Sean Charles Wilcoxson, a man with a huge heart and spirit, died on Sept. 11 as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident that occurred on August 11 in Texas. He was 29.

Sean was born on Martha’s Vineyard on March 11, 1987. After graduating from the Edgartown School, he attended the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and graduated in 2005. Sean then began classes at BCC to major in communications, where he found his niche on the college radio station and went on to write for the school’s newspaper; it was then that his love for writing and journalism flourished. Sean was a natural writer, talented from an early age, but he really thrived when he discovered new ways to share his talent.

Whether it was reporting on a current event or sharing a rhyming rant on Facebook, words seemed to flow so easily through him. In recent years, he mainly wrote pieces for his online magazine, And So It Goes, and Rock Bottom Magazine, bringing light and attention to the addiction of others, as well as his own.

Besides writing, one of Sean’s greatest passions was snowboarding. There were many trips to the White Mountains and especially Sunday River, but he was happiest and really thought he was in heaven snowboarding the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming.

Sean met his life partner, Jim McManus, in November 2014, and eventually joined him in San Antonio, Texas. Together they loved to travel, taking many trips. A couple of their favorite adventures were their travels to Panama and Greece. Sean and Jim married in July 2015. While in Texas, Sean continued to write and to reach out to others.

Most of us know Sean battled addiction his entire life, with some periods of sobriety. We always hoped he would return to a program of recovery, but he kept searching for another way to overcome the powerlessness of addiction. Sean was a fighter, never giving up on himself just as his spouse, his family, and his friends who knew and loved him never gave up on him. He found periods of peace and clarity, but even though he was a strong fighter, those periods would only last so long. Sean had such a huge heart and an even bigger spirit, leaving all who truly knew him better for knowing him. He definitely believed that the power of a smile, a hug, or a kind word could go a long way.

Sean is survived by his husband Jim McManus of San Antonio, Texas; his parents Robert and Celeste Wilcoxson of Edgartown; sister Jessie Wilcoxson of Boston; grandparents Douglas and Lish Wilcoxson of Fort Pierce, Fla., and Richard and Elaine Lowell of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held on Oct. 22 at the United Methodist Church in Oak Bluffs at 11 am. Contributions in his memory may be made to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services Recovery Coaching Program, 111 Edgartown Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

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A memorial service for Nancy T. Bailey, formerly of Vineyard Haven, will be held at 470 Lambert’s Cove Road, West Tisbury, on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 1 pm. All are welcome.

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Richard Luce Doane of Tucson, Ariz., and West Tisbury — father, brother, husband — died in Tucson after a lengthy illness, with his family around him, and is now with God and the love of his life, Martha. He was 89.

Richard Luce Doane was born in Melrose on Dec. 4, 1926, to Arthur J. and Mary E. (Bonnar) Doane. He was the eldest of three children. His childhood and early adulthood were spent in Melrose and on family lands in West Tisbury. After graduation from Melrose High School in 1944, he joined the Army Air Corps and served proudly as an acting sergeant with the military police in Europe during the waning years of World War II. After the war, he studied architectural construction at Wentworth Institute in Boston.

On June 17, 1951, he married Martha Lois Howes of Vineyard Haven, and they began their life together in the family home in West Tisbury. Their first son, Steven, was born during this time.

In 1954, the small family left the Vineyard to pursue a living. After living for short periods in California and New York, they settled in Tucson, Ariz. Along the way, two more children were added to the family, Deborah and David. In Tucson they raised their family.

Richard worked at Kitt Peak National Observatory from its beginning in the 1950s, and eventually became operations manager at the mountain location. Upon retirement in 1988, he and Martha returned to West Tisbury, where they built a home on family lands. They split their time between homes on the Vineyard and in Tucson.

Always a hard worker, Richard was continually planning, designing, and building throughout his life, both professionally and for his family. He began his career as a finish carpenter, working on historic houses on Martha’s Vineyard. Kitt Peak was also the recipient of his design and building skills over his 30-year career with them. He was always adding innovative improvements at his work and to his homes.

Richard was predeceased by his beloved wife, Martha, and his parents. He is survived by his son Steven C. Doane, and wife Roseanne, of Sylva, N.C.; his daughter, Deborah S. Douthitt, and husband J. Scott Douthitt, of Oro Valley, Ariz.; his son David C. Doane and wife Kathleen, of Chandler, Ariz. He has four grandchildren: Lieut. Nathaniel Doane, USN (and wife Eileen) of Kaneohe, Hawaii; Laura Hawk (and husband Brad) of Oro Valley, Ariz.; Richanna Steffen (and husband Adam) of Bozeman, Mont.; and Christopher Doane of Chandler, Ariz. He also has a great-granddaughter, Adelynn Steffen. His brother, Robert (and wife RoseMarie), sister, Muriel Bye, three sisters-in-law, Theodora (Dora) Edwards, Rosemary Howes, and Ann Howes, also survive him, as do numerous nieces and nephews. Richard was respected and beloved by many. He leaves behind several close friends both from his childhood and from his later years on Martha’s Vineyard.

