Jake S. Baird, 17, of Oak Bluffs died on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, after a car accident. He left us suddenly, way too early, leaving unexplainable sadness in all whom he had touched in his few short years on earth.

He literally flew into the world on July 14, 2000. If not for his Aunt Vanessa’s quickness in the delivery room as he emerged, he might have fallen to the floor. He had a closeness in his early years in Worcester with his older sister Rya and younger cousin Rachel Grace.

His family moved to the Vineyard in 2003, living in Oak Bluffs, West Tisbury, and Aquinnah. His sister Jayden was born in October 2004 to join the family. Early in 2007, Jake and his sisters moved to the home of Al and Jill Woollacott of Oak Bluffs, their grandparents, where he resided until his death.

Always fun-loving, honest, and moving at times to a different drumbeat, Jake thought independently, asked and pondered big questions, and was admirably unafraid of standing outside convention. One of the best expressions of Jake’s free thought came through his performances in the youth improv group, IMP. Through his IMP years, his confidence grew, allowing more of his inner self to emerge. He brought humor, in novel ways, to the stage. And he was there to help younger IMPers to develop their skills.

Jake was steadfast in his beliefs, even stubborn at times, but nothing could or would impede his compassion for all, heart of gold, and infectious warmth, smile, and laughter. His greatest fulfillment came in helping others. As a freshman, his classmates nominated him to be a member of Peer Outreach, and as a senior, the faculty nominated him to participate in the Race Cultural Retreat. This past Thursday, the 11th, he received the Renaissance Award from Project Vine, where he took a leadership role inspiring underclassmen. Energetic, he worked summers landscaping at Vineyard Gardens and cutting lawns in Harthaven, and did some work in construction. One of his greatest passions was working on cars. His plans were to further his education in auto mechanics this fall in Colorado, near his Uncle Justin and family. Jake had spent a few summer vacations with them, camping in Colorado. Jake was in a good place when he suddenly was taken from us — he left this world happy, bound to reside in eternity with his infectious smile.

He is survived by his parents, George Baird and Alyson Woollacott; sisters Rya and Jayden Baird; maternal half-siblings Aneecya, Jahlil, and Jamere Willis; grandparents and guardians Alfred III and Jill Woollacott; grandparents Janice and Sonny Silva; Uncles Jason and Dominic Baird and their family; Aunt Vanessa Woollacott and her daughter Rachel Grace Mahoney; Uncle Justin Woollacott, wife Marie, and sons Eli and Jamus; Uncle Jared Woollacott, wife Jamie, and daughter Amadea Zyn; many cousins; and his great-grandmother Suzanne Chandler and her companion Bruno Eisner of Sarasota, Fla. Jake’s presence in their lives will be missed deeply.

On Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Ag Hall in West Tisbury from 2 pm to 5:30 pm, there will be visitation with the family, and at 5:30 pm, there will be a period of sharing of memories of Jake. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guestbook and information. Tribal events will occur at dates to be arranged.

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Nikki Langer, professor of psychology, accomplished musician, devoted Bubba, voracious reader, early feminist, and champion of everything Vineyard, died peacefully on Dec. 21, 2018, at her home in Chilmark. She was 95.

If age is portrayed as a journey, as is taught in Genesis, she was a marathon champ. The distance she traveled in her life was nothing short of remarkable. It took brains, determination, courage, and strength. She possessed all of these in spades.

Nikki was a first-generation American, born in 1922. Her parents, Eva and Harry Poltorack, were born in Kishinev, Moldova. They immigrated to the United States following the pogroms, anti-Jewish riots that took place in Kishinev, then the capital of Bessarabia in the Russian Empire, in 1903 and 1905. These riots broke out after two children were found dead and the anti-Semitic local paper insinuated that both had been murdered by the Jewish community for the purpose of using their blood in the preparation of Passover Matzoh. Dozens of Jews were killed, many more injured. Women and girls were raped.

Escaping the pogroms and settling in a small apartment on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx near Yankee Stadium, her parents brought little with them. Harry was a furrier by trade, and Eva was a housewife. They spoke only Yiddish, though her father had studied and mastered Hebrew. Neither had much formal education, and funds were scarce. But music was paramount in the Poltorack household, and they put money aside (when they could) to buy a piano and pay for piano lessons for their young daughter.

There were many stories about her childhood. As a youngster, she was deeply ashamed to invite friends over to her home, because Yiddish was the only language spoken, and to her, as a child of immigrants, that represented a backward life — something to leave behind. She was anxious about her own speech and writing at school, fearing that a Yiddish word would creep into her sentences and betray her Kishinev origins. Nevertheless, she persisted, and in persisting she excelled — at academics, at music, and at finding her way in New York City. She was accepted into the highly competitive Music and Art High School in Manhattan. Toward the end of high school, she applied to Hunter College. She did this in secret, without telling even her parents, because they firmly believed that education was not for girls. And when she was accepted, there was considerable disapproval from her parents, but she was determined. A college education was her ticket out of the Bronx — into a new life in a country filled with opportunity. Excelling at Hunter College, she entered Columbia University, where she obtained a master’s degree in music. By that time, she was an accomplished pianist and French horn player, securing her place in the New York City Women’s Orchestra during the Second World War.

