Rita Mae Roberts, 89, died peacefully Tuesday morning, Dec. 20, 2016, at Wingate in Hampden. Rita was born Nov. 13, 1927, in Wilbraham to Royal and Vivian (Gagnon) Sideleau. Rita grew up in Wilbraham and spent most of her life there, retiring with her husband to Vineyard Haven in 1984.

Rita was a registered nurse, and graduated from the Burbank School of Nursing at Fitchburg State. She loved music, playing cards — particularly her marathon cribbage sessions with her husband Earl — counted cross-stitch, and cooking, especially baking. Friends and family would regularly show up for the Danish pastries she made on weekends, and she always had home-baked goodies on hand when her grandchildren visited.

Rita was a longtime volunteer at the Tisbury Senior Center. She was predeceased by her beloved husband in 1990, and by her dear sister Doris Parisi earlier this year. She is survived by her loving children, Donna (Edward) Proulx of Westfield and their daughter Morgan; Steven (Karen) Roberts of Boston and their children Michael, Jennifer, and Timothy; and son David (Lisa) Roberts of Vineyard Haven, who took special care of her during her final years, and their children Elysha, Allison, and Jeremiah. She adored her children, cherished her grandchildren, and was the proud great-grandmother of five.

The funeral for Rita will be private for the family. Memorial donations may be made in Rita’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Westfield Funeral Home and Cremation has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit westfieldfuneralhome.com for Rita’s memorial page.

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John Hilton, 54, died unexpectedly at Morton Hospital in Taunton on Dec. 25, 2016. He was born in Oak Bluffs, the son of Spencer and Esther (Santos) Hilton. Formerly a Martha’s Vineyard resident, John had lived in Raynham since 2003.

John served his country in the U.S. Army Reserves. He was employed as a truck driver.

John enjoyed the beach, sports, coin diving on Martha’s Vineyard, and scalloping with his family.

John is survived by his wife Lorna (Machado) Hilton, his children Madison Hilton of Plymouth and Kerri Hilton of California, and by his stepson Kyle (Amanda) Von Snow of Raynham and stepchildren Cadence and Cobain. He leaves his siblings, Debbie Tucker of Martha’s Vineyard, Linda Tucker of Hyannis, and Louis Hilton of Naples, Fla. John also leaves his dogs Phoebe, Bella, Bailey, and Princess.

Services are private at the request of the family. Arrangements are under the direction of the O’Keefe-Wade Funeral Home in Taunton. Visit okeefewade.com to sign the online guestbook, and see an obituary.

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Cheryl B. Stark, 70, died at her West Tisbury home on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. A celebration of Cheryl’s life is being planned for the spring, with a date and time to be announced. Donations in her memory may be made to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Infusion Services, P.O. Box 1477, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557. A complete obituary will follow in a later newspaper edition. Arrangements are under the care of Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Oak Bluffs.

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Janice Harlow (Brett) Mead, “Jan,” died peacefully on Martha’s Vineyard on Dec. 28, 2016.

Jan was born on March 27, 1925, the youngest of four daughters of Alden and Kathrene Brett. She grew up in Belmont, graduated from the Brimmer School in Boston, and attended Wheaton College in Norton. During WWII she worked for Polaroid, and later for Filene’s. In 1951, she married the late Varnum Russell Mead. They made their home in Lincoln, where she actively volunteered at her daughters’ school, in the coffee shop at Emerson Hospital, and with the local equestrian 4-H.

She was a summer resident of Martha’s Vineyard until 1990, when she and her husband made their house on Lagoon Pond their permanent home. On the Vineyard she was an active member of the Garden Club, and of the East Chop Tennis Club, and she played golf at Farm Neck weekly. (About golf she said, “This game gives new meaning to the word ’frustration’!”) But she was most proud of the work she did as a member of the building committee for the renovation of the Vineyard Haven Public Library. In this role, she worked tirelessly to raise funds and get the new library up and running.

