Ingrid Ann (Petersen) Reuter died at home in New York City on Saturday, May 16, 2020.

Ingrid leaves a long and unfinished bucket list. She graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1960, and attended Bowling Green State University. She received a master of social work degree from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, and her J.D. from Pace University. 

She found wonder and joy in her 56 years on Martha’s Vineyard, where she loved visits from her family, new friends, clamming with her toes, and long walks along the beaches. She lived in Glen Rock, N.J., for 40 years and was a social worker with the Bergen County Special Education Team, an attorney with a Paramus law firm, a member of the Glen Rock board of education, a softball coach, and a Red Cross volunteer, counseling persons and families with advanced brain cancer. In 2012, Ingrid and Fritz “retired” to New York City, where Ingrid was active in her longtime book club, a committed member of the Citizens’ Committee for Children, an avid student of Spanish at El Taller, and a member of the Unitarian Church of All Souls. 

Ingrid was a warm, smiling, loving, and understanding wife, mother, sister, and friend. A great cook, prolific knitter, avid gardener, photographer, and listener — those who met her learned to love her in a truly short time. She was passionate about the natural world, in her garden or in her travels, and was ever ready for the next world adventure.

She was a beautiful, loving, laughing, and robust woman, who always had an angel food cake with pink seven-minute frosting on her birthday, played a mean game of double solitaire, and could always enjoy a quiet Scotch on the rocks with a twist. She brought color, style, and joy to our lives. She was a beauty. Her joy was her family, especially her daughter and grandchildren. We will remember her forever. 

Ingrid is survived by her husband of 56 years, Fritz Reuter; her daughter Kari Roberts and her children Anna and Erik of Reading; and her two sisters, Karen and Kristin Petersen and their families. A memorial service will be held at All Souls Unitarian Church in the fall. Donations in Ingrid’s memory can be made to Citizens’ Committee for Children, 14 Wall Street, Suite 4E, NY, NY 10005, or online at cccnewyork.org.

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John E. MacKenty of Edgartown died on May 11, 2020, at his home on Wintucket Cove, at the age of 91. His passing was caused by complications from the melanoma that he had endured since 2010 with grace and dignity.

John was born in New York City in 1929, and grew up in Scarsdale, N.Y. Starting in 1937, his family spent summers on the Vineyard, and then moved there full-time in 1945. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, Harvard College, and Harvard Law School, and later received a master of laws degree from New York University.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army from the Vineyard in September 1954, and served until August 1956. Stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, in early 1956, he met his future wife, Irene, who came from Indiana, and had joined the U.S. Civil Service to “see the world.” They married in Heidelberg in August 1956, and enjoyed over 60 years of a very happy marriage together, until Irene’s death on Dec. 30, 2016.

John and Irene moved to Scarsdale, N.Y., where they lived for 29 years and raised their three sons. Active in his community, he served as president of the Edgemont board of education, president of the Edgemont Neighborhood Association, and as a deacon and elder of the Greenville Community Reformed Church. In 1975 he was the recipient of the Greenville Association’s Silver Box award for outstanding community service.

Professionally, John enjoyed the practice of law for over 60 years, first in New York City and later in Edgartown, specializing in trusts and estates law. He was senior counsel to Davidson, Dawson & Clark in New York City for more than 30 years, and counsel to Worth & Norton in Edgartown from 1978. He was a past chairman of the trusts and estates law section of the New York State Bar Association, a fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel, and a contributing author to books and studies on estate planning and administration matters. John’s quick mind and meticulous memory enabled him to continue to practice law until just last year.

Moving to the Vineyard in 1987, John and Irene enjoyed a large and diverse circle of friends, and loved living out on Edgartown Great Pond year-round. He always enjoyed the local wildlife, and continued his father’s tradition of duck hunting on the pond, teaching the sport to the next two generations of his family. Due to Irene’s work as a travel agent, they enjoyed numerous trips around the world with friends and family.

On the Vineyard, he was a founder, life trustee, and past president of the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, to which he and his siblings donated the Vincent House in 1977. He also served as chairman of the first Windemere board of directors, helped to found the Edgartown Area Ponds Advisory Committee, served on the boards of the Edgartown Pond Foundation, Wakeman Center, and Friends of the Council on Aging. He was an honorary life member and a past president of the Edgartown Reading Room, a member and a past trustee of the Edgartown Yacht Club and chair of its legal committee for many years. He enjoyed marching in the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day parades for many years, until he was unable to participate.

John is survived by his and Irene’s three sons, John (wife, Huong) of Baltimore, Md., Michael (wife, Lisa) of Edgartown, and Edmund of Natick; and three grandchildren, Mary, Thomas, and Lily Irene. Besides Irene, he was predeceased by his parents, John and Katharine MacKenty, his brother, Jeremiah MacKenty, and his sister Katharine Bigelow. 

A graveside service is planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Irene C. and John E. MacKenty ’46 Observatory and Science Fund at Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH 03833, or the Endowment Fund of the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, P.O. Box 5227, Edgartown, MA 02539, would be appreciated.