A memorial service will be held Oct. 14 at 11 am in the West Tisbury Village Cemetery, where Richard will be laid to rest beside his beloved Martha and among numerous grandparents and other relatives from throughout the centuries. In lieu of flowers, donations and memorials can be made to Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, P.O, Box 5277, Edgartown, MA 02539; 508-627-4440.

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Susan Borden Hyde Macy died Sept. 1 at her home on Lake Tashmoo, surrounded by her family. She was 92.

Susy, known as Sue by many on the Island, was born in Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1924 to Robert “Bobby” McKee Hyde and Dorothy Borden Hamilton Hyde. Her mother died following childbirth, and her father married Lydia Tonetti of Snedens Landing, N.Y., the next year.

Susy grew up in Snedens Landing with her parents, a younger sister, and two brothers. The family spent many summers on Martha’s Vineyard in a summer camp that Bobby Hyde built in 1931 on Lake Tashmoo. At the time it was the only cottage on the narrow spit of land between the lake and Vineyard Sound. Lake Tashmoo was a freshwater lake until the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 opened it to the sea. Susy remembered taking long walks along the beach from West Chop to Lambert’s Cove in the years before the hurricane.

At 14, Susy moved to Santa Barbara to live with her father after he divorced Lydia and married Florence “Floppy” Tuckerman Andrews. Several years later, Santa Barbara school officials were chagrined to learn that Susan’s unconventional father had placed her a grade ahead, but they could not argue with her stellar academic record when she qualified for graduation just after her 17th birthday.

She continued to travel east to spend summers with Lydia and her siblings at the Tashmoo cottage. When she was 16, she met and fell in love with Eliot “Bud” Macy, whose family had a summer camp on the opposite side of the lake. Susy and Bud were married on July 4, 1942, at the base of a waterfall on the shore of the Hudson River in Snedens Landing. Bud’s father, a Congregational minister, officiated.

Susy attended college through the war years and earned her B.A. in English at Boston University in 1945. After the war, Susy and Bud moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., where they would raise five children, but they returned to the Vineyard by car almost every summer through the 1960s.

Susy began volunteering full-time in a kindergarten classroom in 1966, followed by two years as an instructional aide in the Santa Barbara school system. In 1970 she entered the postgraduate counseling/psychology program at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB), completing her M.Ed. in Education-Counseling and Guidance in June 1971.

In 1974, Susy became the first full-time school psychologist for the Martha’s Vineyard Regional School System. Susy loved her job, the children she worked with, and her colleagues. She retired in June 1993, but continued to work by referral from the director of special education for Martha’s Vineyard schools, from the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, and from therapists and psychiatrists through 2000.

Susy was an ardent feminist. She didn’t join “the movement,” but she strongly believed in equal rights for women and men. At the bottom of a page of quotes she put together to be helpful to mentors and parents, she wrote, “I’m sorry there aren’t more women represented here, but they were obviously too busy to sit down and translate their gifts into words.”

She loved poetry, especially T.S. Eliot, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and John Donne. She enjoyed the lines of poetry on the masthead of the Vineyard Gazette, and would often cut them out and save them. She also loved to read. After many years of working, she took up reading again, and enjoyed it greatly.

Susy loved to bake and cook for her family and friends. Her children remember in particular the tantalizing aroma of hot cardamom bread just out of the oven. She made amazing blueberry and beach plum jams. She enjoyed being outdoors in the garden, blueberrying in the woods around Tashmoo, and collecting sea glass along Whites’ Beach. She liked to walk the two miles from her office in town to the family summer cottage on Herring Creek Road, picking blueberries along the way. Ever considerate, Susy only picked the berries where the mosquitoes and poison ivy were thickest, leaving plenty for others. She loved flowers, and would often take a small bouquet from her garden when visiting someone.

She adored her family and was interested in and proud of each one of them. She and Bud had been married 69 years when he died in June 2011. She spent the following winters with her youngest son John and his family in Blauvelt, N.Y., near Snedens Landing where she grew up, returning to her home on Lake Tashmoo each spring to stay on the Island until late autumn with her daughter Jill.

Susy and Bud left bequests to benefit Vineyard charities, notably the Permanent Endowment Fund for Martha’s Vineyard, Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, and Martha’s Vineyard Community Services.

She is survived by her son Tim Macy and wife Barbara of Franklin Lakes, N.J.; daughter Jill Macy of Vineyard Haven; daughter Sarah Macy and husband Ted Pedersen of East Rutherford, N.J.; son Mike Macy and wife Ann of Santa Barbara, Calif.; son John Macy and wife Joy of Blauvelt, N.Y.; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and her brother Gavin Hyde of Santa Barbara. She was predeceased by her husband Bud, her sister Anne G. Bjorklund, and her brothers Joe Hyde and Francois Hyde.

The family invites those who knew and loved Susy to share their memories on her memorial website, blueberriesforsusy.com.

