posting about his years of Volvo ownership as a frequent online contributor to the Brickboard, where he was known as “Still Lucid.”

He dabbled in art and music, sketching and painting in oils, playing both clarinet and guitar, and enjoying an eclectic range of music. His favorite playlist would include big bands from the 1920s and 1930s, folk music, Dixieland tunes from Syracuse’s own Salt City Five, and the New Orleans band Tuba Skinny’s distinctive traditional jazz.

Bruce was an animal lover with a particular fondness for felines, and many animal rescue organizations benefited from his modest but heartfelt donations. Predeceased by his beloved cats Misty and Zoe, his current pair, Patrick the Great and Queso, will undoubtedly miss the hours that their very own cat whisperer spent catering to their every need.

One of Bruce’s favorite destinations was Martha’s Vineyard, where his daughter Sarah has lived and worked as a designer and artisan of beaded jewelry for the past two decades. Together, often several times a year, they explored not only the Vineyard but the nearby Elizabeth Islands as well. Friends will miss the pleasure of his annual visits.

In addition to his children and grandchildren, Bruce is survived by five nieces: Deb, Donna, Lori, Teri, and Marni. He was predeceased on July 26, 2015, by his sister Marion Jaquin of Syracuse and Cape Vincent, N.Y. Plans are being made for a springtime celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Bruce’s name to the animal shelter or spay-neuter program of your choice.

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Dorothy Newton died on Jan. 17, 2017. She was born on May 4, 1921, in the Hebrides of Scotland, and raised by her mother, Lily Jessop Wilson, and her grandfather, Henry J. Wilson, in Merseyside, England.

Dorothy’s grandfather was a contractor and also owned a large hardware store. Dorothy would tell stories about how as a young girl, she would help out in the store and go out to sell soap house to house, and collect rents.

Her grandfather, whom she loved so much, had property on a river in Chester. As a young girl, Dorothy would ride her bicycle to Chester — 40 miles, she used to say — with her little schipperke dog in a knapsack!

She was proud to have belonged to the Girl Guides (the U.K. equivalent of our Girl Scouts). She recounted stories of being strafed during World War II, and as a young woman she held a civilian support position at an RAF air base. Shortly after the war, she moved to the States.

I first met Dorothy in New York State in 1966 through a mutual friend. I had an AKC German shepherd bitch that I wanted to breed, and Dorothy was a breeder, trainer, and judge who had a kennel with imported bloodlines from Germany.

And the rest, as they say, is history. Though I moved back to Massachusetts in 1968, Dorothy and I stayed in touch, and three years later, we were married. Through the years, Dorothy worked as a librarian in three Massachusetts prisons, starting with the women’s prison in Framingham; she was later recruited to organize the general and law libraries at MCI Concord, and recruited once again to literally build — that is, acquire all furnishings, books, etc. — the new library for the medium-security prison at MCI Shirley. Her inmate clerks, mostly lifers, politely named her “Maggie” after Margaret Thatcher, who was also known as the “Iron Lady.” Dorothy served the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in this role for 22 years, during which time she attained her master’s in library science, which enabled her to better apply for federal grant money for her libraries.

Dorothy was also a licensed real estate broker in Massachusetts, and along with our full-time jobs, we worked many years together for a family trust, marketing properties on Martha’s Vineyard, St. Croix, and Las Cruces, N.M. We were a great team ,and our efforts allowed us to bring our dream of a home on the Vineyard and a home in Florida to fruition in December 1995.

Dorothy loved to ballroom dance, and whenever we were asked how long we had been dancing, I would always reply that Dorothy was born dancing! We received many blessings in our life together, and one of the greatest blessings has been the wonderful friends we have made through church, our Masonic and Shriner connections, and especially through dancing. Everyone loved Dorothy, and she would always grace them with her beautiful smile, a smile we will never forget!

Dorothy leaves behind her husband Tom, married for 46 years this year; her beautiful daughter, Christine (Scott); three loving granddaughters, Wendy, Robin, and Jenifer; and a handsome great-grandson, Brady.

She is sorely missed, and will be always loved. We know she is starting a new life and dancing with our Lord. God bless you, my Dorothy Elizabeth, I love you.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Shriners Hospital for Children,12502 USF Pine Drive Tampa, FL 33612-9411, and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 623 SE Ocean Blvd., Stuart, FL 34994.

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Leona E. White, a lifelong resident of Oak Bluffs, died peacefully on Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2017 at the Martha‘s Vineyard Hospital. She was 92 years old, just shy of her 93rd birthday.

