Stephen Wesley Lewis, 80, of Oak Bluffs, passed away on July 23, 2020, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 1, at 10 am at the Oak Grove Cemetery, Pacific Avenue, Oak Bluffs. In lieu of flowers, donations in Stephen’s memory can be made to Alcoholics Anonymous, General Service Office, P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY, 10163, or online at contribution.aa.org/. A complete obituary will appear in a later edition of this paper.
Walter J. Hunziker Jr. (“Skip”), 90, of Edgartown, passed away at Windemere Nursing Home in Oak Bluffs. He was the husband of Norma Norton Holmes, and served as a junior grade lieutenant in the Navy during the Korean War.
A complete obituary will appear in a later edition of this paper.
Nancy Langdon Safford, 74, from Sedona, Ariz., died on July 10, 2020, of cancer.
Nancy was born March 2, 1946, in Hartford, Conn., daughter of Ralph K. and Nancy French Safford. She attended the Day Prospect Hill School in New Haven and Emerson College in Boston. As a child she spent summers on the island of Martha’s Vineyard with her family.
She was an avid photographer, and worked at Magnum Photos in New York City after college, and for a short time as darkroom technician for Austrian-American photojournalist Ernst Haas.
From New York she relocated to the Vineyard as a young adult. She helped raise builder Alan Miller’s children, Tina and Andrew, during the time he built the Black Dog Tavern, while she pursued her interest in photography. The culmination was her book, “Time’s Island: Portraits of the Vineyard,” a collection of black-and-white, high-contrast photographs and oral histories documenting the last vestiges of an earlier era on the Vineyard. It was a groundbreaking history of the Vineyard, published by MIT Press in 1973.
She took her photographic interests to the Limousin region of France, and spent two years as a guest and worker on the sheep farm of Miranda de Toulouse-Lautrec, photographing and collecting the stories of French farmers with an eye toward publishing a second book. Although the photos were “hauntingly beautiful,” New York publishers were not interested in a book with such a limited market. She also photographed “Cowgirls,” the ranching and women rodeo riders in the American Southwest, for another planned book. It was her genuine interest in the lives of the people she photographed, and their connection to the land, that is evidenced in her photography.
She became involved in the early years of studio-based holographic art in New York, and brought her work to New York State schools as an interdisciplinary approach to education, and developed a similar program on the Vineyard at the West Tisbury School. When she moved to the Southwest, she received a grant for a similar program with sixth grade students at the Native American public Indian School in Santa Fe, N.M.
Ever the innovator, and not afraid of reaching out to unknown worlds, Nancy pursued her interests from Martha’s Vineyard to upstate New York, and the eastern mountains of Arizona, before settling down in her own spiritual paradise in Sedona. Here she met Robert Shapiro, who became her guide and teacher. They soon were married, and although the marriage lasted only a few years, they remained true friends.
In Sedona, Nancy became a professional guide, dedicated to empowering others to connect with their spiritual side by direct experience. She assisted people in exploring the famous Red Rock vortices, and also began facilitating women’s circles as an ordained Priestess of the Mary Magdalene Mysteries. She began guiding people on life-changing pilgrimages to sacred sites in southern France as a bilingual guide, so they could experience a more conscious, authentic relationship with their true inner spirit. Nancy was also a shamanic healing practitioner, and a clairvoyant reader who helped guide journeys of past-life regression and personalized ceremonies.
In 2017 Nancy published a spiritual memoir-based adventure story, “A Magdalene Awakens, Hidden Temple Secrets,” beginning with the red rocks of Sedona, ancient sites in Glastonbury, England, and then the famous Rennes-le-Château area in southern France. Here you will step into little-known historical worlds, still active with angelic beings and ancient temples, where secrets have been guarded for millennia.
Nancy’s quest included both the warrior monks called the Knights Templar, who carried back mysterious treasures from the Holy Land, and the Cathars, who possibly were carrying wisdom of the Essenes. While on a journey to Scotland, she was inducted into the Knights Templar as an honorary member.
Nancy recently told her niece Sarah that at a young age, her father told her “she could do anything that she set her mind to.” And she did.
She was predeceased by her parents, and stepmother Sally S. Safford. She is survived by her two sisters, Leila Corbitt and her partner John Aucoin of Point Reyes Station, Calif., and Susan Safford and her husband Tony Omer of West Tisbury, and her brother Kirkham Safford and wife Kristine Larsen, also of West Tisbury; her nephew Kirk Safford, nieces Jessica Corbitt and Sarah Omer, great-nieces Bianca Zogbi and Clementine deForest, and great-nephews Leroy and Gabriel Wong-Safford.
Blessings and much love until we meet again, dearest sister of the Light.
Donations in her memory can be made to Accord Hospice of Sedona, 2155 Highway 89A, Suite 212, Sedona, AZ 86336, or to the hospice of your choice.
