Known as “the lady with the flower in her hair” at Treyton Oak Towers, Wendy Culin, 96, died peacefully on July 12, 2019. 

Born Vivian Wendeborn in Portland, Ore., she enjoyed sports and playing the ukulele. After high school, she climbed Mount Hood, and moved to New York to be with her sister Ellie. While working in New York, Vivian was nicknamed “Wendy,” and met her future husband, fellow Oregonian and architect Nembhard (“Nem”) Culin.

Wendy was a dedicated and loving wife and mother. The four Culin children grew up in a home Nem designed and built in White Plains, N.Y. Wendy sang her children to sleep and organized yearly trips, camping from Maine to North Carolina or traveling to the West Coast. 

In 1968, Wendy and Nem journeyed around the world in 60 days, with adventures recorded in Wendy’s journal and scenes richly captured in Nem’s watercolors, including a houseboat stay in the Vale of Kashmir and a visit to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. In 1973, they retired to Martha’s Vineyard, where together they built a solar-heated house of Nem’s design, and Wendy grew awardwinning organic vegetables. 

Wendy came to Louisville, Ky. in 2005, where she continued to enjoy friends, music, and travel, smiling through it all! Wendy’s family is grateful to her caretakers, and to the staff of Treyton Oak Towers and Hosparus.

Wendy was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Nem Culin; her granddaughter Sharee Culin; sister Ellis Pruess; and brother Steve Rison. She is survived by her children, Cassandra Culin (Kyle Ellison), Louisville; Lenore Culin [de Steiguer], Nosara, Costa Rica; Taylor Culin (Helene (“Billee”), Sun City, Ariz.; Raynsford Culin (Janis Colella), White Plains; her grandchildren Annabel Sclippa, Kris Culin (Jenny), Peter Culin (Rachel), and Alice Culin-Ellison; and her great-grandchildren Nathan and Agnes Culin.

Wendy’s life will be celebrated at 10:30 am on August 24, 2019, at the First Unitarian Church, 809 South. 4th St., in Louisville, Ky.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the Employee Fund at Treyton Oak Towers, 211 West Oak St., Louisville, KY 40203, or to the charity of your choice.

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Kenneth James Francis Jr. died in Fredericksburg, Va., on Tuesday, July 30, 2019. He was 54.
Kenneth was born in Oak Bluffs on May 8, 1965. In his years at the West Tisbury School, he excelled as a champion long jumper and a very fast runner, as well as a pretty good student.

He looked forward every year to the Agricultural Fair, and as a young kid he was allowed to be involved in organizing the parking for so many cars. He loved the authority.

Another early job was as a Lambert’s Cove Beach attendant. Kenny monitored the foot traffic at the entrance from a beach chair, giving permission only to legitimate passholders. He took his position very seriously.

He got to study and work in auto mechanics at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School with Bruce Turgeon. Kenny was a fine mechanic. He loved fixing motors, trying to make them work the first time because he didn’t want them returned because he didn’t do it right; it was a work ethic he maintained until addiction took everything. 

At an early age he became fascinated by computers, and could do just about anything with them; building and repairing. He was good. He had a good mind.

Upon graduation, he was employed at Midland Garage by Kenny Belain. Janet and Kenny Belain became godparents to his daughter, Siobhan Francis.

Later he operated an auto repair and small engine repair at his home in West Tisbury, and at the end of his life, at his home in Fredericksburg, where he raised his son, Kenneth James Francis III, as a single parent.

Kenny was proud to be a father to his two children, and was proud of them. His neighbors down in Virginia praised his helpfulness to them, and wrote tributes of the same. Kenny had a strong relationship with Father Wooten, who visited him providing spiritual counsel while enjoying his sense of humor and sharing stories of the many books he liked to read, mostly true crime stories. 

Kenny will always sorely be missed by all who knew him, and grieved for the loss of capacity and promise brought on by addiction. May he simply rest in peace: Go rest high on that mountain.