Leona was born on Feb. 12, 1924 to Elisha T. Smith and Rose Anna Julian. She was married to Lester A. White for 47 years. He predeceased her in 2013.

Leona will be remembered for her able and willing helping hand to so many. She enjoyed baking, knitting, crocheting, gardening, and bird watching. During her early years, she made birthday and wedding cakes for so many.

She is survived by her son, Antone L. White, and wife Carrie; by five grandchildren, Mary Beth Baptiste, Christopher J. Thurber and wife Amy, Heather A. White, Heidi E. White, James A. White; and by her daughter-in-law, Susan Thurber. She is also survived by one great-granddaughter, Samantha L. Thurber; one great-great-granddaughter; and several nieces, nephews, and friends. Leona was also predeceased by her first husband, Adelburt E. Thurber, in 1962, her brother Elisha R. Smith in 2013, by her son Adelburt E. (Bud) Thurber, and her daughter, Eleanor (Thurber) Eglinas.

A graveside service for family and friends was held on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, at Smith Cemetery, located at Barnes Road, Oak Bluffs.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Oak Bluffs.

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Elizabeth Audrey (Johnson) LeBeau, 79, died peacefully on Jan. 21, 2017, at McCarthy Care Center in Sandwich, after a fairly brief illness.

Beth fell in love with the Vineyard while spending summers at her grandmother’s gingerbread cottage as a young girl, and eventually made the Campground in Oak Bluffs her full-time residence upon retirement in 1997. She was born in Acushnet, and graduated from Dartmouth High School in 1955. She received a bachelor of textile chemistry from New Bedford Institute of Technology in 1959.

Beth taught science at Ayer Junior-Senior High in Ayer for more than 25 years. She was an enthusiastic member of the Business and Professional Women Foundation, traveled to Belize with NEMEI (Northeast Marine Environmental Institute) from Woods Hole and volunteered with Senior Environmental and AmeriCorps. She was very artistic, loved painting and creating scrimshaw, and various types of jewelry design. Grand Illumination was the highlight of the year for Beth, and she often invited anyone she met, on- or off-Island, to stop by the cottage and share in the night’s festivities.

Beth leaves behind her daughter, Dianne (LeBeau) Grant of Pepperell, and two grandchildren, Timothy Grant and Laura Grant; her sister, Joyce Swartz, with husband Russell of Edgartown, and their daughter, Amy Ellrodt, and husband Gregg from Boston, and their children Charles and Lilly; her sister, Judith Gifford, and her late husband Paul of Somerset, their daughter, Pamela Rodrigues, and her husband Bryan of Franklin and their children Emma, Natalie, and Elizabeth, and their son, Paul (P.J.) Gifford, and wife Carrie of Somerset and their children Alison, Vanesa, and Andrew.

If so inclined, please remember Beth with a gift to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, MS #40, 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1050 or the Tabernacle Restoration Fund, MVCMA, P.O. 1685, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

A memorial service is being planned at the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs for this spring.

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Ralph T. “Bart” Bartlett died on Jan. 30, 2017, at Indian River Medical Center at the age of 92.

Born in Lyndhurst, N.J., the son of Ralph Bartlett Sr. and Elinor Chambers Bartlett, he resided in Vero Beach, Fla. He also lived in the Chatham-Madison-Summit area of New Jersey for more than 50 years, and was a longtime seasonal resident of Martha’s Vineyard, where he and his family owned a home on Sengekontacket Pond for over 25 years.

Bart graduated from Lyndhurst High School with honors at age 16, and in the fall of 1941 entered Lehigh University. After flight training in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he returned to Lehigh and graduated in 1947. Bart was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, president of the Interfraternity Council, sports editor of the Brown and White, and a member of the five-man Student Governing Committee. He attended graduate school at New York University.

He was a retired senior partner of the international CPA firm of Deloitte Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte). He became a partner in the firm in 1961, and after managing the firm’s operations in Connecticut and New Jersey, transferred to the firm’s executive office in New York City in 1978, where he was responsible for the firm’s marketing and practice development. He retired from the firm in 1984 at age 60.

He was an editor of the New Jersey CPA Journal, and in 1963 was elected president of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants. He was on the governing council of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and served two terms as an elected member of council. In 1977 he was elected to a three-year term as a member of the national Review Board of the AICPA.

In 1984 Bart joined the board of directors of Elizabethtown Water Co. in Elizabeth, N.J. In the following year he was also elected a director of E’town Corp. and Driver-Harris Corp. of Harrison, N.J., and New Ross, Ireland.