Allan F. Davey passed away peacefully at his Vineyard Haven home on June 29th. He was 85.
Allan F. Davey
Allan was born on Jan. 13, 1935, the son of Doris, an accomplished pianist, and Clarence, a well-known mechanic and partner in Dukes County Garage. He grew up in his family’s home on upper Main Street, when neighbors were Hancocks,Tiltons, and Carrolls. Lifelong friendships and the “Daggett Ave. Gang” were born from this neighborhood, and Allan, his younger brother Martin, and their posse had themselves a fine time and loads of adventures, back in the day when many roads in this part of town weren’t yet paved, if they were there at all. Childhood friend Megan Alley recalls the “L&A Ranchhouse,” a clubhouse built by Allan & buddy Leigh Carroll in back of the Carroll’s house, as being their base of operations and shenanigans. Brother Martin recalls that their dad Clarence, after having seen his first wartime Jeep, built a smaller replica from memory, all out of plywood. It ran on batteries (a novelty in the ’40s), and the two young brothers would cruise up and down the neighborhood in their “Jeep.” They also spent plenty of time on the water together from an early age, enjoying many fun-filled days at Lagoona, their family camp on the Lagoon. Although it was just a short ride over the bridge from Vineyard Haven, it was a world away in those days, and they would stay for weeks at a time. They raced their open sailboat in the Lagoon yacht club regattas, and also had their share of adventures with powerboats, learning to ski on the Lagoon, just as their children and grandchildren would decades later. The camp remained at the center of Davey family summer fun well into parenthood, giving their children memories they will cherish for a lifetime.
Allan attended the “newish” Tisbury School, which had been built in 1930, just five years before he was born. He was a solid athlete, playing baseball, softball, and basketball — he was class marshal, class VP, and according to one former classmate, he was “a flirt,” a talent that no doubt won over his future bride Judy, a Long Island transplant attending Oak Bluffs High School. He was voted Best Looking; Best Future Husband; Most Optimistic; Best Smile, and Most Class Spirit.
Allan and Judy married in 1955 at the starry-eyed age of 21, like many of their friends at the time. They wasted no time procreating, and counted three children in the backseat before the end of the ‘50s — Shauna, Allan, and Kenneth Paul, named for Allan’s friend Ken Silvia, who tragically drowned in his teens. Six years later, a surprise delivered their youngest son, Wayne.
Early on in their marriage, Allan worked at his dad’s garage, where he learned everything he could about engines, auto repair, and electricity. He also spent some time as a carpenter, most notably working on James Cagney’s house in Chilmark. Like many resourceful Islanders back in the day, Allan was a consummate diy-er, and the skills he acquired with these jobs would serve him well; they were passed on to his kids, to whom his cellar seemed like a magical wonderland of tools, gadgets, and machinery, some of which was passed on from his own dad. The Davey kids were using power tools, almost always without incident, at a very young age.
There were always boats, some that floated, others that never did. Allan’s 11-foot skiff, which he built in high school, for many years was docked behind “Frankie Frank’s” Portside Dairymaid on Beach Road. This was the little blue boat in which each of his four kids would learn to fish, spending many fall nights on the Middle Ground wishing for “the big one.” He was endlessly patient with his young crew, and probably spent more time untangling lines than actually fishing. This is also the boat he used for scalloping, and his family would enjoy the harvest all winter, or at least what made it to the freezer. Still sporting his waders, his shucking went something like this: one for him, one for the dog, one for the bowl. There were other boats over the years, but none quite like that blue skiff with the 10-horsepower Johnson.
Allan became the “go-to” dad for his State Road neighborhood, and every winter in the ’60s and ’70s constructed a skating rink over his garden, where his four kids and countless friends and neighbors learned to skate. If any guests needed skates, it was likely they’d find a pair at the Daveys’. There were skating parties, and near-nightly hockey games, in which he’d don his own skates and knock around with the kids. And of course the rink was well-lit, as Allan thought it only logical to install a full-on streetlight over the action. Allan played men’s softball for years, as a left-handed pitcher for the Bandits, and the family would routinely pile into the car on warm summer nights to see him play. He was also an avid league bowler, spending many action-packed nights at Al Brickman’s bowling alley in its heyday; every once in a while a ’70- era trophy surfaces in his house.
Shortly after he joined the Cape & Vineyard Electric Co. (now known as Eversource) Allan was just 23 yrs old when his dad passed away. Clarence was instrumental in steering him to the company, where he started out as a meter reader and worked his way through the ranks to become a lineman, back when lineman actually climbed poles. His family recalls many nights where he was “called out” during storms, working alongside Roy Hope and Matt Perry, Jimmy Ciciora, and others; it was hard, hazardous work for this fraternity of tough-as-nails men who were charged with keeping the lights on back then. Allan was a hard worker, and did what was needed to provide for his young family. He carried a no-nonsense black metal lunch pail to work every day for what turned out to be 36 years; he finally retired from ComElectric at age 55 as line supervisor. Much of his well-worn climbing gear, along with his original work locker, remains in his cellar.