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Mark V. Peters Jr. of Oak Bluffs died on Saturday, Oct. 1. He was 37.

Our son is gone far too soon, the pain in our hearts is over the moon.

Taken too young by the demons he faced, the heartache and sorrow cannot be erased.

He had so much love in his large heart to give, and his smile so contagious — he had so much to live.

His beautiful daughter that he loved with his heart will face a lifetime of hurt, being torn right apart.

His pride would not let those who loved him help, he could not break away from the poison he felt.

Our stomachs are filled with lead weighing us down, our hearts feel like bursting right into the clouds.

Please pray for his soul as our Father takes him on home, because after all he was only ours on a loan.

We love you so much, Mark, more than you will ever know, I think that at times it might not have shown.

We will never in life let your memory fade, fly free our dear son, your mind is at rest and your dues have been paid.

Mark is survived by a daughter,Danika Sharon Peters; his parents Mark and Cathy Peters of West Tisbury; a brother, Jarek Peters of West Tisbury; his sister, Shannon Peters, and children Arianna and Malikai of Gainesville, Fla.; grandmother Pauline Gregory and grandparents Earl and Susan Peters of Oak Bluffs, and grandmother Elizabeth Vickers of Falmouth. He was predeceased by his mother Sharon Vickers of Falmouth; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Mass will be held at Sacred Heart in Oak Bluffs on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.

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Bencion (Bud) Moskow, a lawyer, real estate developer, farmer, and proud World War II Army officer, died peacefully with family at his side on Sept. 23, 2016, in Longboat Key, Fla. He was 92.

Bud was born in Boston on April 22, 1924, to Myer and Bertha (Finkelstein) Moskow of Dorchester, and later Newton. He was married to Jeannette Julian in Germany from 1946 until her death from cancer in 1973. He was married to Patricia Duff Burke from 1973 until her death from cancer in 2008. He and Beth Ann Toomey were married in 2009.

Bud attended Brown University, served in the Army during WWII, then graduated from Boston University and Boston University Law School.

After practicing law, working in his family’s real estate firm, and developing Commercial Wharf in Boston, in 1980 he and Patricia moved to Martha’s Vineyard, where they developed Thimble Farm in Oak Bluffs, and grew and sold strawberries and hydroponic tomatoes for 23 years.

Bud was an accomplished sailor and small plane pilot, and had an enduring love for animals. In his own words, he was a “busy guy.” His zest for living, compassion for others, and insatiable curiosity are hallmark traits that made him such a dynamic and positive force.

He leaves his wife, Beth, of West Tisbury, and her five children. He also leaves his daughters from his first marriage, Patrice Moskow, Cathy Moskow, and Nancy Moskow, and his granddaughters, Julia Moskow Alter and Emma Ferguson. In addition he leaves his brother, Jay I. Moskow, and Jay’s wife, Barbara Moskow, and their children, Joanne Ligerot, Karen Moskow, and Susan Parkhurst, their families, and numerous cousins.

Services are private. Donations in his memory may be made to the Cummings Fund, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University (vet.tufts.edu/giving/cummings-veterinary-fund/).

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Earl Bradford Richards, 85, died on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, at his home in Edgartown. He was the husband of Barbara (Rich) Richards. His memorial Mass will be celebrated in St. Elizabeth’s Church, Main Street, Edgartown, on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 11 am, and burial will follow in the New Westside Cemetery. A complete obituary will appear in next week’s paper. 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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Ethel (Eckie) Smith Wolff died peacefully in the company of her son Roswell on Sept. 29, 2016, at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, following complications from a fall at home. She was 88.

Eckie was born to Dr. Roswell Hayden Smith and Miriam Wain in North Attleborough. She arrived on Martha’s Vineyard at the age of 6 months in early 1929, when her father came to practice medicine here. She attended Edgartown schools along with her sister Rosalind.

Miss Smith was a drum majorette for the Edgartown Boys Club Drum and Bugle Corps, and later for the Edgartown School Band. She trained several other girls to twirl baton and be majorettes. She also played piano with the school orchestra, and sang with the junior and senior choirs of the Federated Church of Edgartown. She was a member of the Edgartown School basketball and Edgartown girls basketball teams. Her high spirits were to follow her throughout her life.

Eckie graduated from Edgartown High School and trained as an x-ray technician at Massachusetts Memorial Hospital in Boston. She was later employed as an x-ray technician at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital; Southern Clinic in Texarkana, Ark.; and Corning Hospital in Corning, N.Y., where she met her future husband.

In 1951 she married Dr. John S. Wolff Jr. of Corning, a widower with three sons, John, 10, Thomas, 6, and Bruce, 3. In 1958, another son, Roswell Shearer, was born to the family. The couple were married for 47 years prior to Dr. Wolff’s death in 1998.

Eckie was very active in many community activities in Corning, including the Woman’s Club, Corning Hospital Chapter Council, serving as treasurer and president of Chapter C, and member of the Steuben County Medical Auxiliary. She was a member and frequent soloist of the choir of the United Church of Christ, and singer with the company of Corning Little Theater in several productions.