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Norma G. (Hultgren) Sousa, 89, of Edgartown, passed away on May 20, 2020, at her home. She is survived by her daughter, Debra Lynn Yapp (Robert) of West Tisbury.
Her memorial service will be held at a later date, and a complete obituary will appear in the paper in a later edition.

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It was May 17, an early spring Sunday morning, at that special moment when wispy pink clouds kiss the tops of tall trees and the golden rays of sun begin to bathe our Island. It was at this precise time that Theophilus Miguel Araujo, affectionately known as “TM,” beloved husband, brother, father, and “Pa,” closed his charming blue eyes and entered his eternal rest peacefully at home, after a difficult battle with liver cancer.

All people die, but not all people live. TM lived! He lived to share his contagious smile, to spread joy, and to make others laugh. A man known for his strong faith in God and a wealth of pure love for his family and friends. A strong man with a big heart, who never met a stranger.

TM made everyone’s life a little better. Whether it was walking in his custom-made Uncle Sam suit in the Aannual Edgartown Fourth of July Parade sharing waves and smiles with our community, making his rounds at Christmastime in his Santa suit, or just taking the time to sit and talk, he always showered people with love and positivity. He will fondly be remembered as a Vineyard Icon.

TM was born a twin in his family home in Tisbury, to Julio Bartolomeo Araujo and Mary Emilia Silvia, on March 24, 1942. He was born as the fourth child to Julio and Mary; however, his mother Mary had been married before, and had nne children prior to marrying Julio. TM was No. 13 in a family of 18 children, nine Moreis children and nine Araujo children. 

In 1999 TM was appointed deputy sheriff at the Dukes County House of Correction; he remained an honorary deputy through 2007. Also in 1999, he completed basic firefighting training at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. TM worked for 25 years for the Steamship Authority, retiring as a purser in 2005. He loved working on the boat, greeting everyone with a smile and often sharing a piece of candy — he bought in bulk, always being sure to have enough to share! He was so dapper in his white uniform and suspenders, well-respected, and always sharing his wit and sense of humor with every passerby. He even brought his humor to the microphone when he made announcements entering port … “If you’re on the right side, you’re on the wroooong side!” he would bellow for all to remember. After retiring, TM worked as a crossing guard for the Tisbury School, sharing smiles and high-fives. In his free time he could either be found traveling house to house visiting his brothers, sisters, sons, and grandchildren, or you could find him at a sporting event, or in his yard, tidying up his gardens and his cherished rock sculptures.

TM was called many affectionate names throughout the years, but most endearing to him was “Pa.” He was the most loving and present grandfather a kid could wish for. He made each grandchild feel extra-special, sharing quality time, and never missing important events in their lives, always collecting sports schedules and never missing a game. He was the true definition of a role model, giving the kids someone to always look up to. Relationships were very dear to him; he had such a special way of allowing everyone to feel his love and his light.

TM’s zest for life was nothing short of exceptional, but he was no stranger to struggle. With immense courage and strength, he conquered addiction; sober 45-plus years, he would often share his experience, strength, and hope with others he met on his path. He has been a true inspiration to many. An active, longstanding member of the NAACP of Martha’s Vineyard, he had strong beliefs in equality. A devoted member of the Saint Augustine’s Parish in Vineyard Haven, TM attended Mass regularly, and would share his faith in God openly and honestly.

TM Araujo taught us so many things with how he chose to live his life. Asking his grandchildren what he taught them, these responses emerged: “Don’t ever give up,” “Always work hard,” “Look out for others,” “Look at life with humor,” “It’s never too late to turn your life around,” and “Have fun.” His energy and spirit will live on in all of us; his parting words for all of us would most certainly be … “I love you more!”
He was preceded in death by both his parents, and by eight of his siblings; three died as young children, as did Raymond J. Moreis, Cynthia M. Moreis, Peter A. Moreis Jr., William Moreis, and Paul A. Araujo.

He is survived by the following siblings, in birth order, Anna Mae Cecilio (Moreis), James Moreis, Madeline C. Moreis, Josephine M. Moreis, his twin brother Joseph Araujo, David Araujo, Adalena (“Lena”) Vanderhoop (Araujo), Julio B. Araujo, and John C. Araujo. He is survived by his loving wife Marie, and his precious pooch Suki; his three grateful sons from his first wife Sharon, Derick J. Araujo and his wife Rachel, Aaron D. Araujo and his wife Kimberly, and Durwood S. Araujo and his wife Katrina; his grandchildren, Delmont, Diamond, Dylan, Saige, Aidan, Logan, Tyler, Tyson, and Tristan Araujo; his sister and brother-in-law Anne and Gary Weagle of Rutland, and their children Andrew and Katie Weagle of Holden; and David Weagle and Linley Dolby of Edgartown, with his great-nephew, Otis. He also leaves behind a myriad of Moreis-Araujo nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as a wealth of dear friends, one of whom being Lorna Chambers Andrade, who would use her vast nursing knowledge to help him with his medical problems — she was always there to listen.

A service in TM’s honor will be held at a future date, when it is safe to do so. If you wish to make a donation in his name, please pick the charity of your choice — he supported many through the years. 