Bart served as president of the Lehigh Club of Northern N.J., and in 1982 was the recipient of the Lehigh University Alumni Association Award. He was a trustee and finance committee chairman of St. Timothy’s House in Newark, and served the Episcopal diocese of Newark as chairman of its audit committee. He was also treasurer and a member of the board of governors of the Essex Club of Newark, and vice chairman of the finance committee and chairman of the audit and budget committee of the town of Indian River Shores, Fla. He also served as president of his Florida condominium association for more than 20 years.

He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach, Fla., Calvary Church in Summit, N.J., Grace Church in Madison, N.J., and St. Andrew’s Church in Edgartown, and served as senior warden of Christ Church in Bethany, Conn., and vestryman and treasurer of St. Paul’s in Chatham, N.J.

Bart was a member of John’s Island Club in Vero Beach, Edgartown Yacht Club, and

Edgartown Golf Club. He was a president of the Minisink Club of Chatham, N.J.

Bart was devoted to his family, and spent many happy hours playing golf and tennis with his wife, and their children and grandchildren. He especially enjoyed cruising on Long Island Sound and the waters around Martha’s Vineyard with his family on their boat Barnadet.

Generosity and optimism like Bart’s are rare, and he touched so many lives with his capacity to give. He leaves his best friend and wife, Natalie (née Khun), to whom he was married in 1947; three children, Deborah E. Nelson (Richard) of Chatham, N.J., Jeffrey C. Bartlett (Rebecca) of Vero Beach, and Thomas A. Bartlett (Francesca) of Boston and Titusville, N.J.; grandchildren James C. Nelson of Livingston, N.J., Meghan C. Bartlett of Arnold, Md., Matthew T. Bartlett of New York City, and Brittany A. Bartlett of Virginia Beach, Va. He also leaves behind two sisters, Alice Kraus of Naples, Fla., and Ethelwyn Eyrick of LaPorte, Ind., and Martha’s Vineyard.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10 am on Feb. 4, 2017, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Pine Avenue, Vero Beach, with the Rev. Christopher Rodriguez officiating.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Asa Packer Society of Lehigh University, 25 Goodman Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015, or to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach. An online guestbook is available at strunkfuneralhome.com.

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Elizabeth Audrey (Johnson) LeBeau, 79, died peacefully on Jan. 21, 2017, at McCarthy Care Center in Sandwich, after a fairly brief illness.

Beth fell in love with the Vineyard while spending summers at her grandmother’s gingerbread cottage as a young girl, and eventually made the Campground in Oak Bluffs her full-time residence upon retirement in 1997. She was born in Acushnet, and graduated from Dartmouth High School in 1955. She received a bachelor of textile chemistry from New Bedford Institute of Technology in 1959.

Beth taught science at Ayer Junior-Senior High in Ayer for more than 25 years. She was an enthusiastic member of the Business and Professional Women Foundation, traveled to Belize with NEMEI (Northeast Marine Environmental Institute) from Woods Hole and volunteered with Senior Environmental and AmeriCorps. She was very artistic, loved painting and creating scrimshaw, and various types of jewelry design. Grand Illumination was the highlight of the year for Beth, and she often invited anyone she met, on- or off-Island, to stop by the cottage and share in the night’s festivities.

Beth leaves behind her daughter, Dianne (LeBeau) Grant of Pepperell, and two grandchildren, Timothy Grant and Laura Grant; her sister, Joyce Swartz, with husband Russell of Edgartown, and their daughter, Amy Ellrodt, and husband Gregg from Boston, and their children Charles and Lilly; her sister, Judith Gifford, and her late husband Paul of Somerset, their daughter, Pamela Rodrigues, and her husband Bryan of Franklin and their children Emma, Natalie, and Elizabeth, and their son, Paul (P.J.) Gifford, and wife Carrie of Somerset and their children Alison, Vanesa, and Andrew.

If so inclined, please remember Beth with a gift to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, MS #40, 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1050 or the Tabernacle Restoration Fund, MVCMA, P.O. 1685, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

A memorial service is being planned at the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs for this spring.

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Howard Robert Attebery, 94, died on Wednesday morning, Feb. 1, 2017, at his home in West Tisbury. He was married to Cynthia Riggs and was the father of Mark Attebery of New York.

A private graveside burial service will be held in March in the West Tisbury Cemetery. A grand celebration of his life will be held this summer, and a complete obituary will appear in another edition of this paper.

Donations in his memory may be made to the West Tisbury Public Library, 1042 State Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.

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John Tenney Mead, 88, of Edgartown, died on Friday morning, Feb. 3, 2017, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was the father of Amy H. Mead and Emily Mead-Santos.