He is survived by his children, Siobhan Elizabeth Francis of West Wareham, and Kenneth James Francis III of Hull; his parents, Kenneth Sr. and Jean Hagerty Francis of Fredericksburg, Va.; his siblings Karin Francis Cassidy (Sean) of Fredericksburg and William Francis of Rehoboth; his uncle, Robert Hagerty (Grace) of Oak Bluffs; his aunts, Joan Hagerty Duggan (William) of Pomfret Center, Conn., Charlene Alley, Norma Marathas, and Susan Fauteaux of Oak Bluffs; his nephews, William and Anthony Duggan, James Hagerty, and Daniel Hagerty and Kenneth Bettencourt; his nieces, Dena Marathas, Channing Hagerty, Elizabeth and Jennifer Hagerty, Felicia Francis, and Jennifer and Melissa Francis; and his cousins and his beloved dog Fido. Kenny was predeceased by his grandparents, Anna and William Hagerty, and Elsie Sennett and Manuel Francis; uncles William T. Hagerty, Robert Francis, and Jeffrey Alley; aunts Janet Hagerty and Linda Francis; and cousin Scott Francis.

A memorial Mass will be held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Oak Bluffs on Thursday, August 15, at 11 am, followed by burial at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Oak Bluffs. We invite all to come to the Portuguese-American club for a reception.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to the Vineyard House, P.O. Box 4599, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

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

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William F. Gassert died on August 3, 2019, after a long battle with cancer, at the young age of 49.

He was born on Martha’s Vineyard, the loving son of Arthur and Eileen Gassert; he is survived by his brother and sister, Louise Gassert Searle of Vineyard Haven and Arthur Gassert Jr. of Edgartown; his girlfriend, Arlyce Hansen of Whitman, and former girlfriend Robin Harris; cousins Lori Carreiro Silveira and Tony Carreiro of New Bedford, Steven Carreiro of Oak Bluffs, Amy Carreiro Ragnaldsen of Georgia, and Steve Gassert of New York, and several nieces and nephews.

William was a truck driver for 15 years. William also loved his five basset hounds, Otis, Murphy, Rosie, Tashmoo, and Boeing.

Arrangements are in the care of Quealy and Son Funeral Home. Services will be private.

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Rene Louis Blanc of Hidden Cove, Oak Bluffs, died peacefully on April 30th, 2019, just shy of his 91st birthday, surrounded by all of his six children and close relatives. He was first and foremost a family man, a devoted husband and father who exemplified integrity, hard work, generosity, and humor. A true gentleman, loyal friend, and respected businessman, he’ll be remembered with fondness and admiration by all who were privileged to know him.

Born in New York City on May 16, 1928, and raised in Scarsdale, N.Y., Rene was the youngest of three sons born to Marcel Louis Blanc and Paule Voisin Blanc, who had emigrated from France as young adults and earned U.S. citizenship. Returning with his family for summer visits to their native Brittany and on Ile-aux-Moines, the cherished island home of his maternal grandmother, Rene developed his passion for a life lived near the sea; swimming, sailing, and savoring the bounty of local food and fresh catches. 

After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1950, Rene served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. When he returned, he took a job with AT&T in New York City, where he met his future wife, Patricia Burke, on a blind date. They married in 1954, a love story and partnership that would last 62 years. Although Rene and Patti moved around a fair amount when the kids were little, they built a beautiful house in Norwell in 1972, which included an apartment for Rene’s parents, who instilled a distinctively French vernacular in the large and sometimes unruly household. During this period, Rene and Patti began visiting Martha’s Vineyard with her brother’s family, and immediately fell in love with the Island. Soon, both families rented houses on Ocean Park for the entire season. These summers defined and cemented a legacy of amazing Vineyard memories, and Rene and Patti yearned to make the Island their year-round home.

In 1986, they built their home in Hidden Cove, Oak Bluffs, where they would live for the next 33 years. Rene spent most of his career as a regional representative for a large power and utility manufacturer, and retired in 1996. Always active and handy, Rene quickly attracted interest from many of his neighbors who needed a trusted friend to look after their properties in the off-season. Thus, Rene’s Property Care was launched, and he maintained over 30 devoted clients until “re-retiring” the month before he died. In addition, Rene was an active member of the Rod and Gun Club, Friends of Sengekontacket, and served as president of the Hidden Cove Association. He also dutifully and gently cared for Patti at home as her health failed, losing his beloved wife in December 2016. 