The Wolff family vacationed every summer in Edgartown, initially at the home of Eck’s Aunt Martha Smith, formerly the home of her parents until her father’s death in 1947. After that home was sold in 1959, they stayed at many rental properties until building a property on the Vineyard in 1979.

Following Dr. Wolff’s death, Eck moved back to Edgartown permanently. She continued her community service activities on the board of directors of Edgartown Senior Council on Aging, member of the Federated Church, Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society, and Martha’s Vineyard Scottish Society.

She was a staunch supporter of Island culture and heritage, frequently attending town meetings to fight against increasing development, or destruction of historic properties or historical laws. One fight in particular is ongoing today, regarding the protection of “ancient ways,” where many property owners have encroached on public paths, treating them as their own property. By example, the route starting at the top of North Water Street through to Fuller Street Beach in Edgartown is fast being lost to development, lapsing if not used.

Eckie was an active participant in Al-Anon meetings on the Vineyard for many years, a byproduct of her interaction with relatives, friends, and loved ones suffering with the disease of alcoholism. She espoused the interaction between AA and Al-Anon to members at meetings, in order that members could better understand the effects of alcoholism and be understood themselves. Her firm belief was that alcoholism and drug addiction should not be “swept under the table,” as it had been when she was a young girl.

Eckie also loved to dance, and not being the bashful sort, even at age 80 found a young partner amongst the audience at the Campground Tabernacle to dance the jitterbug at a concert by the New Orleans Preservation Hall Jazz Orchestra. The tune was “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Soon after, all the audience were joining in.

Having lived off-Island for many years, Eckie considered the Vineyard was always her home.

Although claiming a poor memory for details, Eckie nonetheless had an endless supply of stories about the history of the Vineyard, and Edgartown in particular. When passing properties all over the Island, she could recite the names of current and former owners, the property history, and usually a historical scandal or two. Although she’s no longer with us, friends and family will remember her and her stories of Vineyard life dating back to 1929 with great fondness and affection.

She is survived by her son Roswell Wolff and his wife Kiki of Singapore, stepsons John Wolff of North Carolina and Bruce Wolff of Virginia; granddaughters Marika, Andrina, Aline, Andrea, and Erica; six great-grandchildren, and two nephews, Donald and Phillip Collins. She is predeceased by her husband Dr. John S Wolff Jr., stepson Thomas, and sister Rosalind Collins.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Oct. 8 at the Federated Church of Martha’s Vineyard in Edgartown. Donations in lieu of flowers should be made to the Federated Church (federatedchurchmv.org) or the Martha’s Vineyard Museum (mvmuseum.org).

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Jack A. Wildauer, 55, of Vineyard Haven died on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. A celebration of Jack’s life is being planned for the spring, with a date and time to be announced. A complete obituary will follow in a later newspaper edition. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Oak Bluffs.

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Barbara A. (Moalli) Entwistle of Vineyard Haven died at the age of 92 at Massachusetts General Hospital on Wednesday evening, Sept. 28, 2016, following a fall in her home.

Barbara was born in Gloucester to Anna (Griffin) Moalli and Rudolf Moalli. Barbara graduated from Framingham State College, and came to the Vineyard for her first teaching position. She was an elementary school teacher for many years at the Tisbury School, mainly in the third grade.

Upon coming to the Vineyard she met her husband, Sturgis Entwistle, through his cousin who was a fellow teacher. Sturgis built their home in the early 1950s, where they resided until each of their deaths. Barbara was independent, generous, hard-working, and enjoyed being in charge of her life. She will be missed.

Barbara leaves her daughter Kristy Erickson and her husband David of Carlisle, and grandchildren Kelsey and Shayna Erickson. She also leaves her son Dean Entwistle of Dallastown, Pa., and grandchildren Jenna and Justin Entwistle, and Justin’s wife Leeann. In addition, she leaves her brother Richard Moalli of South Boston, and his children Heidi and Richard of Kittery, Maine.

A graveside service will be held at the West Tisbury Cemetery, State Road, West Tisbury, on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 1:30 pm, followed by refreshments at Barbara’s home.

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Earl Bradford Richards, 85, died on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, at his home in Edgartown.

He was the beloved husband of Barbara (Rich) Richards. He also leaves four daughters, Kim Richards, Lisa Richards, Karen Burrell and her husband Jerry, and Lori Ann Gregory and her husband Joel; and also several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

His memorial Mass will be celebrated in St. Elizabeth’s Church, Main Street, Edgartown, on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 11 am; burial will follow in the New Westside Cemetery, Robinson Road, Edgartown. Donations in Earl’s memory may be made to Hope Hospice, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601. Arrangements are under the care of Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Oak Bluffs.

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Jane Hillis Thayer died Oct. 11, 2016, at her home. She was 86.

Jane was born on June 17, 1930, in New York City to Harold Lee Hillis, originally of Davenport, N.Y., and Ruth E. Caldwell of New York City.