While the Cape & Vineyard was his occupation, the Tisbury Fire Department was his passion, and Allan was a member for over 40 years, until he aged out at 65 as assistant fire chief. He loved it, and the friendships he made on the department would last a lifetime.
Allan never aspired to write a novel or sail around the world in his retirement. He was a homebody, and aside from a few trips and cruises with Judy, he was pretty much content to putter, especially in his garden, which expanded to include not only vegetables, but a vast array of wildflowers he and Judy would bunch up and sell in cans out front, the honor system being their preferred means of payment. Allan had a green thumb, and for years was starting plants in his greenhouses and babying them throughout the season. He always had a project going; he built Adirondack chairs (which he also sold out front), children’s furniture, and became fascinated with digital cameras when they first came out; in his mind they were more akin to “gadgetry” than computers, and he loved emailing pictures and keeping up with old friends.
He became Judy’s caregiver as her health declined — he was above all else a devoted, loyal husband. His list of errands became an occupation of sorts, and he was a social butterfly as he made his way around the Island, in his later years often stopping in at John’s Fish Market at dinnertime (thank you, Pachico family, for your kindness and patience). Everyone knew Allan for his easy smile and good nature; if there was ever a man comfortable in his own skin, it was him. And of course there was his legendary mangling of the English language, a quality that was both hilarious and endearing.
Allan was laid to rest next to Judy in the family plot of Oak Grove Cemetery, not far from the house where they’d raised a family and spent their lives together. He was given a proper fireman’s sendoff, and his final ride was on the back of Tisbury’s recently restored 1949 American LaFrance fire truck, which happened to be driven by Darren Welch, the son of his best friend, Neil Sr., who passed away in 1975. The Firemen’s Prayer was read by the department chaplain, and Molly Canole sang. Being a humble and salty Islander, he probably thought it was all a bit much. But it seemed just right. Somewhere, every day is a perfect gardening day. Allan is whistling off-key while tending to his tomato plants, and Judy is happily arranging flowers on the back porch. That seems about right too.
Allan was predeceased by his wife Judy, and Pepper, his beloved springer spaniel, with whom he is now interred. He leaves behind four children and four grandchildren, Shauna Nute and her husband Bob of West Tisbury, Allan M. Davey, his wife Ann and their sons Ben and Jason of Vineyard Haven, Ken Davey, his wife Katie and their daughter Caroline of Oak Bluffs, and Wayne Davey, his wife Anne and their daughter Sarah of Atlanta. A special thank-you to Allan’s caregivers, Gloria DeBettencourt, Gina Brobbey, Sandie Corr Dolby, and Rachel Perry of Horizons Geriatrics, as well as to Tisbury Fire Chief Greg Leland.
Donations may be made in Allan’s name to the Tisbury Firefighters Association, 215 Spring St., Vineyard Haven MA 02568.
Duncan MacDonald, a quiet powerhouse of a woman who lived a vibrant, varied life, died on July 18, 2020, at the Henrietta Brewer House in Vineyard Haven, at the age of 104. She was fond of saying, “Communication on a one-to-one basis is one of the things that’s truly lacking in our society.” Throughout her long life and pioneering journalism career, Duncan MacDonald was dedicated to reversing that trend.
Duncan MacDonald
She was born Dorothy MacDonald in Beaumont, Texas, on Nov. 4, 1915, to Martha Schalies Hammond and William MacDonald. At age 6 she asserted her characteristic resolve when, upon learning that another girl in town shared the same name, she declared her name thereafter would be Duncan.
By nature, she was always interested in people, and in finding ways to tell their stories. She brought a natural curiosity and love of in-depth research to a career with the New York Times radio station WQXR, conducting live studio interviews. She worked with drama critic and magazine editor George Jean Nathan, and interviewed a wide assortment of people, from members of the theater community and politicians to those working in public service. Her aim was always to shed light on the seldom-heard stories, as she recounted in an interview with M.V. Museum oral historian Linsey Lee, “to touch on the things that are often overlooked.”
Growing up in the Depression, there was no money to attend college. “And so I went to work. I have not been without a paycheck for almost 90 years, which is very useful.” She made her way to New York City at the age of 19, participating in the early days of television. “When Dumont Channel 5 — one of the first television networks — became a reality, I became the manager of women’s and religious programs. And being a woman in this brand-new industry gave me an edge, really, over a lot of other people.
“I directed the first soap opera, ‘A Woman to Remember.’ And the first shopping program. I produced a morning breakfast show on religious topics for Norman Vincent Peale. There were other projects on other subjects. And of course all these things, each one opens up another channel.”