His funeral service will be held at a later date, and a complete obituary will appear at that time. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.

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Neva D. Oneal Thornhill died on Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, with her family nearby.

Neva D. Oneal was born in Bogard, Mo., to Elmer and Emma (Bunney) Oneal. Paternal grandparents were Philander and Emma Oneal. Maternal grandparents were Winfield and Leora (Lyons) Bunney. Neva was the last of three children; Nellie Oneal Well was the eldest, followed by Nelson B. Oneal. The Elmer Oneals moved from Bogard while Neva D was a toddler. They purchased a family farm in Carrollton, Mo., which is still in existence today.

Neva D. (this how she was addressed by family and friends) grew up on the farm with her siblings. Neva D. attended Van Horn Methodist Church with her parents, and she was a member of the 4-H club. During her elementary school years she attended classes in two one-room schoolhouses (the Baker school and the Whipperwill school) for grades one through eight. After completing the eighth grade, Neva D. went on to Carrollton High School. After graduation she was accepted at Research Hospital School of Nursing in Kansas City, Mo. Following nursing school, Neva attended Baylor University in Texas, the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, and Mercy College in New York, where she received a bachelor of science degree.

Neva D. began her nursing career working at Research Hospital in Kansas City and Leavenworth Veterans Administration Hospital in Leavenworth, Kan. In 1955 she entered the United States Air Force Nursing Corps, where she was commissioned as a first lieutenant. She was enrolled in the Air Force Flight Nursing School, and graduated as a flight nurse. Her duty stations included Maxwell AFB Alabama, Waco AFB Texas, Gunther AFB Alabama, Ladd AFB Alaska, and Richards Gabour AFB Missouri. Neva enjoyed the time she spent in the Air Force, and her duty as a flight nurse, transporting injured and sick military personnel from various outposts to a major hospital. She always had a desire to fly, and even considered becoming a flight attendant prior to joining the Air Force. Neva enjoyed her service as flight nurse so much that she decided to make it her career. While stationed at Ladd AFB in Alaska, she met Melvin, her future husband, who changed her mind. After four years in the Air Force, Neva D. worked at the Manhattan and the Bronx Veterans Administration Hospitals. She retired from the Bronx V.A. hospital, having completed 33 years in the Veterans Administration Hospital system.

On June 4, 1960, Neva D. Oneal was joined in marriage to Melvin Douglas Thornhill. They had two children, Denice Marcell Thornhill and Melvyn Douglas Thornhill II. During their 56 years of marriage, she lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mount Vernon, N.Y., and Vineyard Haven. While the children were growing up, and after retirement, Neva traveled with her family to places in the West and Midwest, the East Coast, the Caribbean, and back to Alaska. In rare moments when she could relax, she would make her own clothes, make bedspreads and quilts for Melvin and the children, and embroider pillowcases and handkerchiefs for gifts. Neva was a loving wife, mother, and friend.

Neva’s religious life began in the Van Horn Methodist Church in Bogard, where she attended church until moving from the area. She attended services at a local chapel in Kansas City, Kan., where she decided to be baptized by immersion. She attended military chapels while serving in the Air Force. After her marriage, she joined the Baptist Church, and was active on committees at the Trinity Baptist Church in Brooklyn, and also at the First Baptist Church of Mount Vernon, where she served as a deaconess and a member of the board of christian education. In 1988 she was honored as the Churchwoman of the Year. After Melvin’s retirement, they became full-time residents of Martha’s Vineyard, and she and Melvin became members of the First Baptist Church of Vineyard Haven, where Neva served on the missions committee.

During the 56 years and 5 months of their marriage, Neva D. and Melvin were inseparable — you very rarely saw one without the other. Neva and her dry sense of humor will be missed by many. She leaves her husband, Melvin, daughter Denice, son Melvyn (M.D.), daughter-in-law Phyllis, and a host of relatives and friends.

Neva D. donated her body to Tufts University School of Medical Sciences in Boston. A celebration of life service will take place in April at the First Baptist Church, 407 New Rochelle Road, Bronxville, N.Y., with a repast to follow. When her body returns to the Island, there will be a local service and burial with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Neva’s name to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748; First Baptist Church of Vineyard Haven, P.O. Box 806; or American Legion Post 257, P.O. Box 257, all in Vineyard Haven, MA 02568; or the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, P.O. Box 1477, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557; the Gay Head Community Baptist Church, P.O. Box 806, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568; or the VNA of Cape Cod and the Islands, 255 Independence Drive, Hyannis, MA 02601.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.

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