From kindergarten to 12th grade, Jane attended a noted progressive school, Horace Mann-Lincoln, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and associated with Teacher’s College, Columbia University. She graduated with a major in psychology from Cornell University in 1952.

Jane married Roger Thayer, also a Cornell graduate, in 1951 at the Riverside Church in New York City. They lived in the Washington, D.C., area until 1996. Jane received a master’s in psychology in 1959 and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1969, both from George Washington University. She interned at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C., after having worked summers in a private mental health clinic in Syracuse, N.Y.; she also worked at the Alexandria, Va., Community Mental Health Clinic and the National Institutes of Health in Montgomery County, Md. Jane co-founded the Washington Gestalt Institute, and consulted with many psychological groups in that area. She operated a highly respected private clinical psychotherapy practice in Washington from 1959 to 1999, and on Martha’s Vineyard from 2001 to 2014.

Dr. Thayer was a member of many professional and honorary societies, and was included in “Who’s Who of American Women” since the1980s. She published and presented papers in professional journals, and co-authored a book, “Elderescence: The Gift of Longevity,” with her daughter, Peggy, in 2005. Her psychotherapy training was with many noted professionals, including Sheldon Kopp, Fred Klein, and Joe Slavin.

Jane co-founded a unique, maybe one of the first, inter-racial community groups in Montgomery County, Md., in 1959; it was made up of members of the Unitarian Church of Silver Spring, Md., and Plymouth Congregational Church of Northwest Washington, D.C. Its members met monthly in one another’s homes, socialized, and discussed issues of the day, and the group continued nearly 40 years, until after Jane moved to Martha’s Vineyard.

Jane was active in and past president of the Martha’s Vineyard Mediation Program; the Unitarian Universalist Society of Martha’s Vineyard; Massachusetts Conflict Resolution Organizations; and Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of Washington, D.C., Boston, and Martha’s Vineyard.

Jane was an avid reader of psychological, medical, and political books. Her recent interest was in peace and justice for all humans; she was the chairperson for the Martha’s Vineyard Unitarian Peace Social Action Committee, and conceived of contacting and worked to get Holly Near, peace singer from California, to present a concert in the Old Whaling Church, Edgartown, in the summer of 2012.

Jane Thayer was predeceased by her brother, the Rev. Walter Hillis, in 2004, and her oldest daughter, Peggy, in 2010. Jane is survived by her husband Roger of Oak Bluffs; Peggy’s wife Sandy, formerly of Martha’s Vineyard, now Salem, Conn.; son David Roger of Fort Collins Colo., a professor of physics at the University of Wyoming at Laramie, and his partner Diane Witteveld; daughter Cyndy Jane, a legal assistant for the U.S. Department of Justice Regional Office in Cleveland, Ohio, and her partner, Evelyn Mathis, and Jane’s grandson, David Roger II and his wife Julie Gundrum of California.

A memorial and celebration of Jane’s life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Society Chapel later in the year. She wants music by Joan Baez and Holly Near. Donations may be made to Hope Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Compassion & Choices.

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Julie LaHart Keefe died on Friday, Oct. 7, just a few days shy of her 70th birthday. She spent her final days in the company of her three children at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Julie was born in 1946 in East Orange, N.J., to Carlin Sullivan and Richard Joseph LaHart. Her earliest years were spent happily in Japan, where her father was stationed as a captain in the Army. Shortly thereafter they moved to West Tisbury, to join an extended family that reached back to the days of Island whaling. She attended the old West Tisbury schoolhouse, the site of the West Tisbury Town Hall, where she would later work as the administrative assistant to the zoning board before she retired in 2011.

As a young girl, she loved riding horses with her friends at Pondview Farm. Julie moved with her mother to Nantucket, where she attended high school. Faded photographs of beach scenes, cheerleading, letterman jackets, and beach buggies tell us that this was a happy time.

Once graduated from the University of New Hampshire, Julie returned to the Vineyard, where she spent some of her favorite summers. By day, she would dig for steamer clams in the Great Pond, and nanny a beloved family friend. Many nights were spent mixing with friends and summer folk at the Lampost. She loved driving her yellow convertible VW Bug up to Menemsha, where she waitressed at the Home Port. She was also a beloved employee at Poole’s fish market, where many years later she would bring her son Sebastian to apply for his first summer job.

After marrying a Welshman, she spent 10 years living in North Wales raising her young family. There she worked as a librarian and ran a thrift store for the Oxfam charity. She was a set dresser at the local amateur theater, where she volunteered her time. She took daily walks with her children through wooded Welsh paths. She kept a beautiful flower garden which her children tormented with wayward soccer balls. She taught herself to play the flute along with her children as they took music lessons.

She demonstrated to her children how to live in the natural world, and to embrace the Island they called home. She was a West Tisbury girl to the bone. She led them to the ocean edge and showed them how to swim and fillet fish. She would happily announce when the daffodil bulbs had pushed their way up through the dirt each spring. She was beautiful, and tough and loyal; she was adored by her children.