She served as executive director and founding trustee of the National Friends of Public Broadcasting, and as New York president of American Women in Radio and TV. Duncan was recognized for her work on behalf of the National Council of Women, and received a UNICEF award for her work with the Organization of American States.
Always interested in expanding her communications skills, writing too became one of Duncan’s pursuits in both New York and Boston, contributing columns to House Beautiful, Old Farmer’s Almanac, and Yankee magazine.
A collection of her recordings and writings is housed at the 20th Century Archives of American Journalism at the University of Wyoming. Many Vineyard names can be found in the collection, such as Dr. Leona Baumgartner, Garson Kanin, Truda Lash, Mia Farrow, and Robert Crichton, as well as notables like Jackie Robinson, Buckminster Fuller, and Whitney Young.
She was introduced to Martha’s Vineyard by New York friends, including the artist Rose Treat, early childhood expert Helen Maley, and poet Peggy Freydberg. She was amazed by the beauty of the Vineyard, and established roots, purchasing the Attaquin house and living in Gay Head, where she served on the town finance committee. She also joined the board of the Vineyard Conservation Society, Sail Martha’s Vineyard, the Nathan Mayhew Seminars, the M.V. Literacy Group, and other local organizations. When her work took her to the courthouse in Edgartown to manage the County Commissioners’ office, she relocated to Vineyard Haven, where she also worked as feature editor at The Martha’s Vineyard Times. At that time, never one to let moss grow under her feet, Duncan researched and wrote “The Martha’s Vineyard National Bank: An Early History.”
Her late-in-life introduction to her Scottish heritage led to interest in all things Scottish. It soon developed into a passion. It began with volunteer work in New York with the American Scottish Foundation. When she attended the Scottish Games organized by the Caledonian Foundation in North Carolina — singing dancing, traditional games — she was enthralled. She eventually served as vice-president of the foundation, helping to establish Tartan Day as a national day of observance in the U.S. to spread the word about Scottish contributions and achievements. Her hope was that it would inspire others to honor their heritage. She was given the distinction as “Scotland’s First Lady in America” for her lobbying efforts, including congressional recognition of Tartan Day in the U.S. She also served as an officer of Scottish Heritage USA, a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and a life member of the Clan Donald Society USA.
While working for the County Commissioners in Edgartown, Duncan helped found the Scottish Society of Martha’s Vineyard, together with her friends Don MacRae and Cape Cod Times reporter Harvey Ewing. At a recent Robert Burns Night, the society recognized Duncan for her contributions as a founding member.
Duncan said, “The Scottish Society has engendered so many friendships. It’s not so much what a person does; it’s knowing that if you needed them, they’re there. That concept of helping out is very heartwarming. It’s also a nice commentary on the Vineyard — that people care about each other, and want to be helpful. These little personal relationships that just are not possible in most other places are one of the things that makes the Vineyard so pleasant.”
Duncan is survived by her niece Nicole Vidor of Hudson, N.Y., nephew Skidmore Smith of San Miguel de Allende, and by her many close friends and admirers on Martha’s Vineyard. She was predeceased by her parents and her sister, Claire Frances MacDonald Smith.
Donations may be made in Duncan’s honor to Martha’s Vineyard Hospice, at hospiceofmv.org or P.O. Box 748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, and to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 806, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.
Simone M. Prada, 95, of Cape Coral, Fla., and Martha’s Vineyard, passed away on August 2, 2020.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, August 10, 11 am, at the New Westside Cemetery, Robinson Road, Edgartown, officiated by Father Nagle of the Good Shepherd Parish.
A complete obituary will appear in a later edition of this paper.
Hillary Landers passed away on Thursday, July 23, 2020, after a long illness.
Hillary was born on July 4, 1957, in Pittsfield, the daughter of Betty and Jack Landers. Her formative years were spent in Weston. She attended secondary school in Milton, and Mount Kisco, N.Y. She graduated from Skidmore College in 1982, where she majored in political science and history. Hillary was a four-year varsity member of the tennis and basketball teams. Her athletic prowess earned her induction into Skidmore’s Hall of Fame.
After graduation, she worked as a corporate auditor for General Electric. In 1985, she moved to Martha’s Vineyard, her home for much of her life. She worked as a realtor for Barbara Nevin Real Estate, and later, with Lisa Stewart, started her own realty company in Edgartown, called Lighthouse Properties.
Hillary suffered a tragic accident in 2006 that left her a quadriplegic. She spent her last years in Harwich and Yarmouth. Hillary was a devoted mother to her son Jason (Polaski) of Hampden, Conn. Hillary leaves behind her sister Sue, brother John, and many other family members and friends who loved her and were inspired by her strength and irrepressible, optimistic spirit.
She was predeceased by her parents, and brother Glenn.
A family funeral service is being planned, and a celebration of Hillary’s life will be held when we can all safely gather. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Federation of the Blind, or a charity of your choosing. For online condolences and details, please visit nickersonfunerals.com.