In the early ’40s, she met Sydney Langer, a physician from Brooklyn who was a resident at Bellevue Hospital. They fell in love and he proposed. With the blessings of her parents, they were married in 1944. They settled in Greenwich Village. Several years and two children later, they moved to Great Neck, a Long Island suburb with an excellent school system, to raise their family.

Nikki continued playing French horn in the Great Neck Symphony, but soon became restless and eager for a profession. She had been fascinated by psychology, and had encouraged her husband to seek a psychiatric specialty. In the late ’50s, she was accepted into a psychology Ph.D. program at NYU. After completing the coursework for her doctorate, she joined the psychology faculty at Hofstra University in Hempstead. She soon had the reputation of a lively and fascinating professor who took genuine interest in her students. Her classes filled quickly, and she became a mentor to many. There were long lines at her office door. At a time when a woman professor was an oddity on a college campus, she became a symbol of women’s achievements, and a vibrant role model. An early feminist in the late ’50s, she created one of the nation’s first women’s studies programs. And it wasn’t without a struggle.

Her marriage became troubled, and she was divorced in 1967. Shortly after that, she met Jacob Weissman, chair of the Economics Department at Hofstra. As academics, they were drawn to each other, and were soon to become a power couple in the life of the mind on the Hofstra campus. They settled in Hempstead, close to the campus, and became actively involved in the university.

In early 1968, Nikki and Jacob took a vacation that was to change the direction of their lives forever. It was on the Caribbean island of Tortola that they met Eleanor Pearlson and Julie Sturgis, founders of Tea Lane Realty, who were staying at the same hotel. It became a lifetime friendship made in heaven. Eleanor, never the shy one, insisted that Nikki and Jacob come to visit her on Martha’s Vineyard. They did — and the rest is history.

During the summer of 1968, she purchased the Fenner Barn in Chilmark and made it her summer home. She was passionate about the Vineyard, and made a meaningful life in Chilmark. Every summer in mid-August when the Canada geese flew over the Vineyard on their journey south, her sadness was palpable. She often said that the yearly flight of the Canada geese was a reminder that she and Jacob would be leaving soon to resume their teaching duties at Hofstra.

Nikki was determined to find a way to spend more time on the Vineyard and keep her teaching position. She created a semester on Martha’s Vineyard program for Hofstra students with various course options, including ecology and Island life. Several dozen students signed up. It was a stunning show of determination, organizational skills, and creativity.

Eventually, when Jacob retired in 1984, they sold their home in Hempstead and became full-time residents. She was instrumental in the founding of the Chilmark Chamber Music Society, along with her close friend Dee Stevens. She was also an active member of the Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council and the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center. And she continued playing in her chamber music group with other Islanders for decades.

In 1975, she became a first-time grandmother. Her daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Richard Chused never expected much, because Nikki had warned them that she wasn’t good with young children. Nevertheless, she surprised herself as much as her daughter and son, Ken, turning out to be a virtuoso Bubba to her four beloved grandchildren, Ben, Sam, Nora, and Amelia, and to her two adored great-grandchildren, Sylvia and Ozzie.

Another intriguing passage in her life was her journey from supreme assimilationist to member of a secret Torah Society consisting of her and her daughter. As a child growing up in a household of very modest means with uneducated, Yiddish-speaking parents, she had come to reject all things Jewish. Like many children of Jewish immigrants of that generation, she embraced assimilation; to be successful in America was to conceal your Jewish origins. Hitler, the Nazi Party, and Auschwitz were the contemporary events of her generation. It was better and certainly safer not to appear Jewish. Growing up in Great Neck, we occasionally lit Hanukkah candles, but never held a Shabbat dinner. We always had a Christmas tree.

During the mid-1990’s, her daughter began to look at religion — different religions — to see whether any of them made sense. Beginning with Judaism, there was a real connection and excitement. Initially Nikki found this new Jewish identification rather incomprehensible. It was the thing she had tried most to leave behind. But as time passed, she began to show interest in the narratives of the Torah, Jewish history, literature, and poetry. She was an enthusiastic member of the Hebrew Center’s Jewish Book Club for many years. And during the past two summers, she would ask her daughter to come by, and they would read the weekly Torah portion together. She loved the stories and enjoyed discussing the motives, personalities, and psychology of biblical characters. In time, she began to understand that the Judaism uncovered by her daughter was not your grandmother’s Judaism. She had created her own secret Torah Society.