Rene and Patti fulfilled their biggest dream together of raising a large family. Their first child was born in 1955, and they celebrated the birth of their sixth and youngest 10 years later. Suffice it to say, there were a number of broken windows and bones, stitches, kittens, stray dogs, celebrations, boyfriends, girlfriends, losses, and achievements during these halcyon days. But no matter how difficult things were at work or financially, Rene always found time to play with his kids, take a bike ride, play a game of Ping-Pong, tennis or shoot a few hoops. And as if that wasn’t enough, he found a way to coach three Little League teams and travel to see his daughter’s college basketball games. Rene’s natural athleticism and fun-loving spirit always had him at the bottom of a pigpile or spending an entire snowy afternoon careening down a sledding hill on his classic wooden 8-foot toboggan, and pulling all six kids back up for another run. His strong shoulders were a launching point for countless little feet, balancing his kids, nieces, nephews, and any other stray child who wanted to throw themselves into the ocean, the place he most loved to be with his family. 

Rene’s dedication to his immediate and extended family was his core. This man devoted his entire life to nurturing and teaching his kids a strong work ethic, a sense of pride and purpose to themselves and their family, and also to the community and the world. He loved to frolic and have fun, but insisted on table manners, cleanliness, and best efforts. He took care of the material things he had, especially when it was not a lot. He abhorred waste, and may have been the original “up-cycler.” Rene loved boats of all kinds. He adored his little catboat, and always kept a boat or two in the garage, waiting to be restored. One of his proudest moments was getting up on water skis for the first time well into his 60s!

Rene remained energetic and positive to the end, tending to his caretaking business, making long trips to visit family and friends, and ultimately leaving this earth “with his boots on,” just as everyone had always known him. He leaves his six children, Deborah Duhon, Linda Young, Richard Blanc, Lisa Stewart, Christopher Blanc, and Timothy Blanc, and their spouses. He also leaves his brother-in-law Richard Burke, sister-in-law Jean Blanc, and his beloved 14 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many loved nieces, nephews, and their families. 

Although there is a sudden, and very large, painful void in the lives of all those who knew and loved Rene, he will forever be here in our hearts, giving us smiles, strength, and a wonderful perspective on life. He’s an angel, forever watching over and guiding us, that we may best carry forward his amazing legacy of steadfast love, unwavering moral character, and enduring “joie de vivre”! May you now forever be sailing with Patti, under blue skies, with a brisk breeze, in your now fully restored little wooden boat!

The family has planned a small private gathering in August to celebrate his life.

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Doris Aloha Long, known to most as Aloha, and Mimi to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, passed away peacefully in the home she loved, her cottage in the Campgrounds in Oak Bluffs on June 15, 2019. She was 84. She had an indomitable spirit and a thirst for adventure, along with so many talents it is difficult to list them all.

She was born in Beverly on Jan. 27, 1935, where she worked as a lifeguard on the South Shore of Boston and came by her lifelong love of the ocean. Aloha completed two years of college at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she met and married her husband, Gordon “Gordy” Long on Dec. 26, 1954. They were together until his death in 2015.

She and Gordy raised their two children in Wilbraham, where they cultivated a close-knit group of friends who remained close over decades. Aloha was a self-taught gourmet chef and a talented artist (both a sculptor and a painter); she upholstered her own furniture, made her own drapes; purchased, refinished, and resold antiques. Aloha was an avid gardener, and began cultivating hybrid daylilies. Her gardens in Wilbraham were well-known for their beauty, which paved the way for her career later on the Vineyard. Aloha and Gordy purchased a cottage in the Campgrounds, in Oak Bluffs in 1974 after being introduced to the Vineyard by Gordy’s business partner whose family had a cottage there. For Aloha, it was like coming home. She never wanted to leave, and often her plumber had to be the one to tell her it was time to shut the water off or the pipes would freeze. Over the course of time, Aloha spent more and more time on the Vineyard, gardening, bicycling, fishing, clamming, scalloping, and even spending two summers swordfishing on the Peggy A with Alton and Steve Tilton. 