Stephen W. Rose, 76, died on Sunday morning, August 2, 2020, at his home in Edgartown. He was the husband of Kathleen F. (Nolan) Rose, father of Sheila Rose Whitman and Adam Rose, and grandfather of Lyla and Ethan Rose. He was also the brother of Ernestine Kinnecom and Ronald Rose.
A memorial 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 the Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 1829, Edgartown, MA 02539. 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.
Arthur Yorke Allen, 83, of New York City and Edgartown, died on Monday morning, August 3, 2020, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was the husband of Mary Stewart (Hammond) Allen and father of Loring Allen Randall (Stuart). Arthur was also the brother of Hap Allen and Dee Allen, and grandfather of Nolan Mayhew Panno and Andrew Gettys Panno.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date, and a complete obituary will appear at that time. In lieu of flowers, Donations in Arthur’s memory can be made to the Island Housing Trust, P.O. Box 779, West Tisbury, MA 02575, or online at ihtmv.org/donate or to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1050, or online at gift.whoi.edu/page/7738/donate/1. 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.
Roberta Lee Ellis (“Bobbie”) passed away peacefully on July 31, 2020, at 11:11 am, at her home in Edgartown, surrounded by family.
Born Roberta Lee Gilmore on July 13, 1946, in Quincy to John and Catherine (McCabe) Gilmore, Bobbie was the eighth child of nine. Bobbie attended Quincy public school before transferring to Catholic school, and then attended the college of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station, N.J. Bobbie was married on April 23, 1970, to James McKinley Ellis, and they had one child.
Bobbie received numerous work certificates and licenses, and a bachelor’s degree from Lesley College. Of all of those, her favorite was her hack license to drive a cab.
Bobbie was also an avid bagpiper. Bobbie began playing the pipes around the age of 11. She was a member of St. Joseph’s All-Girl Bagpipe Band. Bobbie continued to play the pipes, and in her early 30’s she joined the Clan Sutherland pipe band, with which she played for many years. Bobbie continued to play her pipes into her 60s.
Bobbie had many fun adventures, whether it was with her siblings, her friends from the pipe bands, trips to the Jersey Shore with her sisters by choice. She made many trips and vacations with her nieces and nephews, and her dream trip to Scotland with her daughter and sister to explore their roots. Bobbie’s faith in God and love for her family and friends made her the beautiful woman she was. Bobbie loved to visit the island of Martha’s Vineyard, where her daughter lived. Due to a long battle with lung disease, Bobbie would find herself living out her days on the Vineyard.
Bobbie leaves behind her daughter Tiffany M. Ellis O’Neill and husband Stephen; her brother Joseph (Joyce); sisters, Ann Nissle (Don), Helen Roche (Jimmy), Janet Riley (Tom), Mary MacDonald (John), and brother-in-law Bill Parsley. Bobbie was predeceased by her siblings Judy Gilmore, James Gilmore, and Carol Gilmore Parsley. Bobbie also leaves behind 26 nieces and nephews; 40 great-nieces and -nephews and fortunately, way too many friends and caregivers to mention. She was loved by all, and touched so many lives.
A memorial will be held for Bobbie at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bobbie’s name to Norwell VNA/Hospice or Visiting Nurses Assoc. of Cape Cod & Islands, or Boston Catholic Television.
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.
Elizabeth Brown Bayer (“Betsy”) died on April 15, 2020, at the age of 92. She had been suffering from complications related to advanced dementia, but COVID-19 was the cause of her death. Even though her cognitive and physical functions were severely impaired in her last months, she continued to recognize and demonstrate love for her children and grandchildren until the moment of her passing. She was also able to continue expressing her appreciation to her caregivers. Helping others feel valued, listened to, and seen, was one of her great gifts. With warmth and genuine interest, she invited those she encountered into an embrace of care and gentle respect.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and the farmland outside it, Betsy was the youngest of the five children of Fayette and Geraldine Brown. She loved exploring the out-of-doors and sports, especially horseback riding and tennis. Tall and graceful, she was a natural athlete, and remained physically active throughout her life. Until after she turned 90, she practiced yoga and tai chi.
Betsy graduated from the Hathaway Brown School in Cleveland and Sweet Briar College in Virginia, majoring in biology. Following college, she spent a year volunteering for the Frontier Nursing Service, accompanying nurses on horseback to deliver care and attend births in Kentucky’s rural Appalachian mountains. Concern and compassion for those less fortunate than she continued to guide her activities, from a job with the International Program of Cleveland, recruiting social workers from across the world to meet and share practices, to involvement in the civil rights movement, to a myriad of volunteer efforts in the communities where she lived. Her efforts toward helping those facing hardship, be they people she knew or some she didn’t, were never made with fanfare, but with the remarkable kindness and empathy that also characterized her relationships with family members and friends.