Nikki Langer came a long way from modest beginnings in the Bronx to a full and rich life in Chilmark. Those who knew her cherished a privileged connection. She will be remembered for her many accomplishments, for her kindness to others, for her sharp (and sometimes caustic) wit, and for her relentless advocacy for women’s rights. But most of all she will be remembered for what she gave to the younger generations, her students, her children, her grandchildren, her young friends, her helpers and neighbors — be it wise words, comfort, advice, or a place to stay — she engaged others in a magical intimacy. She was a mentor, a role model to women, a music maker, a voracious reader, and a confidante. As one of her former students said on learning of her death, “This old world seems even sadder without her.” She will be missed, but all those who knew and loved her resolve to carry on her generous spirit.

She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Langer (and son-in-law Richard Chused) of New York City and West Tisbury, her son, Kenneth Langer (and daughter-in-law Jennifer Langer Smith) of Takoma Park, Md., her grandchildren, Ben Chused (and granddaughter-in-law Liz Gawel); Sam Langer, Nora Langer, and Amelia Langer; her stepson Stephen Weissman (and wife Vicki); her step-grandchildren Max Weissman and Maisie Nester; and her great-grandchildren, Sylvia and Ozzie Gawel Chused and Kate and Toby Weissman.

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Amelia (Amy) Wales, 62, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, at her home in Edgartown. She is survived by her sister, Stephanie Burke of Edgartown. Funeral services will be held at a later date. A complete obituary will appear in another edition of this paper.

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

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Jeffie Claire DeFusco died on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, at home in the company of her daughter, Sue Ellen Piccus, her granddaughter, Ellen K. McMannis, and her son-in-law, Gary Piccus.

Jeffie was born August 2, 1926, in Omaha, Neb., to Lucy Martha Jeffords Gibson and John Arthur Gibson. She grew up in the Sandhills of Nebraska, graduating high school in Mullen, Neb. She worked for Western Union, trained in Cleveland, Ohio. She was then posted in San Francisco, Calif., where she met her first husband, Darrel R. (Mac) McMannis.

In 1948 they were married in Mullen, and lived in Iuka, Kan., where wheat farming and truck driving supported the young family. They had a daughter, Sue Ellen McMannis, and a son, Michael Dwane McMannis.

Jeffie and Mac purchased and ran a Laundromat in Guymon, Okla. while still wheat farming. Jeffie became a licensed private pilot, and enjoyed that until her hearing loss increased. She was a bowler, and traveled to Phoenix, Ariz., to take part in national competition with her team. Little did she know she would move there in 1962.

Jeffie continued her education, becoming a medical assistant. She later was the operations manager for the Ophthalmology Center of Dr. Sheldon Zinn.

Mac died in 1967, and Jeffie met and married Al DeFusco. They enjoyed traveling to horseracing tracks throughout the Southwest, and owned their own horse, who even won. Al died in 1980.

She loved music, dancing, and visiting with friends of all ages. She was always able to tell an interesting story of some life experience to entertain her audience. She was a great Scrabble and poker player, and an avid reader.

Her first grandchild is Lisa Splawn Poteet. She came into her life in 1980 at age 5 with her mother, Rita K. Moors, who married Jeffie’s son Mike and bore him two children, Ellen Kathlyn McMannis and Timothy Miles McMannis. They spent many years enjoying good times. Jeffie also helped raise her son’s children Ellen and Tim in Phoenix.

Jeffie moved to Oak Bluffs permanently in 2004 after spending many summers there with her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, Julianne K. Piccus.

She worked for M.V. Land Bank as a property attendant, mostly at “her” beaches, Wilfords’ Pond and Tashmoo. She enjoyed seeing the return of the children each summer for five years.

Jeffie took her granddaughter Julianne on a cross-country trip after “Jewelz” graduated from high school in 2002. They traveled to Nebraska, saw Mount Rushmore, and enjoyed each other’s company from M.V. to Phoenix.

A caring, life-loving lady, Jeffie walked many a mile with a smile on her face and love in her heart.

Jeffie’s siblings, John A. (Bud) Gibson Jr., Shirley Ann Wuelzer, Barney Bill Gibson, and Joe Michael Gibson, all predeceased her. She was also predeceased by her two husbands, her son Mike McMannis, and her grandson Dyami Piccus.

Our thanks to so many people who helped her through these past few years, especially Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, Elder Services, and Supportive Day Care.

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Lucian Michael Domkowski, 87, of New Britain, Conn., died Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, at Hospital of Central Connecticut, New Britain General.

Lucian was born and raised in New Britain. He attended New Britain High School, where he was an avid violin player. After graduating from high school in 1948, Lucian joined the U.S. Army. While in the Army band he switched to the trombone, which he continued to play throughout his military career.