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

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Noreen J. Bettencourt passed away on March 15, 2020. 

She is survived by her brothers, Michael Bettencourt of Edgartown, and Bruce Bettencourt of Tierra Verde, Fla.; her grandson, Steven Packish; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Manuel (“RIP”) and Olma Bettencourt; her brothers John, Daniel, and Peter Bettencourt; and her son, Greg Packish. 

Her memorial Mass will be held in St. Augustine’s Church, Franklin Street, Vineyard Haven, on Saturday, June 20 ,at 11 am. Burial will follow in the New Westside Cemetery in Edgartown. 

Her complete obituary, and an online guestbook, may be viewed at ccgfuneralhome.com/obit/noreen-j.-bettencourt. Donations may be made in Noreen’s name to Island Autism at Marcy Bronzino Bettencourt, P.O. Box 3004, Edgartown, MA 02539, or islandautism.org/donate.

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Norma G. (Hultgren) Sousa passed away peacefully on May 20, 2020, at the age of 89, in the home she loved in Edgartown. It was a bright, sunny day with beautiful blue skies. This was so fitting, as blue was her favorite color, and this particular day was chosen for her to go to be with God. 

Norma was born Sept. 25,1930, in Meriden, Conn., to Gosta Torsten Hultgren and Tyra Lantz Hultgren, who had immigrated separately from Göteborg and Jönköping, Sweden, in the 1920s, and had settled in Wallingford, Conn. Norma was baptized in the Lutheran Church, and was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Wallingford for many years (her favorite hymn was “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me”). Norma was always proud of her Swedish heritage, but she said she felt so lucky to have been born in the U.S., which she told us she knew was the greatest country in the world. She always flew the American flag with pride at her Edgartown home.

Norma grew up in Wallingford with her parents and three brothers. There she attended Lyman Hall High School. After high school, she went to work in the office of Wallace Silversmiths, a major manufacturer of sterling silver, where she met her future husband, Joseph Sousa, in the early 1940s. They were apart during Joseph’s service in the U.S. Army during World War II, but reunited after the war, and were married in Brewster, N.Y., in 1949, settling together in Wallingford, and raising four children, Joseph, Debra, David, and Bryan.

After the birth of her children, Norma worked at Stanley Judd, a division of Stanley Tools, for many years. She also worked at Safety Electric, where she was elected the first female union steward they had ever had. In that role, she successfully fought for better working conditions for her fellow workers. Throughout her life she was a champion of workers’ rights.

Norma moved to Martha’s Vineyard in 1988 to be closer to her daughter Debbie, son-in-law Bob, and beloved grandson Scott. She loved her life on Martha’s Vineyard, and cherished her home in Edgartown, which Bob helped build. Her personality was evident in how she decorated her home. The walls were filled with pictures of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and artwork she bought in her travels and at Vineyard art shows. She painted the walls herself, installed the fences, planted bushes, and built the walkways herself from treasured found stones. 

Norma worked for many years as an office manager at H.N. Hinckley and Sons in Vineyard Haven. She loved working for the Guyther family, and always said Nelson Guyther was the best boss she ever worked for. Norma was a very friendly, caring person, and enjoyed helping the many customers who came to Hinckley’s. 

Norma loved children, and had an innate ability to teach and connect with them. She taught Sunday school at the Zion Lutheran Church in Wallingford, and on Martha’s Vineyard she volunteered as a reading mentor at the Edgartown School. She loved sharing her lifelong love of books with children; she really enjoyed reading books to them, and telling them how important it was to learn to read well. She later became a substitute teacher on the Vineyard, mostly working at the Edgartown School. 

Norma was a great cook, and loved to feed people, especially those she loved. Her lemon meringue pie, apple crisp, Christmas cookies, and her awesome beef stew were second to none. She passed on her cooking skills and love of cooking to her daughter, Debbie, who has many fond memories of cooking with her. For many years, Norma was a member of the Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven, where she happily served her homemade soups at the church’s Soup Suppers.

She also volunteered at Sail Martha’s Vineyard when it was beginning, for the Salvation Army, the Island Food Pantry, and the Edgartown Council on Aging’s food distribution for the elderly program. 

Norma’s favorite beach was Squibnocket Beach in Chilmark. Shortly after moving to Martha’s Vineyard, she began driving up there on Saturday mornings with her dog, J.P., stopping first at Humphreys Bakery in West Tisbury to get a “Belly Buster” chocolate-covered cream doughnut and coffee. She would sit on the rocks with her dog, coffee, and doughnut, and bathe in the beauty of that exquisite beach. It was a very spiritual place for her. She called it “God’s Little Acre.” 

Norma loved to walk, and the Vineyard provided many beaches and trails for her to explore. In her early 80s, she was still walking one or two miles a day on the bike path near her home. She also loved artwork, museums, and traveling to new places. After retiring, Norma began visiting the Edgartown Senior Center, where she joined the Dock Street Hookers, a rug-hooking group. There she found new friends and learned to create primitive-style hooked rugs. She went on to make many treasured, beautiful rugs for herself and her family.