Her love of gardening drew her to Heather Gardens and Donaroma’s Nursery, where she worked for many years, forging close relationships with many, particularly Roberta and Kevin Hearn of Heather Gardens. In fact, Roberta and Aloha traveled to France together on a bike tour in Provence, France, when she was 63 years young! She and Gordy had become avid cyclists, spending at least a month each winter in Naples, Fla., and bicycling everywhere they could. After Gordy retired in 2004, Aloha and Gordy sold their home in Wilbraham and had their Campground renovated and winterized, permanently relocating in 2004. They loved everything about the Vineyard and the Campgrounds. They both became immersed in the Campground community, serving on boards, designing, installing and maintaining the Tabernacle gardens, and participating in the many Campground activities throughout the summer. Illumination Night in the Campgrounds was a family affair, with four generations along with family friends enjoying a gourmet meal before lighting the lanterns and relaxing together on the porch while the grandchildren, and later the great-grandchildren, played in the yard. Aloha was quoted in an article about Illumination in a 2004 edition of the Vineyard Gazette as saying living in the Campgrounds was “Heaven on Earth”. 

Aloha was predeceased by her husband, Gordy, and her sister, Frances Adams Douberly. She leaves behind her son and daughter-in-law, Ray and Annie Long of Edgartown; her daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Chuck Cummens of Vineyard Haven; grandchildren and spouses: Kerry and Bobby Branca, and Brendan and Kesia Long, all of Edgartown, Taryn and Dan Ramsey of Silver Spring, Md., and Jessica and Gary Kovack of Vineyard Haven, five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

In keeping with her wishes, services will be private. Donations in her memory may be made to The Trustees of Reservations, P.O. Box 2106, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, or to the Camp Meeting Association, P.O. Box 367, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

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Robert G. Copeland, 82, of West Tisbury died on Tuesday morning, August 13, 2019, at Windemere Nursing Home. He was the husband of Frances F. Copeland. 

His funeral service will be held at a later date, and a complete obituary will appear at that time. Donations in his memory may be made to Windemere Nursing Home, P.O. Box 1747, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, or to the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod, 255 Independence Dr., Hyannis, MA 02601. 

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

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Rita C. (McCarthy) Brody, 92, of Santa Monica, Calif., died on Thursday, August 8, 2019, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. She was predeceased by her husband, James D. Brody. She is survived by her daughter, Megan (and Peter) Chernin, with whom she was visiting for the summer, and her son, William (and Cynthia) Brody. 

Her funeral service will be private, 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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Muriel Veronica (Ison) Elliott passed away on the evening of July 31, 2019, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital in Oak Bluffs. She was 93.

Veronica was born on Bradhurst Avenue in Harlem, and grew up in New York City, where she attended public school. She graduated with a master’s degree from the College of New Rochelle, where she enjoyed classes in communications, remedial education, and guidance counseling. Veronica was engaged in lifelong learning, returning to school in her 60s. She taught special education at the BOCES school, where she was committed to teaching students with disabilities. She was both creative and caring. She brought her bird, Job, to class to illustrate flight, often baked homemade muffins for the students, and had her husband build bookshelves for her class.

Veronica embraced her children’s friends and families as her own, giving her advice from the kitchen chair. She was an unapologetically and fiercely a strong woman.

For several years, Saturday morning was spent volunteering at a nonprofit on Martha’s Vineyard, where clothing, toys, and furniture are exchanged for small donations. She delighted in seeing these contributions, and imagining how the new owner would be pleased or how a child getting a bike or doll would feel.

Veronica was predeceased by her husband, Clarence Norman Elliott and her brothers Theodore Ison and Junior Ison. She is survived by her daughter, Wendy Marian Elliott, and her son Wayne Brian Elliott.

The date of a memorial service will be announced via email.