While touring in Europe, he met the love of his life, Caroline. They married in Salzburg, Austria, and had three children, all born in different countries: Fred in Austria, Sherry in the U.S., and Sue in Germany. When Lucian’s mother became ill, the family returned to the U.S., settling in New Britain. Lucian’s military career continued as he was stationed in Fort Devens in Massachusetts for four years, then Germany for two years, finishing up at Fort Polk, Louisiana, for the last 3½ years, retiring as a master sergeant E8.

He was most proud of his children and grandchildren. He was very spiritual, and comforted by his faith. Lucian was an active member of the Holy Cross Church, and was a member of the Society of the Holy Name.

Lucian leaves behind his beloved wife of 64 years, Caroline, of New Britain; his son, Fred Domont and his wife Lee of Edgartown; his two daughters, Sherry Rouleau and her husband Jeff of East Hampton, Conn., and Sue Kaeka and her husband Danny of West Tisbury; his six grandchildren, Ali, Jordan, Leolani, Fin, Eve, and Jenny, and his seven great-grandchildren, Ashley, Colleen, Katie, Grace, Andrew, Emma, and Page.

To extend condolences to the Domkowski family, or to share a memory of Lucian, please visit shakerfuneralhome.com.

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Sinclair Hamilton Hitchings, curator, author, editor, influential member of many Boston cultural institutions, book and art collector, and promoter of Boston artists, died on Jan. 18, 2018, at the age of 84 in Edgartown. His professional career was marked by a deep commitment to making art accessible to the general public and to supporting living Boston artists.

Hired as keeper of prints by the Boston Public Library in 1961, he spent the next 44 years building the institution’s collections of European and American artists. As a result, the Print Department of the Boston Public Library now has one of the finest collections of art on paper, including prints, watercolors, drawings, and photographs. The collection also includes works of hundreds of living artists, many with connections to Boston.

Since the Boston Public Library is owned by the city, Hitchings viewed his role as making art accessible to the public through the library’s Wiggin Gallery. He considered his work a visual documentation of society that could serve as an educational force in the present and an archive for the future. Monthly exhibitions in the Wiggin Gallery brought in artists, patrons, and the general public. His friendships within the community brought in additional art and $10 million, which were placed in restricted funds for the benefit of the collection.

A popular speaker, he was frequently asked to give lectures in Boston, across the country, and in Canada. His subject matter was wide and varied, from colonial Boston printers to 19th century European artists and back to Boston for contemporary artists. At the Boston Public Library, he founded an annual symposium exploring different topics on viewing and collecting art. In addition, he was one of the prime organizers of the North American Print Conference, a periodic gathering of print curators, historians, and collectors.

Hitchings was also a prolific writer and editor. Highlights included collaborations on books on color lithography in late 19th century France, as well as on artists Thomas Nason, Samuel Chamberlain, Stow Wengenroth, F.L. Griggs, and James McBey, among others.

As an educator, Hitchings taught classes at both Boston University and Simmons College, and welcomed students to the Print Department for seminars. Some of these students later returned as summer volunteers, where he would teach them to research art and organize exhibitions in the library’s gallery.

One of Hitchings’ joys in life was his friendships. His informal artists’ lunch program was well known and enthusiastically embraced by the artist community. Several times a week he’d invite an artist to lunch to learn more about that person’s artistic life. He then often purchased some of the work to add to the BPL’s collection. In addition, he made regular visits to numerous Boston galleries to view the latest shows by local artists. A hallmark of his friendships was his longstanding relationship with the Stinehour Press, which printed many of the BPL’s publications, and his deep friendship with its owner, Roderick D. Stinehour of Lunenberg, Vt.

Hitchings’ civic life also included membership in numerous clubs devoted to collecting and learning, such as the Club of Odd Volumes, St. Botolph Club, Examiner Club, Grolier Club, and a small men’s dining club where he enjoyed decades of deep and lasting friendships.

Over the course of his career, his greatest passion became celebrating and supporting living Boston artists. He was a major influence in the creation of an official holiday, Boston for Boston Artists. Inspired by the 1958 “Great Day in Harlem” photograph of the leading lights of the Harlem Renaissance taken on the steps of a Harlem brownstone, in 1998 he organized a similar photo of more than 600 local artists on the steps of the Boston Public Library. After his retirement in 2006, he set up a nonprofit organization named Art in Boston, dedicated to living Boston artists. Hitchings’ dream was to found a small museum on Newbury Street in Boston devoted to the work of local artists. He was fond of saying that tourists who came to Boston for the history would be further enriched by taking home artwork by a living Boston artist.