In 1959, Betsy met and married Cleveland lawyer and writer Leo Bayer. They had four children in quick succession, and then moved to Duxbury,, in order to be close to Martha’s Vineyard, where Leo owned a cottage. From the day she first arrived on the Island for her honeymoon, Betsy was enchanted, especially with Tiah’s Cove on the Tisbury Great Pond. She and Leo raised their children on the cove every summer, vacation, and holiday weekend. Then, after their children were grown, they spent seven months of the year there. On Martha’s Vineyard, Betsy made enduring friendships, and was active in the Unitarian Universalist Church and its social action and women’s groups. She participated in contradancing, played music, enjoyed learning about both the natural and human history of the Island, and contributed to conservation efforts. Above everything, though, what sustained and invigorated her soul were the walks she took along the Vineyard’s trails and beaches, usually in the company of her husband, one or more children, a grandchild, or a dog.
When her children were young, Betsy and her family spent the school year in Duxbury, where she was involved with her children’s education, and encouraged their extracurricular passions, celebrating their successes and bolstering them through their struggles. She would say that being a mother was her most fulfilling undertaking, and her children feel that no one could have been more loving and supportive, or set a better example of the values of quiet strength, sincerity, and generosity of spirit. She eschewed the superficial, the artificial, and the fancy. Describing someone as direct and down-to-earth and as having a good sense of humor was high praise in Betsy’s book, and could be applied to her as well.
Even as Betsy was fully involved in her children’s lives, in Duxbury she also managed to promote the arts, advocate for affordable housing, make and serve meals at a soup kitchen, answer a hotline for stressed parents, and protest nuclear weapon proliferation. And on top of this, she knit intricately designed sweaters and stitched artist-level quilts that were marveled over by all who saw them.
In her late 40s, Betsy began pursuing her interest in early music. She played recorders of various sizes with various groups, including the Island Consort on Martha’s Vineyard. Eventually she shifted her attention from recorders to the viol da gamba, focusing on this challenging instrument by taking lessons, attending workshops, and playing in trios and quartets. With teachers and in small groups, she learned both the bass and tenor viols.
After the death of her husband in late 2004, Betsy moved from Duxbury to Roslindale, where she enjoyed proximity to children and grandchildren. She continued spending time on the Vineyard, closely followed current events, and kept up her knitting, making sure that everyone in her family had at least one pair of her multicolored striped socks. She was delighted to have contributed to the Women’s March in 2017 by making many bright pink “pussy hats.”
Betsy leaves her daughters, Jeri (and wife Valy) of Watertown, Sarah of Cambridge, and Amy of Brookline; her son, Nicholas, of West Tisbury; her grandchildren, Dara, Luke (and wife Alyssa), Joshua, Yoseph, and Chora; great-grandson Henry; and stepchildren Ann Bayer and William Bayer. Joining her family in mourning are friends of many ages and backgrounds.
Suzanne Bunker, 74, of Oak Bluffs, died on Monday, August 3, 2020, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
A graveside service will be held in Abel’s Hill Cemetery at a later date, and a complete obituary will appear at that time. Donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
Jonathan Brian Douglas was born in Pittsfield, on St. Patrick’s Day, 1954, his mom’s birthday and her greatest gift. He grew up in the Berkshires, and spent time in the summers on Cape Cod.
Even as a little fellow he liked go-karts and minibikes. As a teenager, he went over to New York on Sunday mornings to race his car at Lebanon Valley Speedway. He also loved motorcycles and sports cars, had several, and eventually learned how to rebuild them.
Jon also loved skiing, started out with a determined snowplow, became a fantastic downhill skier, raced in slalom races, and eventually worked at Bousquet ski area.
Jon graduated from Taconic High School in 1972. After high school he studied printing. He worked in that field, but eventually returned to the automotive trade, and got his license for driving big rigs, long distance. He bought his own blue and chrome Diamond Rio.
Jon took pride in every home he owned, and was always working on his homes, would build on dens and other rooms, and also made beautiful gardens.
He lived for a short time on Martha’s Vineyard, worked for the trucking company Barnes Trucking, and made a lot of friends fishing. He drove long-distance trips all over the country. He moved from New England to Palm Bay, Fla., and lived there for many years. He injured his back in a motorcycle accident. When his back hurt too much for driving, he went out and earned his hairdressing license. He began to practice this, but again his back hurt too much. Always ready to learn, he went on to learn to build computers.
He lived for many years in Florida.
Eventually, he moved back to his love, the mountains, to Lake Lure, N.C., joined Lake Lure Baptist Church, and made many wonderful friends there.
Jon is survived by a brother, Curt Douglas of Goodyear, Ariz., a sister, Amarylis Douglas of Martha’s Vineyard, and his two daughters, Heather Douglas and Melanie Roucoulet, both of Pittsfield, and several grandchildren, a great-granddaughter and many, many nieces and nephews around the country. He was predeceased by his sister Pamela Heye, formerly of Knoxville, Tenn., and his brother Tim Douglas, formerly of New York City.