Memories from Norma’s family

Debbie (daughter): Mom was an upbeat, positive person who was always encouraging, generous, enthusiastic, and very hard-working. She was very creative, and did things with a flair. When getting her four children ready for school before she went to work, she made hot cereal every day. She would stand outside our bedrooms, say “Rise and shine!” and begin singing “Lumpy Cereal,” a song she made up to get us up and ready for school.

She built snow forts with us, and I remember her building a campfire inside of one, and us roasting potatoes. Mom was a wonderful mother, but also my best friend. She was “the wind beneath my wings” in anything I wanted to try. She taught us to persevere through hard times. “This too shall pass” was one of her favorite quotes.

Bob (son-in-law): “Mrs. S.,” as I called her, was a big part of my life for many years. Never was there a time that she did not heavily praise the work I did on various projects. One of my passions is woodworking, and Mrs. S. eagerly contributed to my love of woodworking by making sure I had enough tools. For my birthdays and other holidays, she would always make sure she gave me a special tool for my hobby. I loved working on projects for her. I love her, and miss her very much.

Scott (grandson): Grandma Sousa has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. From a young age, I took inspiration from her spirit, and was excited when I got a chance to spend time with her. When my parents were busy, we would go on adventures around town, seeing the Island sights and exploring the thrift store, which for me was an emporium of wonders. She was always supportive of my life aspirations, and did what she could to encourage me along the way. When I left for college, I could regularly expect care packages with fresh-baked cookies to arrive at my dorm (ginger and oatmeal raisin). I will never forget her determination, positivity in the face of adversity, rebel spirit, and adoring smile. 

Melisa (granddaughter-in-law): “I loved her the first time I met her. She was so loving, yet incredibly feisty, and her family came above all else. She had a resilient and unstoppable spirit.”

David (son): As the matriarch of our family, Mom was known to our children as “Big Grandma,” a nickname that slowly grew on her. She deeply loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Never did she let a birthday or holiday go by without demonstrating her love to those who loved her. My mom was a Christian, and we take our comfort in the words of the Resurrection from the Book of Job: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has thus been destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.” C.S. Lewis remarked that Christians never say goodbye, but rather, “See you later.” So, Ma/Big Grandma, we love you, and all look forward to seeing you again later.

Joseph (son): My mother taught me survival skills that have helped me throughout my life.

Susan (daughter-in-law): She was a very thoughtful mother-in-law. I loved her great laugh.

Norma is survived by her daughter Debra Yapp, and her husband Robert of West Tisbury; son Joseph Sousa, and his wife Susan of Wallingford; son David B. Sousa and his wife Heather, and grandchildren Noah Ethan, Zoe Grace, Wolfgang David, and Luther Gabriel of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and son Bryan, a native of Connecticut, and his family. She is also survived by her grandson Scott Yapp and his wife Melisa of Billerica; granddaughter Cheryl Kim and her husband Vincent and great-grandsons Jordan and Daniel of Southport, Conn.; grandson Joseph Sousa, his wife Lisa, and great-grandsons Joseph and Adam of Naugatuck, Conn. She is also survived by her brother Everett Hultgren and wife Nancy of Cheshire, Conn., and brother John Hultgren and wife Ruth of Surfside Beach, S.C. She was predeceased by her husband Joseph Sousa of Wallingford, and by her brother Milton Hultgren of Kennebunk, Maine. 

Norma will be buried in a private family graveside ceremony in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven. A celebration of her life will be announced at a later date.

In Norma’s memory, read a book to a child, bake your loved ones a special treat, or get a “Belly Buster” from Humphreys Bakery and enjoy it at Squibnocket Beach. Donations in her name can also be made to the Salvation Army online at salvationarmyusa.org/usn/ways-to-give.

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

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William Henry Baumann Jr., or Billy as he was known by those who loved him, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2020, with both of his sons at his side. 

A brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, friend, veteran, and salesman, Billy was quick with a smile, and an avid conversationalist on many subjects, particularly wine, sports, fishing, birds, and life in general. He loved talking to people, regardless of where he was or whether he knew you. He had a wicked sense of humor, and loved to laugh and make others laugh with him. If you laughed with Billy, you had a lifelong friend. 

Born at the height of the baby boom on Oct. 27, 1946, to Rita (Flynn) and William H. Baumann Sr. in Pasadena, Calif., he was raised in Holyoke, the oldest of four siblings. He served as an altar boy at Sacred Heart Church, and was a member of both the varsity track and field and football teams at Holyoke Catholic High School.

Billy, like many of his generation, served his country as their fathers had before them. He enlisted as a Navy Seabee in 1967, completed a tour of duty in Vietnam, and was honorably discharged in November 1968. He returned home and, using the GI Bill, attended Holyoke Community College and Westfield State College, graduating with a bachelor of arts in psychology in 1972.

It was while working at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield that the stars aligned and he met the love of his life, Jane (Donaldson) Baumann. They were married, and soon had two sons, Benjamin in 1976 and Erik in 1978. They would have many adventures together. A lover of the ocean, Billy and his family could often be found on Martha’s Vineyard, fishing, swimming, boating, reading, socializing, and just goofing around. And it was with his family, all together, that Billy was truly his happiest.