He believed that art added insight and resonance to our lives. In 2006, Clifford Ackley of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts described Hitchings in a Boston Magazine article as “one of the most conspicuous figures in the Boston and Cambridge art scene, famous for his anecdotes, hearty laugh, and good humor. He’s been incredibly important to many artists.” In 1990 he was recognized with an honorary degree from the Massachusetts College of Art, and in 2003 he received an award of distinction from the Southern Graphics Print Conference. Hitchings’ influence on the arts in Boston was recognized by Mayor Thomas Menino, who declared June 30, 2005 (the day Hitchings retired from the BPL), to be Sinclair Hitchings Day in the city.

Born in 1933 in the Philippines as the only child of Lieut. Col. John Lyman Hitchings and Rosanna McCleave Hitchings, he lived on small Cavalry posts throughout the American West during his childhood. Homeschooled through the Calvert program, he then experienced a succession of schools during his father’s frequent, Army-generated, pre–World War II moves. He later graduated from his father’s alma mater, the Hill School in Pottstown, Pa., and was valedictorian of his class in 1950. He then double-majored in English and graphic arts at Dartmouth College, where he was a student of Ray Nash, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1954. He enrolled in NROTC at Dartmouth College, and after graduation served for two years in the Navy as ensign. He was always proud of his service.

He first visited relatives on Martha’s Vineyard while a student at Dartmouth College, and later became a longtime seasonal resident. Over the years, the holly tree–shaded back porch became his favorite place to read, and the dining room table a good place to write book introductions and texts on artists, lectures on numerous subjects, autobiographical essays to share, and numerous handwritten letters in black pen to family, artists, and friends. In retirement, he and his wife moved to the Edgartown family home, and found the Island a wonderful place to live year round.

He leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Catherine (Farlow), a genealogist, historian, and author. During their early years of marriage, they were overseers for the historic Cooper-Frost-Austin House in Cambridge (c.1681-82), owned by Historic New England. They have two sons, Hamilton and Benjamin, and two grandchildren.

A memorial gathering will be held at a later date, and burial will be in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. The family wishes to thank their many Island friends, Sarah Sengooba, Hope Hospice, Horizons Geriatric Care Management, and the many supportive groups for the elderly on Martha’s Vineyard.

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Benjamin Bentley Hubert died at 97 on Jan. 4, 2018, peacefully. He was born to James and Mary Hubert in Jamaica, New York, on Nov. 15, 1920. Benjamin was born into a family with a remarkable and rich heritage. He was the grandson of a Georgia slave who with his family became the first African-American landowners in the area of Sparta, Ga., and who saw to it that all of his 12 children went on to college. He was the son of a remarkable, idealistic man who was a dedicated advocate of racial equality and education.

Benjamin was educated in New York City public schools. He went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in business administration, majoring in accounting, from West Virginia State University after spending a short period at Morehouse College. Later on he earned a master’s degree in his field. Benjamin loved mathematics, and used his analytical capacity in pursuit of many financial interests. He spent every summer of his life on Martha’s Vineyard, and built a lovely home in Aquinnah.

Benjamin was blessed with an outstanding intellect, which served him very well in his major career as a special agent for the intelligence division of the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, from which he retired. During his service he earned citations for his excellent work.

During his lifetime he loved playing chess and sailing, and became an avid and excellent tennis player. He earned recognition as a competitive swimmer during his school years. Throughout most of his life he showed very little interest in joining clubs and organizations, except for the Fellas, where later he enjoyed emeritus status. He enlisted in the U.S. Army (Army Air Force Base Unit), where he proudly served from Dec. 2, 1942, to Oct. 22, 1945, and was granted an honorable discharge.

Benjamin’s legacy is better expressed in the ways in which he lived a full life of character and integrity. He enjoyed the company of family, friends, and neighbors around his swimming pool and on his tennis court on Martha’s Vineyard, where from childhood he spent many, many precious years to the very end of a long and blessed life. His home was in Aquinnah off Lighthouse Road, with a magnificent view.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory a loving family that includes his wife, Lucile Hubert; Lucile’s nieces and nephews, Sharon and Larry Bass, Darryl Harris, Michelle Neal, and Antoinette, Mark, and Charles Abston; nephew Judge James Hubert and niece-in-law Jody Hubert; and nieces Jamie Hubert and Sheryl Brooks-Scott; friend Mamie Johnson; godson John Skipper and family; a host of grandnieces and -nephews, as well as cousins; extended family, the Brown family; close friends and acquaintances.

Although his light has gone out, his glow will remain forever in our hearts. We wish him peace and eternal rest.

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Amy Wales died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, at her home.

Amy loved horses. They were her lifelong passion. Amy was born and raised in New York City, riding at Claremont Stables, and in upstate New York in the summers, until as a young teenager she went to Windsor Mountain School in Lenox with her first horse, Orphan. The rest is history. Amy rode avidly in college, and earned a degree at U.N.H. in animal science, followed with horse master certifications in England and Connemara Trail experience. Amy worked at the Rhinebeck Hunt Club, New Canaan Mounted Troop in New Canaan, Conn., Millers Equestrian Co., several horse farms and then her own stable in Colchester, Vt., for 13 years.