Donations can be made in his name to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, at bit.ly/MemorialsStJude.
Elizabeth A. Daley, 58, of Falmouth, passed away unexpectedly at home on Monday, July 27, 2020.
Born in Roslindale on December 20, 1961, she was the daughter of the late Robert L. and Marguerite I. (Bradley) Daley. Elizabeth was a resident of Falmouth and Martha’s Vineyard for 30 years, and formerly of Bellingham. She was a graduate of Valley Tech in Graphic Arts in 1979. Elizabeth had worked as a pharmacy technician, certified nursing assistant, massage therapist, and bartender.
She is the sister of Joan C. Dowling and her husband, James of Greene, R.I., Kathleen D. Smith and her husband, William of Marlborough, Lawrence M. Daley and his wife, Carolyn of Ladson, S.C., Robert L. Daley and his wife, Linda of Bellingham, Barbara E. Bruno and her husband, Charles of Lee Center, N.Y., and Kevin J. Daley and his wife, Teresa of Oxford. Elizabeth leaves her nieces, nephews, cousins, and her aunt, Nancy Bradley. She will be greatly missed by her loving family and friends.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday, August 12, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am at St. Brendan’s Church, 384 Hartford Ave., Bellingham. Social distancing, face masks, and hand sanitizing are required. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Elizabeth A. Daley to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516, would be appreciated.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cartier’s Funeral Home, 151 South Main St., Bellingham. To sign the guestbook, visit cartiersfuneralhome.com.
Thomas N. Sullivan (“Sully”) died at his home, with his wife Linda by his side, on July 26, 2020, after a brief bout with brain cancer.
Sully was born in 1951 in Cambridge to William and Kathleen Sullivan, and was the youngest of three children.
After the early death of Sully’s mother and older brother William, Bill Goldsmith, a concerned teacher, stepped in to act as the two surviving siblings’ guardian, and remained a part of their lives until his death.“Goldie” ushered these two kids from East Cambridge to great opportunities. Sully attended the progressive Cambridge School of Weston for high school, and even a bit of Brandeis University, until he blazed his own trail to hands-on education for housebuilding and design. He spent his early years exploring communal living and farmsteading in various locations in Massachusetts. He studied passive solar design and energy solutions. Sully arrived on Martha’s Vineyard in 1976 with his close friend Mark Hurwitz to build a house for Bill Goldsmith, and never left. In the early 1980s, he built his own passive solar house. At the time, he had partnered with his friend Jay Walsh to sell solar hot-water heaters. His own still works after 35 years on his roof! He was involved with the construction of Anna Edey’s Solviva greenhouse, and with the conversion of an antique barn into the Bodhi Path Meditation Hall. He also built houses on his own or with the Hurwitz crew.
Sully was part of the Energy Resource Group from 1979 to 1981, and served on the Martha’s Vineyard Commission for eight years in the ’90s. He believed in speaking up for his principles. He had immense curiosity, and was always learning, was concerned with energy use and the health of the planet, its peoples, and creatures. He was a walking Wikipedia, from world political history to ancient civilization, to the names of all the band members in the music of decades past. He was frequently humming and singing in a sonorous voice — he loved a wide variety of music.
Sully found yoga, meditation, and a spiritual lifestyle a healing modality to his early losses, and continued to integrate these into his life to the end. He took great enjoyment in the simple pleasures of the seasons unfolding and the company of his friends. He had a gentle demeanor and a dry Celtic wit.
He was predeceased by his mother Kathleen, brother William, and his father William. He is survived by his wife Linda Ziegler, sister Gail, niece Jennifer, and nephew Louis. A celebration of his life is planned in the fall.
Nancy Temple Hammond died of natural causes at 93 years old on Sunday, July 26, 2020.
She was the daughter of Alan H. Temple and Annalee V. Temple, and wife of Robert G. Hammond for 66 years, until his death in September 2018.
Born in 1926, Nancy spent her childhood in Scarsdale, N.Y., with her siblings Anne T. Crumm and Alan H. Temple Jr., both deceased. She followed her passion for art and literature to Skidmore College, where she received a B.A. in English. Soon after, she met the love of her life, Bob Hammond. They spent the early years of their marriage in New York City before settling in Springdale, Conn., to raise their family.
Across jobs, moves, and other life changes, Nancy and Bob always called Martha’s Vineyard home. They cherished summers at their house in Vineyard Haven, where they eventually retired in 1988 and lived year-round until 2001. Nancy was an active volunteer and board member for Martha’s Vineyard Hospice and the Vineyard Haven Public Library. She also dedicated her time to Planned Parenthood and the Martha’s Vineyard Literacy Program, where she and Bob worked with students to improve their reading skills.