He loved music, and would loudly serenade his sons out of bed after making their lunches, ensuring they would not be late for school. He was an accomplished air guitar player, and could often be found jamming out to his favorites songs.

Billy was a father and husband first, but could also sell sawdust to a lumberyard. A top performer for several printing companies, he earned several accolades, including Salesman of the Year in 1991, 1995, and 1998 for Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses.

He is survived by his sons, Benjamin Baumann and his wife, Ceniya Palmer-Baumann and her three children, of South Dartmouth, and Erik Baumann and his wife, Carly Baumann, of Fairhaven; granddaughters Daisy and Sylvia; sisters Katherine Fenton and Alice Hogan; brother Peter Baumann; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Monica O’Donnell, and by his loving wife, Jane Baumann.

A memorial service is being planned for a later date to allow friends and family to gather safely and honor his memory. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

For online tributes, please visit waring-sullivan.com.

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James Kenneth Rolston Sr. (“Ken”), 68, died on Tuesday evening, May 26, 2020, at his home in Vineyard Haven. He was married to Deborah (Fitzpatrick) Rolston. 

A private, graveside service for family will be held at this time, and a celebration of his life will be held at a later date. 

Donations in his memory may be made to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, PO Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568. 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 D. Kleinberg, 77, of Chilmark, died on Sunday evening, May 24, 2020, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was married to Sharon (Kagan) Kleinberg. 

A private graveside service in the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Cemetery was held for family, and a celebration of his life 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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Ernest O. Barrett Jr., 84, of Vineyard Haven, died on Tuesday afternoon, May 26, 2020, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was married to Lucinda daRosa (“Cindy”) Barrett. 

A graveside burial will be held at a later date, to be announced. 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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Neil Ames Welch Jr., known by many as Apple, passed away Wednesday evening, May 20, 2020, at Tobey Hospital after a brief and ferocious battle with coronavirus.

Neil was born Oct. 5, 1956, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital in Oak Bluffs. As a child, most days were spent with cousins and friends. Neil enjoyed family cookouts and baseball games, large holiday dinners, and playing Little League baseball and basketball with friends. High school brought many more friends, which is when he got his nickname, Apple.

Two major accidents, 40 years apart, altered Neil’s life. He remained living with our mom, Gladys Welch, until October 2016, later moving into his home in Wareham. Over the years living at home, Neil had many jobs. He raked leaves for the Camp Meeting Association, mowed lawns, filled in on jobs where needed, and most steadily with Gene Bergeron. Neil also would answer the call from people in the neighborhood to rake, help move something, or just about anything asked of him. 

Neil liked to cook and bake. He would make kale soup and never eat it, he just liked to make it; he would bake cheesecakes, brownies, and cakes. It wasn’t unusual to see Neil riding his bicycle with a cake carrier balanced on the handlebars, delivering his baked goods. Gene and Bev were often the happy recipients. A childhood friend shared a story recently of when he lost his mom 10 years ago. As he was sitting at the kitchen table after the service, there was a knock on the door. Neil had walked over with an apple pie he had made. They sat and ate and reminisced about the old days. Neil always had time to help and comfort a friend.

A great sense of humor got us through long waits at the doctor’s office. While waiting for the doctor or nurse, he’d say to me and my mom, “Come on Henry or come on Gertrude, I’ve got places to go.” We never came across a doctor or nurse with those names, but for some reason they worked for him. We’d play cards to pass the time, giving each other a sideways glance and a smirk waiting for my mom to take her turn. When Neil was in the hospital, his nurse would ask him if he needed anything before she left the room and he’d say, “Yes, I want you to take a break and buy a cup of coffee, I’ll buy.” He loved to flirt, and did it well.

When talking with people since Neil passed, I frequently hear what a raw deal he got in life. I’ve said it myself at times. In hindsight, it’s true, Neil had many struggles that he persevered through, but it was his life. He never complained, he always had a kind word and a smile, and took great joy in being helpful to others. I believe a full life is not measured by the number of years you live, but by the number of hearts you touch, the number of people who when they think of you, a smile and a story come to mind. To Neil, it’s just the way it was, and he was who he was, a great guy with kind eyes and a big heart.

Neil was predeceased by his father, Neil Ames Welch Sr. He is survived by his mother, Gladys Combra Welch; his brother Darren Welch and his wife Amanda, and his sister Diane Welch and her sons Nathan Costa and Matthew Look; aunts, uncles, numerous cousins and their families. Family names Combra and deBettencourt say it all. 

We would like to thank those who took care of Neil in recent years, doctors, nurses, and caregivers. Dr. Seth Herman, formerly of Spaulding Rehab in Charlestown, and Katelyn Eagen, coordinator for Cooperative Productions, and staff where Neil lived, freely gave kindness, understanding, support, advocacy, and care for Neil and our family. We appreciate all who have cared for, prayed for, and loved Neil over the years. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten. 

There will be a private service followed by a celebration of life in the fall. Donations in Neil’s honor can be made to the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA), 30 Lyman Str., Suite 10, Westborough, MA 01581, and the Portuguese-American (P.A.) Club, P.O. Box 2203, Oak Bluffs, MA 02575.