In 2011, Amy moved to Martha’s Vineyard to be close to her family on the Island. On the Vineyard she worked on a private equestrian property, training the horses, and caring for and loving all the animals, including ducks, birds, and a wonderful rescue donkey named Horton. Amy was a talented rider, instructor, and respected horse trainer. She was a talented artist as well. She was a devoted sister and a passionate friend. She always wore a smile and had time to talk and offer warmth and comfort to people, especially at the M.V. Boys and Girls Club Second Hand Store, where she had worked a few days a week since arriving on the island. The staff there became her second family. Amy has left us much too soon. She will be sorely missed. She is survived by her sisters Stephanie Burke and Vanessa Eve Moore, nephews Victor and Nathan Moore, niece Sadie Moore, her nephews Damon Burke, and Nolan Burke and fiancé Hilary Spann, her niece Samantha Davenport, grand-nephews Jonathan and Jared Davenport, her stepmothers Ruth Wales and Claudia Wales, Uncle H. Elliot and Fané Wales, cousins Bruce and David Wales and Connie, Louise, and Karen Kramer and family.

A celebration of Amy’s life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 2 to 5pm at 40 Meeting House Way off the West Tisbury Road in Edgartown. All friends are welcome. Please feel free to bring a thought or story to share. In lieu of flowers, a GoFundMe account at gofundme.com/amy-wales-memorial-fund has been set up to help cover expenses.

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Edith Welch Potter died on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, at her home on Chappaquiddick. She was predeceased by her husband Robert G. Potter in June 2017. Her funeral service will be at a later date, and a complete obituary will appear in another edition of this paper.

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

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Gloria R. Darden of Edgartown and Atlanta died peacefully with her family by her side on Jan. 28, 2018. She was 90 years old. Condolences can be forwarded to Murray Brothers Funeral Home, Atlanta, Ga. A full obituary will follow in another edition of this paper.

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Loving father, and certified public accountant, Bernard Keith Whoolery, 82, of Edgartown and Sudbury, died peacefully in his sleep on Jan. 14, 2018. He lived a happy, simple life, often trailblazing in the woods with his beloved golden retrievers, clearing paths so that others might enjoy nature.

Bernard was the son of Donald A. Whoolery and Ellen Whoolery (Clemmer) from Smithfield, Pa., and received a B.A. in business administration from the University of Michigan in 1962. He was predeceased by his wife, Joanna Lee Whoolery (Everly), in June 2000, and sought refuge on the Vineyard, drawn by its nautical and small-town feel.

Second only to his family, Bernie’s love was building boats. He constructed them in his basement from both fiberglass and wood, and during one enthusiastic effort, built a boat of such a berth his family was convinced he would never remove it! The Vineyard provided a perfect avenue to further connect his skills with the sea, and he enjoyed every moment provided. Friends and family will miss his kind heart and willingness to always help those in need, including the elderly for whom he delivered meals provided by his friends at the Council on Aging.

Surviving him are his daughter Priscilla Whoolery McCormick and son-in-law Wesley J. McCormick of West Yarmouth, granddaughter Mellissa Morais of Allston, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

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Albert W. (“Buddy”) Allen III of Vineyard Haven died on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, at the Lahey Clinic Hospital in Burlington. He was 73. He was the father of Kimberly A. Goodell of Wallingford, Vt.

His funeral service will be held at a later date, and a complete obituary will appear in another edition of this paper.

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Frances Kane Woerpel, 88, died on Jan. 20, 2018, at the Henrietta Brewer House in Vineyard Haven, after a short illness. She was born on Feb. 5, 1929, in Utica, N.Y. to Dorothy (née Markle) and Neil Kane.

Fran grew up on a small family dairy farm in Frankfort, N.Y., where both her mother and father had family roots going back generations. Fran graduated from Proctor High School in Utica in 1946, and earned a certificate in dental hygiene from Eastman Dental Dispensary in 1948.

In 1952 she married Robert Woerpel, and they settled in Rochester, N.Y., where they raised their family. Fran worked for many years as a nursing assistant in the Penfield school system. She was a devoted wife and mother, spending many hours helping with homework, especially spelling (never math!), and filling weekends with excursions to local museums, libraries, and parks. Fran was an avid reader, with a special interest in American history and tales of the Adirondacks and New England. She was also keenly aware of her own family history, spending years identifying and cataloging photos, letters, ledgers, diaries, and items passed down to her. This naturally led to an interest in early American antiques, with special focus on objects from everyday home life.