Nancy’s passions included literature, women’s rights, art, travel, and the environment. While not the loudest voice in the room, all who spoke with Nancy understood her deep commitment to these causes, and her belief that we could build a better future. She was a gracious, dignified, funny, and kind person, and was loved by everyone who knew her — especially her family, who will miss her dearly.
She is survived by her three children, Bob Jr. (Marion), Carrie, and Christy (Dave), her six grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, whom she loved.
Gifts in Nancy’s memory can be made to the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library, 200 Main St., Vineyard Haven, MA 02568. Her family will hold a private ceremony at a later date.
Fern Leigh Thomas, 68, of Oak Bluffs, passed away on July 26, 2020, after being diagnosed with lung cancer at the beginning of the month.
She was born Sept. 17, 1951, to Lloyd and Elaine Thomas in Pittsburgh, Calif. Fern graduated from Midwood High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1968, and received her degree from Northeastern University, and a master’s degree from Bucknell University.
Anyone who knew Fern knew she loved the Inkwell, good music, and her children fiercely. She was the life of every party, and shared her light with anyone who crossed her path.
Fern is survived by her mother Elaine Thomas, her brother and sister Guy and Tobi Thomas, her children Ian, Hailee, and Kia, and her three beautiful granddaughters, Zanai, Nahtai, and Sage. She was predeceased by her father, Lloyd A. Thomas — her favorite guy in the world.
Fern will be cremated by Floyd A. Williams Funeral Home in Boston. There will not be a traditional service, as she was anything but, details for her celebration of life will be shared at a later date.
Mary P. Valenzano, 87, of Edgartown, passed away at her home, surrounded by her family, on August 11, 2020. She was the wife of the late Edward J. Valenzano.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s name can be made to the Visiting Nurse Association, P.O. Box 370, Hyannis, MA 02601, or online at /support.givetocapecodhealth.org/donate. A memorial Mass will be held at a later date, and a complete obituary will be updated at that time.
Peter Worden Look, 84, died on Wednesday, August 12, 2020, at his home in Edgartown. Peter was the husband of Phyllis E. (Schwab) Look.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 15, at 11 am in the New Westside Cemetery in Edgartown, officiated by the Rev. Chip Seadale, with honors provided by the Dukes County Sheriff’s Dept and the Edgartown Fire Dept. A complete obituary will appear in another edition of this paper.
Donations in Peter’s name may be made to Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod, 434 Route 134, Suite D3, South Dennis, MA 02660. 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.
Nancy was born March 2, 1946, in Hartford, Conn., daughter of Ralph K. and Nancy French Safford. She attended the Day Prospect Hill School in New Haven and Emerson College in Boston. As a child she spent summers on the island of Martha’s Vineyard with her family. 
Born Roberta Lee Gilmore on July 13, 1946, in Quincy to John and Catherine (McCabe) Gilmore, Bobbie was the eighth child of nine. Bobbie attended Quincy public school before transferring to Catholic school, and then attended the college of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station, N.J. Bobbie was married on April 23, 1970, to James McKinley Ellis, and they had one child.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and the farmland outside it, Betsy was the youngest of the five children of Fayette and Geraldine Brown. She loved exploring the out-of-doors and sports, especially horseback riding and tennis. Tall and graceful, she was a natural athlete, and remained physically active throughout her life. Until after she turned 90, she practiced yoga and tai chi. 
A graveside service will be held in Abel’s Hill Cemetery at a later date, and a complete obituary will appear at that time. Donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
Even as a little fellow he liked go-karts and minibikes. As a teenager, he went over to New York on Sunday mornings to race his car at Lebanon Valley Speedway. He also loved motorcycles and sports cars, had several, and eventually learned how to rebuild them.
Born in Roslindale on December 20, 1961, she was the daughter of the late Robert L. and Marguerite I. (Bradley) Daley. Elizabeth was a resident of Falmouth and Martha’s Vineyard for 30 years, and formerly of Bellingham. She was a graduate of Valley Tech in Graphic Arts in 1979. Elizabeth had worked as a pharmacy technician, certified nursing assistant, massage therapist, and bartender. 
Robert L. Graves Jr., 87, of Sarasota, Fla., and Martha’s Vineyard, passed away on August 7, 2020.
Sully was born in 1951 in Cambridge to William and Kathleen Sullivan, and was the youngest of three children.
She was born Sept. 17, 1951, to Lloyd and Elaine Thomas in Pittsburgh, Calif. Fern graduated from Midwood High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1968, and received her degree from Northeastern University, and a master’s degree from Bucknell University.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 15, at 11 am in the New Westside Cemetery in Edgartown, officiated by the Rev. Chip Seadale, with honors provided by the Dukes County Sheriff’s Dept and the Edgartown Fire Dept. A complete obituary will appear in another edition of this paper.