Julie was a truly lovely person. She was intelligent, warm, and kind. She loved to read, play Scrabble, and do crosswords. She was great company; her smile would light up any room. She had a great sense of humor and lots of charisma. She was empathetic and selfless, putting the needs of others before her own. Her presence will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

In her later years, her miniature Yorkie Iggy was the grateful recipient of her surplus love and affection.

Julie leaves behind her children, Hannah Keefe, Joseph Keefe, and Sebastian Keefe, all of of Los Angeles.

There will be a memorial for Julie this Saturday, Oct. 15, at the West Tisbury cemetery at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to a charity of your choosing.

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Joyce Brigish (née Hirshovitz) died on Oct. 13 at home in West Tisbury, after a heroic 10-month battle with malignant mesothelioma.

Joyce was born on Nov. 16, 1943, in Pretoria, South Africa, the third child of Matthew and Dora Hirshovitz. She grew up in Pretoria and Vereeniging, before moving to Johannesburg to complete her studies to become a high school mathematics teacher. There she met her husband-to-be, Alan Brigish, an electronics engineering student.

They lived in the same apartment block in Johannesburg, and met one day in the lobby. They became friends, and Alan conspired with her father to let him build a little intercom system that he placed under her bed with wires trailing out of the window and up the outside of the building to his bedroom. Later that day, he switched it on to hear her giving her father lip over some transgression. “Joyce,” he said. “That is no way to talk to your father.” She screamed and dove under the bed to see if Alan was hiding there, only to find a little black box with wires. After she got over the shock, Alan and Joyce agreed to leave it in place so that they could have late-night chats about their respective dates on a Saturday night. In no time, they began dating.

When he told her of his plans to leave the hateful society of apartheid and move to England, Joyce said that she wanted to do the same. They decided to get married, and Alan left for England to seek a new life for them. He returned for their wedding in June 1965, and they moved next day to England.

Alan and Joyce’s first child, Cy, was born with Down syndrome. Shortly thereafter, their second son Hal was born. Alan’s work took him first to Canada, then to the United States, and later, back to Europe. Joyce took care of all of household issues, while packing, moving and attending to the babies. Then their daughter Jackie was born. Finally, they moved to the United States permanently in 1976. Joyce took it all in stride.

Once in the United States, Joyce became an indefatigable advocate for the handicapped. Everyone loved her for her empathy and concern for others. Funny and warm, courageous, and tough-minded, she formed two nonprofit organizations and chaired them for decades. She organized an entire community in Westport, Conn. and put together recreation, educational, and community functions. When his school said he was incapable of learning to read, Joyce home-schooled Cy and proved them dead wrong.

She went into the schools to teach kids how to relate to those with handicaps. For decades she ran a local Special Olympics team for Cy and his group. One of Joyce’s finest accomplishments was teaching Cy to pass the immigration test to become a U.S. citizen. He passed his test with 100 percent accuracy, and was specially recognized by the governor.

She was also a talented sculptor, and founded a sculpture gallery with her best friend. After several successful and fulfilling years, Joyce agreed to help Alan in a new venture, and they jointly founded and built a successful publishing company, which enabled them to retire when she was 53 in Connecticut and move permanently to Martha’s Vineyard in 2005.

On the Vineyard, Joyce designed their beautiful home and garden with great style. Elegant simplicity were her watchwords. She orchestrated the great accomplishment of letting Cy live and work independently and separately in Connecticut. She became the first family member to join the board of Camp Jabberwocky, and tirelessly worked for and supported this wonderful venture. She was a longtime board member of Women Empowered. She was a Windermere volunteer who trained her golden retriever Zach to be a regular weekly therapy dog. She worked each week, in the off-season, in the Island Food Pantry. One of her greatest joys was singing with the Island Community Chorus.

Joyce had a deep-seated ability for enjoyment. She was also a very practical, down-to-earth person with a great work ethic, who was very reliable and got things done. She was an excellent knitter, had remarkable mechanical skills, and was a terrific gardener. And she was superbly creative in the kitchen, while hating every minute of cooking.

Joyce shied away from the limelight, hating pretentiousness and intolerance. She was averse to all of the trappings of wealth, glamour, and power.

Joyce was dedicated in a singleminded way in the pursuit of raising her family. Above all, she was a mother. She nurtured Cy to grow into an accomplished, popular, fun-loving adult. She pushed Hal and Jackie to be the best they could be, and they rewarded her with joy beyond her expectations. She greatly loved every member of her family equally and totally.

When her mind was made up, it was final. It was Joyce’s way, with no alternate highway. But after a diagnosis of mesothelioma, her stubborn nature and determination also led her to try to beat the odds. She went into treatment knowing those odds, and endured tremendous suffering for 10 months in a vain attempt to beat them. And to put an exclamation point on it, she refused food and liquids for 16 days before passing away peacefully. Perhaps her stubbornness was a shining example of pure, shining, world-class courage.