Fran and Bob came to Martha’s Vineyard in the late 1950s to visit her sister Marcia and husband Stuart Haley. Thus began many years of summer vacations. In the early 1970s they purchased a modest home in Vineyard Haven, where over the years they spent an increasing amount of time. In 2013 they moved from Rochester, making the Vineyard their permanent residence. Fran and Bob could often be seen walking from their home to town to enjoy an afternoon coffee and cookie, or at Eastville Beach, catching up on their reading.

Fran had a sharp wit and quick, if often sardonic, sense of humor, but was also caring and deeply committed to social justice and human rights.

Fran was predeceased by her husband. She is survived by her son David Woerpel of Salem, and daughter Karin Stanley and son-in-law Ted of West Tisbury. Her family members include Austin and Rosemary Haley, Paul and Julie Woerpel, Ron and Sylvania Woerpel, Marna Woerpel and Tom Van Ouse, Kathy O’Bryant and grand-nephews Justin Haley, Derek Woerpel, and grand-niece Allison Woerpel. Her family expresses deep gratitude to the gentle caring staff at the Henrietta Brewer House, Horizon Geriatrics, and Hope Hospice. No services are planned.

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Gregory Steven Williams, 72, died on Feb. 5, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Center, N.Y.

Greg worked as a physician’s assistant, and spent the bulk of his career working for the Medical Examiner’s Office in New York City. His dedication to, and love for, his work is evidenced in the numerous awards and honors he received over the course of his 30-year career.

He built his home on Martha’s Vineyard in 1994, and enjoyed all that the Island has to offer. Greg was an avid fisherman, and he and his friends spent many years vacationing at his Island home.

He is survived by his mother, Doris I. Williams, his brother, Gary P. Williams, and his sister, Marilyn J. Williams, as well as a host of cousins and other family.

Greg’s quick wit and generous and giving spirit will be missed by his friends and colleagues, and by all who knew and loved him.

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Lorraine Shortell O’Callaghan, widow of John D. O’Callaghan Sr., died on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, at Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Lorraine was born on April 21, 1921, in Derby, Conn. She graduated from St. Mary Elementary School (1933) and Derby High School (1937). She graduated from Albertus Magnus College in 1941 with a B.A. degree in history and political science. Upon graduation from college, she worked for the State of Connecticut, Division of Child Welfare, as a supervisor. After her marriage to John O’Callaghan in 1945, she was a stay-at-home mom to her two sons.

Always interested in community affairs, she was active in many organizations. She served as president of the Women’s College Club, and was a charter member and president of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Chapter of the Albertus Magnus College Alumni Association. In 1956, she was named the first executive director of the newly established district office of Catholic Family Services, Archdiocese of Hartford. One of her first concerns was the lack of locally based social service agencies, requiring Valley residents to travel outside the Valley to receive services. She helped organize the Valley Social Workers Club, and served as its president. This club met regularly for several years, with the goal of encouraging outside agencies to become more familiar with the social service needs of the Valley, and to provide more local contacts. Lorraine served on the committee to establish the first local mental health association, and the planning committee that founded the Homemaker Service. Ansonia Mayor Joseph Doyle appointed her to the first committee on the aged, whose work resulted in the opening of the Ansonia Senior Center — the first one in the Valley. She was a board member of TEAM.

Lorraine was a specialist in adoption services, and served as the chairwoman of the Archdiocese of Hartford Adoption Advisory Committee. A longtime member of the board of directors of the Derby Historical Society, she received their Service Award in 2003, and was named an emeritus board member. She was a charter member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. She served as executive board member of the Huntington Chapter of AARP, and was a longtime member of the Ansonia Garden Club, and its treasurer for many years. Lorraine was an active member of Assumption Church, and a lifelong Red Sox fan.

In the fall of 2012, Lorraine moved to Oak Bluffs to be nearer to her son Jack, who resides on the Island. For the past five years she resided at Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where she excelled at bingo and trivia contests, and took part in the many outings that were made available to her.

She is survived by her two sons, Jack of Vineyard Haven, and Kevin, who lives in Greensboro, N.C.; five grandchildren, Ryan, Sarah, Scott, Cheryl, and Robert; two great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 5 to 7 pm in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs. On Friday, Feb. 9, her funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Church, 212 Elizabeth St. in Derby, Conn., at 11 am, with burial following in Mount St. Peter Cemetery, also in Derby.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful if a donation was made in her memory to the Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Recreational Fund, P.O. Box 1747, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

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Robert G. White of Edgartown, 70, died on Jan. 30, 2018. He was the owner of Edgartown Deli for more than 30 years. He is survived by his partner of 43 years, Corrine Rogers. No services are scheduled at this time. A complete obituary will appear in a future edition of this newspaper.

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Larry Levine, 84, retired owner of the Vineyard Dry Goods and Village Fair, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, in Henderson, Nev.