In lieu of flowers, the family is establishing a fund for planting trees in her honor. Should you consider making a donation, please contact Wayne Elliott at P.O. Box 2303, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

For online guestbook and more information, please visit ccgfuneralhome.com.

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On Saturday morning, August 17, 2019, Will Luckey, gifted musician and longtime Islander, died at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital after succumbing to a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Luckey was perhaps best known on the Island as a piano, guitar, and voice teacher for students of all ages, but he had a particular gift for bringing out music in young people. 

Luckey was the son of Marine General Robert and Cary Walker Luckey. He moved to the Vineyard in 1963, and attended both the West Tisbury and the Vineyard Haven schools before finishing high school off-Island.

Luckey was recently featured in a story in The MV Times along with his band, Magic Music, about a movie that was released last year, ‘Forty Years in the Making: The Magic Music Movie’.

Luckey is survived by his wife Diane (“Cub”) Luckey, his sister Laura Luckey, his children Ben, Anna, and Carey, his grandchildren Emerson and Isla, and his daughter-in-law Angie.

A complete obituary will appear at a later date.  

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A celebration of life for John Thomas Chirgwin will take place on August 23 at 1 pm at the Federated Church in Edgartown. Chirgwin died on May 25, 2019, in Edgartown.

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There will be a memorial service for James C. Cage III (“Jim”) on Sept. 7 at 3 pm in the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs. The Rev. Dr. Leo Christian will officiate, and dress is casual.
Following the service, a celebration of Jim’s life will be held at 273 Barnes Road, Oak Bluffs. Please bring a dish to share with family and friends.

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The family of Robert F. Jewett is heartbroken to announce his death on July 18, 2019, following a courageous battle with cancer. Overlooking the waters near his home on Martha’s Vineyard, he passed away peacefully with his wife, Peggy, by his side. A resident of Vineyard Haven, Robert was a celebrated artist, educator, and sailor, treasured by his family, friends, and students.

Robert was born in Boston in 1946 to Frank B. Jewett Jr. and Edar F. Jewett. Growing up in New Canaan, Conn., Robert attended Tabor Academy and Rockford College, and went on to study ceramics with Warren MacKenzie and Curtis Hoard at the University of Minnesota.  

After completing a master of fine arts in ceramics in 1972, Bob began a 41-year teaching career at St. Paul Academy and Summit School in St. Paul, Minn. He was hired to develop a ceramics studio program in the school’s fledgling art department, a department that grew to become one of the school’s signature strengths. During his tenure at SPA, Jewett served as chair of the fine arts department, and was a recipient of the Brooks Endowed Chair for Fine Arts. 

 Robert’s life and his art were inseparable. Every aspect of his life reflected his personal aesthetic, from the art he made to the house he lived in, to his creativity in sailing a Soling. Invested with simple beauty, Jewett’s ceramics and sculpture trace their inspiration to the power of the Atlantic Ocean and the infinite images found along its shores (jewettstudios.com). His work was widely exhibited throughout the Upper Midwest and at the Louisa Gould Gallery on Martha’s Vineyard.

Robert’s life was also inextricably intertwined with water. From the Atlantic Coast to the Mississippi River and back, Bob lived with a body of water within his sightline and his soul. The Jewett name is synonymous with sailing excellence on Martha’s Vineyard, and Bob continued that family tradition with characteristic humility, combined with a competitive edge. He crewed and skippered Solings for over 40 years, distinguishing himself early on as crew on the family boat, Epee, winning the first Atlantic Coast Sailing Championship. He is remembered for his legendary success on his red Soling, Andiamo, which followed years of sailing accomplishment and service at the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club.

 Bob was a gifted teacher, a natural. The expert, while sensitive and intuitive, touch he displayed at a boat’s tiller or potter’s wheel informed his teaching. A former student wrote to Bob in appreciation, “I was enrolled in pottery classes, a clumsy, pudgy, poor, light-skinned black kid way outside of my comfort zone at SPA. The place I felt most supported was in the pottery studio. You were a guide for me: I have come to appreciate that you gave me the space to row the canoe at the front while you quietly steered and kept me on course to reach our destination in the back. You taught us how to use slurry and make clay and center the clay — and ourselves.