Joyce suffered with great pain for much of her life. Over time she had numerous physical issues. Beginning with breast cancer 12 years ago, she underwent two knee replacements, many medical procedures, and endured an agonizing spinal neck problem before being diagnosed with mesothelioma in January 2016. After three bouts of chemotherapy, Joyce consented to a seven-hour surgery in July, which was unsuccessful in removing the tumors. She accepted her fate without tears of self-pity, and did her best to live normally as her strength faded.

Joyce Brigish always put the needs and wants of others ahead of her own. Her legacy above all else embraced the ethos of kindness and generosity.

She leaves behind a fine family legacy. She is mourned by her husband Alan, children Cy, Hal (and Katy), Jackie (and Dan), and their children, Ashley, Kevin, Jake and Serah. Also Zach, the golden retriever, is clearly feeling his loss.

Joyce and Alan are grateful beyond words for 51 and a half years of marriage, a wonderful family, and the love of a community of friends and family worldwide that supported them so well through this ordeal. Particular thanks go to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, Trudy Carter, June Miller, Mike Adell, and Jill St. John.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either:

Camp Jabberwocky, P.O. Box 711, West Tisbury, MA 02575, and/or Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

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Marylyn Frances (Hodgens) Killackey Gironda Humphrey died peacefully on Oct. 13, surrounded by her family. She was 85 years old.

Born in Boston, she grew up in Cambridge, and attended Mount St. Joseph’s Academy in Brighton. She was married to Frank Gironda and raised her family of five children in Longmeadow and Orleans on Cape Cod.

She returned to school in her 40s to obtain a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a master’s degree from Springfield College. She was remarried to Richard Humphrey, who predeceased her. They had a wonderful life together, spending summers in Maine, winters on Bonaire, and otherwise residing in Sandwich on the Cape. She had recently moved to Martha’s Vineyard to be closer to her family.

She is survived by her oldest daughter, Marylynn Peacor and her sons Henry and Ralph Peacor of Los Angeles, as well as her son, Frank Gironda (Melanie) and their sons Eric and Alex Gironda of Santa Monica. Her middle son, Christian, predeceased her. Also surviving her are her daughters Lisa Lucier (Jeffrey), their children Rachel and Matthew Lucier; her daughter Laurie Lucier (Mark) and their son Bastille (Carrie) and their children Caleb, Jackson, and Natalie Lucier of Edgartown.

Marylyn was a longtime member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Falmouth, where she worked tirelessly to promote the support of the food pantries in Falmouth, Mashpee, Otis, and Sandwich. It would please her greatly if in lieu of flowers, donations were made in her name to the food pantry in your community.

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Lucille A. (Simpson) Gross, 71, died unexpectedly on Tuesday morning, Oct. 18, at her home in Edgartown. She was the wife of Ralph W. Gross. Her funeral service is pending, and a complete obituary will follow in next week’s edition of this paper. Arrangements are by Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.

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John M. Regan died after a brief illness on Oct. 5. He was 83.

He and his beloved wife of 54 years, Mary (Neilan) Regan, made their home in Oak Bluffs. Prior to moving to Martha’s Vineyard six years ago, they lived in Centerville and raised their family in Hingham. John was a communicant at Good Shepherd Parish on the Vineyard.

Born in Somerset on April 4, 1933, John was the proud and loving son of the late Harold and Bertha (Monarch) Regan. He was a 1955 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, where he served as the manager of the NIT-champion Crusader basketball team. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Army.

In 1995, John retired after a 40-year career at the New England Telephone Co. and its successor companies. He was an avid lifelong follower of sports. He prized the Boston sport teams, and closely followed the Red Sox playoff run this autumn.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his children: John M. Regan and his wife, Bonnie; Sheila (Regan) Lucca and her husband, Anthony; and Barry N. Regan and his wife, Kerrin. He also leaves seven grandchildren: Erin, Patrick, Mark, Ryan, Stella, Brennan, and Finn. John also had many wonderful nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers Harold and Richard Regan.

A funeral service was held on Oct. 10 at the O’Neill Funeral Home in Cumberland, R.I., and interment was at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Milford.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.

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James H. Wray, 101, of Somerset, died on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. He was the husband of the late Ruth E. (Towers) Wray.

James was born in Fall River, the son of Levi and Alice J. (Lord) Wray. Mr. Wray owned and operated President Motors in Fall River for many years, retiring in 1980. Jim was a 32nd degree Mason with the King Philip Lodge AF & AM, in Fall River.

Mr. Wray enjoyed summers on Martha’s Vineyard, boats, planes, motorcycles, antique cars, and being a racecar owner at Seekonk Speedway over the years. Jim was the founder and past president of Yankee Airways.

Survivors are a daughter, Marilyn J. Valcourt of Fall River; a son, William J. Wray and his wife Kathleen of Martha’s Vineyard; six grandchildren, Jennifer, Laurie, Stephanie, Jamie Lynn, Kristen, and Jill; 10 great-grandchildren, Joseph, Emily, Hannah, Zachary, Nicholas, Samantha, Kylee, Eric, Mason, and Hunter; father in law of Douglas Siple and Margaret Wray, both of Martha’s Vineyard. He was the father of the late Ruth E. Siple and James H. Wray Jr., and grandfather of the late Jeffrey A. Wray.