A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and son, Larry was born on the Vineyard on August 18, 1933, and grew up in Vineyard Haven. His parents, David and Ida Levine (née Brickman), were founders of Vineyard Dry Goods in Vineyard Haven, and were lifelong Islanders. Larry studied business at Boston University, and served in the Korean War with the U.S. Army. He moved back to the Island in 1965 and opened the Village Fair, then the Home Fair in Edgartown. He ran these stores for 22 years, and helped his mother run the Vineyard Dry Goods store for another nine years.

Larry was an avid bridge player, and began the Vineyard’s first duplicate bridge game; he also loved to play tennis. He moved to Las Vegas, Nev., where he lived with his wife Helen for 20 years.

He is preceded in death by his parents and stepdaughter, Cindy DiPietro. He is survived by Helen, his beloved wife of 38 years; two daughters, Amy Levine Roberts and Sarah Levine; son Jimmy Levine; stepson Larry Scherzer; son-in-law Scott Roberts; brother Robert Levine, D.D.S. (Barbara); and six grandchildren, Matthew, Alexa, Mark, Jake, Michael, and Robin.

Funeral and burial services were held at King David Memorial Chapel and Palm Valley View Cemetery in Henderson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group, ​P.O. Box 2214, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, ​mvcancersupport.org​. 

A memorial service will be held at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center, with the date to be announced.

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Donald J. Baril, 92, died on Feb. 20, 2018, at his home in Edgartown. He was the husband of Arlene (Norton) Baril. His funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary Church, One Church Square, in Franklin on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 10 am, followed by burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Beaver Street, Franklin, with military honors.

Donations may be made in his memory to Elder Services of the Cape and Islands (Meals on Wheels), 68 Route 134, South Dennis, MA 02660; to the attn. of: Lou Eppers.

A complete obituary will appear in another edition of this paper. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guestbook and information.

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Richard “Ricky” Gregory Haller, 69 years old, died peacefully on Feb. 14, 2018, in Brewster after a short illness. Rick had spent the past 20 years living in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic doing what he loved to do — sail, surf, and be with friends.

Rick was born in Oklahoma City, Okla., on August 8, 1948, and grew up in Ponca City, Okla. He graduated from Ponca High School and attended Oklahoma State University. He lived on Martha’s Vineyard for 25 years. He started out working for Frank Brunelle in his store, the Wilson House Shops, a specialty retail store much like his father’s store, Harter’s Ready-to-Wear in Ponca City. Rick bought the store from Frank, and they remained partners and great friends for many years.

Rick always enjoyed being on the water; windsurfing was his passion. Later, he became friends with the Douglas family, owners of the Black Dog, and worked for them. He followed his heart to Cometa Copal, Costa Rica, where he lived. He also lived in Cabarete, Dominican Republic, living the the life he dreamed of, always a free spirit.

Rick is preceded in death by his father, Ernest O. Haller Jr., his mother, N. Maxine Haller, and his youngest sister, Karen Haller-White. He is survived by his sister, Nancy A. Haller of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., his oldest son, Aaron Breckenridge-Haller, of Tulsa, Okla., and his youngest son, David Haller. Rick has several cousins, nieces, nephews, a great-niece, and a great-nephew.

There have been condolences from around the world, and one friend summed up the feelings best: Fly free, Richard G. Haller. You certainly lived life to the fullest. You have also inspired so many people and touched so many lives. Thank you for the love you have given all of us, and all our memories that we shared together. We have learned so much from you, more than you will ever know. Rest in paradise, and see you on the shores of heaven.

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Doris Gaffney died at Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Oak Bluffs on Feb. 23, 2018. She was 98 years old.

Born on May 19, 1919, Doris was raised in Fitchburg. She was a resident of Martha’s Vineyard since 1998, and very active in community activities.

Doris lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Bob DeLisle, in Edgartown until she established residence at Woodside Apartments in Oak Bluffs. She lived at Woodside Apartments until, at 93, she was accepted as a resident of the Assisted Living wing of Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

While she was at Woodside Apartments, she helped them start and build a community garden. Doris worked at the Black Dog in Vineyard Haven well into her late 80s, and volunteered at the local soup kitchen. She spent many years as a volunteer (over 3,000 hours) at Windemere. She delivered the mail, and spent many hours visiting with the residents at Windemere.

She didn’t have a college degree, but had mastered the art of love. She found the good in everyone she met. Many loved her, and she loved them all dearly. If you said hello to her once, you had her love and friendship forever, but she always had enough love left for the friends she hadn’t yet met. Doris always believed she was surrounded by angels, and now she has her wings.

In addition to her two daughters, Linda DeLisle and Ann Gaffney, and her son-in-law Bob DeLisle, Doris is survived by four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and two nieces.

A tea in her honor will be hosted by Windemere on Friday, May 18, at noon. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Windemere’s Recreation Fund. She will be buried in St. Bernard’s cemetery in Fitchburg on May 19.

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