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With profound sadness, we announce the passing of our loving husband, father, and grandfather, Richard Kleinberg, on May 24, 2020, at 77 years of age.

He was born in the Weequahic section of Newark, N.J., which is why Philip Roth was his favorite author. He went to Rutgers University and Rutgers Law School. He worked in commercial real estate for most of his adult life. 

He had a special love for Martha’s Vineyard, and was deeply engaged with the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center and other organizations on the Island. He had been coming to the Vineyard for more than 33 years, and lived here permanently for eight years.

He was the beloved husband of Sharon Kleinberg; and father and father-in-law to Rachel Kleinberg, Mark Schnitzer, and Jess and Mike Carroll; cherished grandfather to Eliza, Leah, Max, Jonah, and Jordyn. He also leaves behind his sister, Jane Carroll, and his brother, Bob Kleinberg.

He will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center, P.O. Box 692, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

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Lucy Louise Davis, formerly Lucy Valente, 95, died on May 9 from complications of COVID-19, surrounded by brave and loving healthcare professionals. 

Lucy was born on Dec. 27, 1924, the only daughter of Italian immigrants George and Caroline Valente, who through hard work and perseverance rose to the middle class. Following their example, Lucy excelled in her studies and graduated with honors from Malden Catholic High School. As a freshman at Lowell Teacher’s College, she was introduced to her future husband, John F. (“Jack”) Davis, by Brother Gilbert, CFX, better known for introducing baseball great Babe Ruth to the Majors. World War II interrupted their romance when Jack left to fight in the Pacific for the U.S. Navy. There ensued a passionate letter-writing campaign. Lucy’s traditional father was intent on preserving his daughter’s reputation, so Jack sent innocuous letters to her parents’ house, and saved his more romantic missives for her college address. Lucy graduated as valedictorian from Lowell Teacher’s College, and Jack returned home from the war just days before her college prom. They married, and Lucy became a schoolteacher. Jack opened Jack Davis Florist, and Lucy signed on as store manager. The couple had two daughters, Carolyn and Kathryn. 

In 1965, the pair discovered the charms of Martha’s Vineyard, and returned every summer thereafter. They soon bought an old sea captain’s house in Vineyard Haven, and later built a new home in Oak Bluffs. Upon retirement, they sold their home in Jamaica Plain and moved to the Island full-time. Lucy especially loved the bucolic views from Middle Road and beautiful sunsets in Menemsha. A “wicked” Scrabble player, Lucy could easily defeat her daughters into her 90s. It wasn’t until her granddaughter Michelle arrived that she finally met her match. 

Lucy’s lifelong love, Jack, died two years ago, after 69 years of wedded bliss. She is survived by her two daughters; two sons-in-laws, Mark Wronski and Gino Del Guercio; four grandchildren, Kara Oliva, Michael Wronski, Ben Del Guercio, and Michelle Estime; their husbands Jeremey Oliva and Daniel Estime; and three great-grandchildren, Julian and Lucy Oliva, and Theodore Estime. 

The family requests that any gifts in her name be made to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, 111 Edgartown Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568. Funeral services will be held for immediate family only.

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Robert J. Schumann (“Bob”), of Oak Bluffs, passed away on April 15, 2020, after a period of declining health.

Bob was born Dec. 22, 1950, to Jane (Whitney) and Justin Schumann. He was the oldest of three siblings, and grew up with his brother Tom and sister Annemarie in Wantagh, Long Island, N.Y. During their childhood, summer days were spent at Jones Beach, stopping for ice cream on the way home.Whenever his Uncle Jim came over, all the kids in the neighborhood would gather around for ghost stories, told with precise details and sound effects that both delighted and scared everyone, no matter what their age! Every summer at Trout Lake in the Adirondack Mountains, they played bingo, square-danced, played Ping-Pong, and, of course, spent endless hours swimming, fishing, and boating. 

This quality family time ended when his father died in October 1967, when Bob was 16, and his mother passed away two and a half years later, in March 1970. After attending Chaminade High School on Long Island, he was accepted by an Ivy League college, but chose to go to a local university to be closer to family. After two years, Bob decided to pursue a different path, becoming a skilled carpenter. He built houses in Vermont and Martha’s Vineyard, as well as becoming a fine finish carpenter and cabinetmaker. 

He spent time living in both New Orleans, La., and Townshend, Vt. Following the devastating death of his brother Tom in 1987, he joined his sister Annemarie, and moved to Martha’s Vineyard. It was there that Bob found his true home, and his lifestyle reflected the way of the Island: the relaxed pace of life, the fertile soil, the calming effect of the ocean around. Among his favorite places were the Cliffs and beaches of Aquinnah and Menemsha.

His daughter Bethany, born June 26, 1985, was the light of his life, and parenting became his focus. He was so proud of her, celebrating all of her accomplishments and dedicating as much time to be with her as possible, building memories and introducing her to new places and experiences. 

Bob was charismatic, brilliant, cultured, and charming. Annemarie used to refer to him as “Mr. Smooth.” People from all walks of life felt listened to and cared for; no matter where he went, he made deep, instant connections with people that often lasted for years, or even decades.