I’m taking a teaching position this fall … happy to be back caring for young people again in a school setting because I had a great teacher who taught me the fundamentals. That’s you. What you did for me mattered.” 

Bob’s studio classroom was a haven for self-reflection, exploration and pushing one’s limits, a place to experience the joy of making art invested with personal meaning under his thoughtful and steady guidance. St. Paul Academy and Summit School has created the Robert Jewett Award for Excellence in Ceramics, to be awarded annually to honor Bob’s legacy as an artist, a teacher, and a leader. 

Bob retired in 2014 to Martha’s Vineyard, where he had spent his summers sailing and tending to the historic 1700s harborfront home his grandparents acquired in the 1920s. Robert continued his studio practice on the Island, and taught ceramics classes at the Featherstone Center for the Arts. He was happiest when pursuing one of his greatest joys — introducing newcomers, friends, and family to the infinite wonders of sailing, from the coastal waters of New England to the Caribbean Sea. 

As he was in his prime, Robert was ever gracious and optimistic even as his strength ebbed away. He is survived by his wife, the light of his life, Peggy Keeling Jewett, and his beloved stepsons, Nathaniel Lee and Carter Lee; his sisters, Rebecca Jewett Rendall and Edar Frances Jewett; and a treasured extended family which includes several nieces and nephews, cousins, and in-laws. Robert was sadly predeceased by his brother, Frank B. (“Terry”) Jewett III. 

A memorial service will be held on Sept. 21 at 10 am at Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven, with a reception to follow. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dr. Helen Shih’s Shine 360 Fund, which addresses the needs of cancer patients challenged with heroin/opioid addiction, Mass. General Development Office, 125 Nashua St., Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114, or shine360addiction.com or to St. Paul Academy and Summit School, Office of Institutional Advancement, 1712 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105.

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Jane Sweet of Hyannis died unexpectedly on August 8. She was 54. 

Jane was born on Jan. 23, 1965, and grew up in Fairfield, Conn. She attended Lauralton Hall High School in Milford, Conn., and Pine Manor College in Brookline.

She raised her children in Easton, Conn. She had many friends, and was an active volunteer in the community. She will be remembered for her kindness, beautiful smile, and laugh.

She was a summer visitor to Martha’s Vineyard for 25 years. She loved the natural beauty of the Island and spending her days on South Beach listening to music, especially James Taylor, with her family.

She is survived by her son Alex Cervone of Oak Bluffs, daughter Victoria Cervone of Edgartown, brothers Philip and David of Connecticut, and sister Helen of New Hampshire. She was predeceased by her parents, Alice and Waldo Sweet, and brother Bryant.

A memorial service will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Edgartown on Saturday, August 31, at 11 am.

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Gerald A. Maciel, 85, of Edgartown died on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at his home. Maciel was married to Alma (Shelton) Bettencourt. 

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

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Christine P. Fisher, 89, of West Tisbury died on Monday evening, August 26, 2019, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. She was predeceased by her husband, Donald M. Fisher. 

Her funeral service will be held at a later date, and a complete obituary will appear at that time.

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A celebration of life for Maureen Anderson, wife of William Anderson, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7, in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Oak Bluffs at 11 am, with burial following in Oak Grove Cemetery, Oak Bluffs.

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Barry Dennis Roy, 73, of Chilmark passed away peacefully on August 9, 2019, at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Born on Sept. 6, 1945, in Norwich, Conn., he was the only child of Emory and Bernice (Baril) Roy, and spent his youth in Taftville, Conn. During these years Barry grew to love the scouting experience, eventually leading him to become an Eagle Scout.

Barry was a 1967 graduate of Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt., with his summers spent working on Cape Cod in Falmouth. He treasured the many lifelong friendships that he made during his time at St. Mike’s, his friends becoming his “Band of Brothers” for the next 50 years.