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Kristin Hodson Maloney died at her home in Chilmark on Thursday, Oct. 20, after a brave stand against cancer. She was 66.

The youngest of three children of William and Sonia Chase Hodson, Kristin was born on Oct. 4, 1950, in Paris, France, where her father was working with UNESCO. In 1954, William died in a plane crash on the way to join his family, who were on a home visit to the United States. With her three young children, Sonia moved to Hollin Hills in Alexandria, Va., where Kristin attended grade school.

In 1966, Kristin and her mother moved to Cambridge, and Kristin attended the Cambridge School of Weston as a day student. It was at school that she met her lifelong friend, Clarissa Allen of Chilmark. Some weekends, Clarissa stayed in Cambridge with Kristin; some weekends, Kristin accompanied Clarissa to the Vineyard, which she knew even then would be her home someday.

Kristin received a bachelor of arts degree from Marlboro College in Vermont in 1973, followed by a master’s in education from Lesley College in Cambridge.

While visiting her sister in Virginia in 1973, Kristin met John Maloney, who was visiting a friend and also lived in Cambridge at the time. In 1978 they married at St. Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven in a ceremony performed by John’s uncle, Fr. Edward Holleran, a Franciscan. They moved to Chilmark permanently that year.

From 1991 until her retirement in August 2016, Kristin worked at the Chilmark Public Library, where she was the assistant library director and children’s librarian. The work suited her perfectly: She enjoyed helping Chilmarkers find the right book to read, but above all she loved teaching and nurturing young readers. She was at her best when connecting with children, who responded to her gentle, warm, and encouraging approach. At her Stories and Songs programs on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, she welcomed each child individually, by name or by the shirt or dress or sneaks they wore. Accompanying herself on guitar, she sang parts of the books with the children. Her love for her work was apparent every day, and her legacy of stories, songs, and creating wonderful experiences at the library will be fondly remembered for a very long time.

For many years she chaired the Chilmark Beach Committee, which oversees Menemsha, Lucy Vincent, and Squibnocket beaches. Tackling the budget, overseeing staffing, protecting the beach for others was a labor of love for someone with a special affinity for the sand and the ocean, the sun on the dunes, and the moon over the waves. In summer she swam most days after work, sometimes until the middle of October. And she walked the beach twice a week, year-round, almost always with a dog chasing a tennis ball. She often greeted the full moon as it rose out of the ocean.

Kristin played the flute for the Island Sinfonietta for several years, and sang “The Messiah” at Christmas with the Martha’s Vineyard Community Chorus. Christmas was her favorite time of the year. She would brighten as it approached — trimming the tree, stringing lights, hoping for snow, and welcoming family and friends on Christmas day when she served prime rib and Yorkshire pudding to two dozen people as effortlessly as pouring a cup of tea. After dessert, she led everyone in singing carols around a tree magically lit by real candles.

She delighted in her family, whether at home in Chilmark or in New Mexico, where she visited her mother and stepfather, William Enoch, and her sister, Anika, in Abiquiu every fall. Trips to New Mexico often included skiing in Colorado, visits to Chaco Canyon, Taos Pueblo, and the Santa Fe Market. She loved the landscape of New Mexico and its bright sky and sweet, dry air, especially when she was with family hiking in the mountains or down among the cottonwoods along the Chama River.

Kristin leaves her husband of 38 years, John, and two sons, Kieran (Natalie Rentz) of Sonoma, Calif., whose first child will arrive any day now; and Owen (Erica) and their 2½-year-old daughter, Leona, of West Tisbury.

She is survived by her mother, Sonia, now 96 years old, and William Enoch of Abiquiu, New Mexico; also by her brother, Alan Hodson of Putney, Vt., and his three children: Bryce (Louise); Nicholas (Tara); and Phoebe; and by her sister, Anika Hodson of Abiquiu and her son, Russell, of West Tisbury.

A graveside service will be held at Abel’s Hill Cemetery in Chilmark at 1 pm on Saturday, Oct. 29, with the Rev. William Eddy officiating. Children are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations in Kristin’s name may be made to the Chilmark Public Library, P.O. Box 180, Chilmark, MA 02535.

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Steven George Roth, 67, of Aquinnah, died on Oct. 27 at home with his wife by his side.  Steven was born in Reading, Penn. to Russell G. Roth and Arline M. (Weidman) Roth on Dec. 18, 1948.  He is survived by his wife, Stefanie Hecht and their two collies, Noodles and Digby; a sister Sally L. Koch, Wernersville, Penn.; and a niece Katherine O. Koch, of Hoboken, N.J.  Services are private.  A memorial get-together may be held later this year, but only those who can render a fair rendition of “Ghost Riders in the Sky” will be admitted.

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