Known for being talented in the kitchen, Bob took pleasure in making delicious meals for family and friends, using the freshest ingredients possible, including the watercress that grew in the stream behind his home for many years. 

Bob’s home was always full of the sound of rock ’n’ roll, reggae, jazz, blues, and classical music. His hundreds of records typically sat on the shelves that he’d built. He was also a lover of live music, from the local drum circle on the beach to stadium shows like the Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, Simon & Garfunkel, and Bruce Springsteen, just to name a few. Bob was always turning people on to new singers and songwriters, and that’s one of Bethany and Annemarie’s fondest memories of him. Bethany and Bob went to see all types of concerts together, their favorite experience being Springsteen at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Some of Bethany’s favorite childhood memories were made up of the hours-long car rides they used to spend listening to their favorite music over and over again.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Jane and Justin Schumann; grandmother Rosemary Schaffner; aunt and uncle Anne and Jim Jones; and brother Tom Schumann. He leaves his daughter, Bethany Socha of Boston; sister and brother-in-law Annemarie and Terry Donahue, nephew Justin and niece Mariah of Edgartown; aunt and uncle Maureen and John Schaffner of South Windsor, Conn.; cousins Erin Tynan, Colleen Barisano, Kate Schaffner, and Patrick Schaffner, and their families. He also leaves many good friends, who will miss and remember him always.

A celebration of Robert’s life is being planned for late summer or early fall. Please send your contact information to robertjustinmemorial@gmail.com if you would like to receive updated information. 

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Beloved daughter, sister, and aunt Ruth Berkowitz, 98, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2020, at the Riverside in New York City, where she had resided for the past three years. 

Ms. Berkowitz was born on Nov. 18, 1921, to Russian immigrants Dora Sulzer Berkowitz and Barnet Berkowitz on their Holstein dairy farm in Flemington, N.J. Dora and Barnet had four daughters, Zelda, Esther, Shirley, and Ruth. The youngest, Shirley and Ruth, were twins. Their father Barnet was a horse and cattle dealer, and founding member of the Flemington Jewish Community Center and Flemington Jewish Cemetery. 

Ruth was married as a young woman to a soldier (details not available) who died in the Korean War. She never remarried, and moved to New York City in the early 1960s. Ruth worked as a secretary most of her adult life, for Sylvania. She enjoyed all that New York City life had to offer: lectures, concerts, movies, walks in the neighborhood, and dancing at Roseland on the weekends. She spent many weekends in Flemington visiting her mother, two sisters Shirley and Esther, and their families. She loved children and was always happy to babysit Jonathan and Barbara, so her sister Shirley and husband Ira could enjoy a night out. 

Ruth will be lovingly remembered for her quick wit, easy smile, cheerful disposition, and love for her family. Ruth was very independent, and lived her life as she wanted to, uncompromising, and self-sufficient, well into her 90s. She took great pride in telling everyone, “I can take care of myself,” and she did, for the most part, until moving out of her Upper West Side studio apartment to the Riverside nursing home in the final years of her life. 

Ruth was very close to her sisters throughout her life. She was closest to Shirley, her twin, the beloved optimist of the family, known for her warmth, loyalty, and selfless caregiving. Her beloved older sister, Zelda Kaplan, was a humanitarian, notable New Yorker, and a fixture in New York’s fashion scene for many years. All four sisters were quite dynamic in their own way. Ruth Berkowitz is survived by her nieces, Barbara Dworkin Binder of West Tisbury, and Betsey Ann Harris of Irving, Texas; nephews Jonathan Dworkin of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Stephen Kaplan of Plano, Texas; and grandnephews Benny Binder of West Tisbury and Steven Dworkin of Poughkeepsie. Her sisters, Shirley Dworkin, Zelda Kaplan, and Esther Kaplan all predeceased Ruth. 

Private Zoom funeral services were held on Sunday, May 31, in Flemington, N.J.; arrangements were made by the D.J. Wright Funeral Home, Flemington.

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Richard James Thorman, age 88, died on June 2, 2020, at his home in Franklin, Tenn. 

Dick was born on Dec. 3, 1931, in Los Angeles, Calif., the oldest of three children of Charles Albert and Martha Jane Hadley Thorman. He graduated from East Los Angeles High School and Whittier College. He served briefly in the U.S. Navy at the end of the Korean War.

Dick worked in several jobs before moving his young family to the Boston area. He became the general manager for the Island Country Club on Martha’s Vineyard for several years. At the same time, he developed Waterview Farms, a housing development that conserved natural spaces, views of the ocean, and green areas for native habitat. It still stands today.

After his time on the Vineyard, Dick and his family returned to California, where he helped build the Good Life, a timeshare development at San Vicente Country Estates in Ramona. His career encompassed golf-related residential and resort experience. His projects included consulting, planning, financing, development, construction, marketing, and operational bottom-line responsibility for major golf companies. Southern California PGA honored Dick with its 2000 President’s Award, recognizing his tireless work in the golf industry. The award is presented each year to an individual who has given extraordinary service and contributions to the game.