After St. Mike’s, he graduated from Albany Law School in 1971, followed by a master’s in taxation (LL.M.) from Boston University School of Law. From 1974 to 1980 Barry worked in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service. He joined Deloitte as a tax partner in 1981, serving many multinational clients, and was named national director of tax quality assurance in 1996. He retired in 2009. 

Barry was an avid supporter of many charities, including the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Compassionate Care ALS, and the Aquinnah Lighthouse project of the Wampanoag Nation on Martha’s Vineyard. He was also a trustee of Saint Michael’s College, and chair of the investment committee. Barry loved his alma mater, and was a dedicated alumnus through both his philanthropy and volunteer work. 

Barry was fondly called “the Bear” by those who knew and loved him. He was larger than life, and lived with the biggest of hearts and immense generosity. He filled the room with love and laughter, and became a beloved member of many families, with more than a dozen godchildren. As an only child, he is survived by numerous cousins, their children, godchildren, and dear friends who all became his chosen family.

The sunsets are not quite as vivid and the moon not quite as bright over the Vineyard Sound without him, but lives are fuller for all who knew him.

A celebration of life will be held at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester on Oct. 12 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to “The Barry Roy Memorial Fund,” Saint Michael’s College, 1 Winooski Park, Colchester, VT 05439, or bit.ly/StMikeDonation. Condolences may be sent to PO Box 171, Chilmark, MA 02535. For information and online guestbook, please visit dolanfuneral.com.

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Gary Stephen Smith (“Smitty”) surrendered peacefully at home on Monday, August 19, 2019, after a two-year cancer journey. Today we mourn the passing of a beloved friend, brother, uncle, nephew, and partner.

Smitty was born in Corbin, Kentucky, on June 3, 1953, the eldest son of Pete Franklin and BettyLou Smith. 

Although he had a less than average lifespan, Steve did not live an average life. A two-sport star at Young High School in both baseball and basketball, he served in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Myrtle Beach, S.C. Upon his service completion, he began his career in managing nightclubs and the food and beverage industry, most notably a Holiday Inn and 2001VIP nightclub. This experience enabled him to own and operate a restaurant and bar, Smidrees on Myrtle Beach. Recently Steve’s love of the outdoors led him to own his own thriving lawn business on Martha’s Vineyard, the Lawn Ranger. 

Steve never backed down from challenges due to his adventurous spirit. This included beating cancer once! His contagious smile always lit up the room, as he loved to be “the big brother” of the Smith boys, and entertain family and friends with his love of music and drink, especially his famous margaritas. He loved boating and having that George Hamilton tan.

Smitty left us, however, without achieving his lifelong goals of jumping out of a plane, driving across the country with his partner Linda and their dog Charley by his side, mowing an entire professional baseball field, or chowing down on one more Krystal burger. 

Boy, did he ever know how to show a girl a good time; that being said, he absolutely had his hard-shell ways. However, we will all miss him dearly, and find much laughter in the memories of Smitty’s shenanigans. 

He was predeceased by his sister Laura, and leaves behind three brothers and their wives, Perry and Robbie and nephew Brett of Knoxville, Tenn., Scott and Rhonda of Ruston, La., and Chris and Jackie of Knoxville; also his Aunt Jane of Troy, Ala., his Aunt Peggy of Indianapolis, Ind., his Uncle Roy and Aunt Susie of Dayton, Ohio, and many cousins; his beloved partner, Linda Dellatorre of Sarasota, Fla., and Martha’s Vineyard, and her family, Erin, Avery, and Micah Simmons of Martha’s Vineyard. 

There will be a celebration of his life in Knoxville, Tenn., at Broadway Baptist Church on Sept. 14, 2019. Family will gather with friends from 3 to 5 pm, with a service at 5 pm.

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Paul Kimberley Ling, 66, died at Norwood Hospital on August 22, 2019. A resident of Sharon since 1985, he and his wife, Dr. Theslee (“Joy”) DePiero, also owned a home in Edgartown since 1991. 