She is survived by her daughters, Dorothy Pitt and husband Christopher, and Susan Mead and partner Michael Perry; as well as her grandchildren, Louisa Connaughton, Philip Pitt, and Martha Fortin, and her great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Connaughton.

A memorial service celebrating Jan’s life will be held at the First Congregational Church, West Tisbury, on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 1:30, with a reception following at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jan’s name to Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library, Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, or Boston Symphony Orchestra.

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Irene Carson MacKenty of Edgartown died on Dec. 30, 2016, at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital at the age of 91. Her passing was caused by a sudden stroke complicated by the nine years that she endured Alzheimer’s disease with grace and dignity.

Irene is survived by her husband, John, and by their three sons, John (wife Huong), Michael (wife Lisa), and Edmund. She also leaves three grandchildren, Mary, Tom, and Lily. Besides her parents, her brother, Charles, predeceased her, as did four of her five Indiana cousins. Her cousin Mary Alice Ross survives her.

Irene was born in Foley, Ala., in 1925. She later moved back to Scipio, Ind., where many of her family had lived for generations. In 1953, after joining the U.S. Civil Service, she moved to Heidelberg, Germany, where she met John in early 1956 when he was stationed in the Army. They were married in Heidelberg in August 1956, just before John’s Army term expired, and thereafter enjoyed 60 years of a very happy marriage together.

Irene and John first lived in Brooklyn for two years, then moved to Scarsdale, N.Y., and lived there for nearly 30 years. In addition to keeping up with three active boys, Irene was very involved in the Scarsdale Women’s Club as an officer of its Junior Section, and later as chair of the Travel Section. She helped found the Greenville Community Reformed Church’s nursery school, and was active in the church’s guild. She also was a volunteer for Children’s Village and the Edgemont PTA.

When her home needed additional space for her expanding family, Irene, though not an architect, designed the necessary addition, using children’s blocks as a guide. Implemented by an architect, her floor plan was featured in an issue of House Beautiful magazine, with a picture of the addition shown on its cover. Later, she and John also designed their Vineyard home while traveling to and from the Island on Route 95 over a two-year period. Its construction was accomplished without an architect’s assistance, as Irene’s plans and sketches were sufficient for the builder. She and John moved full-time to the Vineyard in 1987.

After they moved to the Vineyard, Irene became active in the Unity Club of the Federated Church, serving as its treasurer. She was also a member of the Vineyard chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Edgartown Women’s Club, and the Edgartown Yacht Club.

Irene was devoted to her family. A loving and caring mother, she dedicated herself to bringing up her sons. Her home was also a welcoming place for their friends. On the Vineyard, she enjoyed the frequent visits of her grandchildren, and saw them grow into adulthood. Warm and outgoing, Irene made numerous friends and hosted many grand parties over the years in both of their homes. Family dinners and larger parties always benefited from Irene’s great cooking and outgoing personality. Her sweet disposition stayed with her throughout her long ordeal with Alzheimer’s, and charmed everyone who came in contact with her.

In addition to her devotion to her family, once her youngest son was in high school, Irene’s love of travel led her to work as a travel agent for nearly 30 years, and to organize many trips for friends and groups. John and Irene traveled to many places, including Europe, St. Petersburg, the Black Sea, Australia, the Caribbean, South America, and New Zealand. Some memorable family trips included driving a motor home with their three teenage sons out West, and chartering houseboats on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Champlain.

A graveside service is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Irene C. and John E. MacKenty ’46 Observatory and Science Center Fund at the 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. Arrangements are under the care of Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Oak Bluffs.

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Frances V. Resendes, 97, died at her Edgartown home on Jan. 3, 2017. A memorial service is being planned shortly, with a date and time to be announced. A full obituary will follow in a later newspaper edition. Arrangements are under the care of Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home.

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Cheryl Barbara (CB) Stark, 70, died peacefully at her home in West Tisbury on Jan. 2, 2017, with family and friends by her side. The cause of death was cancer, with which she had quietly struggled for 18 years. She died surrounded by love and in love, with no regrets for a life well lived.