Dick had a love for flying, and owned a plane for some time. In the ’80s, he and his wife LyAnne flew across the country, and he detailed his trip in a national magazine for pilots.

In his later years, Dick nurtured his love for gospel music. He and LyAnne moved to Brentwood, where they purchased the Brentwood, a bed and breakfast. With the help of his daughter Lisa and her husband Bud, they turned this into a viable business for several years. In the meantime, Dick joined the First Church of the Nazarene in Nashville, and later Brentwood Baptist Church. In both churches, Dick was active in the choir and music ministries. In the past few years, Dick was on the board of deacons at Brentwood Baptist, and served as a trustee.

Dick was married three times, first to Dona Jean Lester, from 1955 to ’57, and then from 1960 to ’78. This ended in divorce. Dick met and married LyAnne Rennie in 1983, and she died in 2013, after a long battle with cancer. Dick then married Beverly Jean Cleckner, whom he had met at Brentwood Baptist, in 2018. She survives him.

Dick is also survived by his four children: Tim (Sherryl) Thorman, of Virginia; Lisa (Bud) Rusche of Arizona; Jennifer (Wayne) Moss of Thompson’s Station, Tenn.; and Emily Hennessy (Larry Riddle) of Florida. He is survived by seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; his brother Chuck of Colorado and his sister, Ida Middlesworth of California; along with two nieces, two nephews, and several cousins. In addition to his wife LyAnne, he was preceded in death by two grandsons.

Due to the pandemic situation, there will be no memorial service at this time. Memorial gifts may be sent to Brentwood Baptist Church, 7777 Concord Road, Brentwood, TN 37027. Arrangements are under the care of Williamson Memorial Funeral Home, 615-794-2289, williamsonmemorial.com.

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Ernest O. Barrett Jr., 84, of Vineyard Haven, passed away on May 26, 2020, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was the husband of Lucinda (da Rosa) Barrett.

Ernest was born on June 6, 1935, in Oak Bluffs. He went to Tisbury School, and at a young age his dad was killed in an accident. Ernie, at the age of 16, left school to work so he could help support his mom, brothers, and sister.

He served for two years in the U.S. Army, stationed in Landshut, Germany, and doing border patrol along the Czech border during the Czechoslovakian crisis.

Returning from the service, he worked for Carroll’s Trucking, Rogers Trucking, Coca-Cola Co., and E.C. Cottle as a truck driver, and years as a lumberyard worker for Cottle’s. He worked for General Dynamics in Quincy as a ship fitter on several ships for the U.S. government, including the USS Wichita. He returned to the Island and worked with Doyle Construction. He worked with J.K. Scanlon as a clerk of the works to build the first Woodside Village, Island Elderly, building in Oak Bluffs, and as a clerk of the works for the West Tisbury School. After that, he worked for the Steamship Authority, and the Vineyard Transit Authority as a bus driver, until he retired.

He was a member of the Tisbury Fire Department, Company C, when he was younger; a member of the Elks Club of Falmouth, and an honorary member of the Holy Ghost Association of Oak Bluffs. 

Over the years, Ernie and Cindy traveled on many trips, especially to many places in Quebec and Ontario, Canada. They enjoyed many trips to New Hampshire and Maine, where they visited with great friends they had met over the years. Over the past couple of years, since he retired, he enjoyed time with friends, socializing and talking over the news of the day.

Ernest was predeceased by his parents, Ernest and Mary Barrett, and his brother James Barrett. In addition to his wife Lucinda (“Cindy”), Ernest is survived by his sons, Wayne (Nadine) and Donald Barrett; his daughters, Ann Marie Cywinski (Joseph Sr.) and Alison Barrett (Jesse); his sister Marie Mercer (Stan) and brother, Edmund Barrett; his niece, Elizabeth (Kevin) Oliver and his nephew, Stephen Seward (Catherine); his grandchildren, Elise Ray (James), Morgan Alwardt (Joshua), Rachel Perry (Michael), Megan Barrett, Jacob Oliver, Kayla Oliver, Joey Cywinski Jr.; and seven great-grandchildren, Ella and Jenna Ray, Michael and Ryah Perry and Madilyn, Carly, and Khloe Alwardt.

A graveside service at the West Tisbury Cemetery and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

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

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Richard James Walton (“Dick”), of Oak Bluffs, died suddenly on Monday, June 1, 2020, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was 74. Dick was married to Carole K. Walton. 

A private graveside service will be held, and a celebration of his life will be held at a later date, to be announced; a complete obituary will follow in another edition of this paper. 

Donations in his memory may be made to the United Methodist Church of M.V., P.O. Box 2580, or the M.V. Camp Meeting Association, P.O. Box 1685, both in Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

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Jasmine Leigh (Reed) Reis, 29, died unexpectedly at her home in West Tisbury. She was the daughter of Yvonne Ann (Reed) Codner, and the brother of Philip R. Reed. 

A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced, and a complete obituary will appear in another edition of this paper.

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Beth Ann Saint-Amour, wife to Jay Wilbur of Vineyard Haven, will have her memorial service, which was to be held on June 19, postponed until a later date, to be announced.

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