Born in Lynbrook, N.Y., on July 12, 1953, he was the son of Frank Hayes Ling and Annette Anna Larned. Ling received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Boston University. Upon completing his studies he went into private practice, opening offices in Sharon and Quincy. His continuing and advanced training included certification by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, enabling him to utilize hypnosis as a tool in augmenting standard behavioral and psychotherapeutic techniques. A staunch advocate for mental healthcare and an activist who sought legislative control over the managed healthcare industry, he was a skillful, versatile, and compassionate therapist who personalized his treatment to the needs of the individual patient, integrating best practices in both western and eastern psychology. Because of his encouragement, his daughter, Alexandra, was inspired to pursue a career as a school psychologist, and she now serves in that capacity at the North Carolina School for the Deaf.

Paul (known to his family as Kim) was an avid fisherman. He enjoyed many fishing trips off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, and digging for clams with family and friends there each summer. The Vineyard was a place he and his wife loved, and from which they drew solace and rejuvenation. Among his varied intellectual interests was a keenness for military history and science fiction.

A serious practitioner of the Mahamudra tradition of Tibetan meditation, Paul was deeply influenced by the teachings of the Venerable Denma Locho Rinpoche, former head abbot of Namgyal Monastery. Paul was a devoted and dedicated student of Rahob Rinpoche Thupten Kalsang, lineage-holder and abbot for the Rahob Monastery, and Daniel Brown, Ph.D., founder of Pointing Out the Great Way, and served on that foundation’s board. As part of Paul’s practice with Rahob Rinpoche and Dr. Brown, he and a group made a special journey to Tibet to visit Rahob Rinpoche’s home monastery in 2013, where he was referred to as “Cowboy Paul” because of the hat he wore throughout the trip — a highlight of his life.

Dr. Ling is survived by his wife, Dr. Theslee DePiero of Sharon, his daughter, Alexandra Ling of Morganton, N.C., his sister and her husband, Dr. Deirdre Ling and Edward Russell, of West Tisbury and Bonita Springs, Fla., his sister and brother-in-law, the Brent Baxters of St. Louis, Mo., and his nephews, Jared Baxter of Los Angeles, and Grant Baxter of St. Louis.

A celebration of Kim’s life will take place at the Boston Center for Contemplative Practices, 760 Beacon St. Newton, MA 02459, at a date and time to be determined. Donations in Paul’s name may be made to either Rahob Rinpoche,(checks made out to Rahob Dharma Center), 18 Hewitt Rd., Petersburg, NY 12138, or the Pointing Out the Great Way Foundation at pointingoutthegreatway.org/donations.

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Lorraine Averill Leonard, 69, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, August 31, 2019, surrounded by her three children. Lorraine was born on Martha’s Vineyard in 1949, the youngest daughter of Preston Averill Sr. and Eileen (Dubuque) Averill.

“Municipal Lorraine,” as her children lovingly referred to her, was very involved in town and local governments and with her church, St. Andrews in Ayer. She held various town accounting positions, was finance director for the town of Harvard, and happily became Dunstable’s town accountant as her “retirement job,” in addition to serving on numerous retirement, town, and school board committees. She loved taking her dog Fluffernutter for long walks and spoiling her grandchildren. She grew up on Martha’s Vineyard, loved horses, spending long days at the beach, and spreadsheets.

She was a dedicated, generous, and selfless person. Lorraine will be greatly missed, and clearly had a huge impact on many, as evidenced by the hundreds of cards she received and overwhelming offers of love and support during her last months.

Lorraine is survived by her children, Robert Leonard of Pembroke, Tracy Leonard of Groton, and Kenneth Leonard of Kensington, N.H., as well as her daughters-in-law Nancy Leonard and Jennifer Leonard, and grandchildren Kaitlyn, Kevin, Chloe, and Annabelle. Lorraine is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Preston and Diana Averill of Oak Bluffs, along with several nephews and a niece.

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Lorraine for a period of memorial visitation on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, from 1 until 4 pm in the Badger Funeral Home, 45 School St., Groton. A date for interment in the New Westside Cemetery in Edgartown will be announced.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Lorraine may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, or online at cancer.org.

To share a memory or offer a condolence, visit badgerfuneral.com.

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