She is best known as the founder and face of CB Stark Jewelers, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, but her influence within the Island community ran deep. With her big heart, humor, and generosity, Cheryl was a straight talker who loved hearing other people’s stories. Active in the recovery community and sober for 36 years, she encouraged many others in their efforts to battle alcohol and drug abuse. The immense outpouring of love, support, and condolences since her death attests to her heartfelt impact on the people around her.

Cheryl was born in 1946 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and was raised in nearby Scarsdale. She studied silversmithing and jewelry at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston for four years. She first came to the island at 19 to teach jewelry making, and fell head-over-heels for Martha’s Vineyard, the start of a lifelong love. For a few years, she divided her time: summers making and selling jewelry in Vineyard Haven, and off-season working at her booth on 47th Street in New York City’s diamond district, where she sold her work to renowned retailers Cartier and Georg Jensen, among others.

She moved to the Island full-time in 1969, and set up shop in a garage on Water Street, steps from Vineyard Haven Harbor. With a few years at Dockside in Oak Bluffs, a winter in Aspen, a move to her current Main Street location in Vineyard Haven, and another shop in Edgartown, CB Stark Jewelers developed an avid and loyal clientele. Cheryl’s design sense and creativity, with the help of her talented staff and her longtime partner, Margery Meltzer, earned the business accolades near and far. The store became famous for its Martha’s Vineyard jewelry, of which there are more than 500 original designs, and won Martha’s Vineyard Magazine’s “Best Jeweler” award for 21 consecutive years.

An avid collector of sea glass, Cheryl enjoyed beach walks, bottle digging, and hunting other relics. She played bridge and canasta, read the Island newspapers cover-to-cover each week, and loved watching the birds outside her living room window. Handy with more than jewelry tools, she and Margie helped build their cozy home in the West Tisbury woods, where they lived together for nearly 45 years. More recently, they spent the cold-weather months at their home in Longboat Key, Fla., where winters are more amenable to beachcombing than in New England.

Cheryl supported several organizations focused on improving the Island’s quality of life: Martha’s Vineyard Cancer Support Group, Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, and Vineyard House, among many others.

Her survivors include Margery L. Meltzer, her beloved wife and business partner of 45 years; her sister, Renée Stark of Palm Beach and Edgartown; her godson, Joshua Kochin, his wife Heather, and their two sons, Beckett and Levi; and many cherished nieces and nephews and their children. She was predeceased by her parents, Edna and William Stark of San Antonio, Texas, and her brother, Leslie J. Stark of Vineyard Haven. Cheryl also leaves her devoted CB Stark Jewelers staff, including Sarah York, Jeff Regan, Elysha Roberts, Chris Bergeron, Sharon Duncan-Sylvia, and countless other current and former employees.

A public celebration of Cheryl Stark’s life is planned for the spring, with date and location to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Infusion Services, P.O. Box 1477, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

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Frances V. Resendes, a true Island girl, died on Jan. 3, 2017, at her beloved Herring Creek Road, Edgartown, home in the manner in which she lived — peacefully and gracefully. Born on June 4, 1919, in the family home on North Summer Street in Edgartown, she was the oldest child of Olive and Frank Prada. Descended from a long line of fishermen, much of her childhood was spent on the water. Family picnics to Cape Poge on her father’s catboat, summers on Pasque Island with her aunt and uncle, and swimming off any beach or dock filled her childhood.

In 1937, Fran graduated from the “new” Edgartown High School in a class that totaled 13 students. She had a choice of careers: nursing or teaching. Her inherent kindness and dedication to helping people led her to choose a career in nursing, and she began her training at the Saint Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in New Bedford. This proved to be a fortuitous decision. While at school, she met and fell in love with Albert T. Resendes, who became her husband on Sept. 6, 1941, at St. Elizabeth’s Church on Main Street in Edgartown. Fran and Al made their home in New Bedford, and welcomed four children.

In the spring of 1957, it was time to find a larger home for the family of six. After a bit of house hunting, Fran fell in love with an antique Cape Cod cottage, not far from the water, in Fairhaven. The house had not been occupied for quite a while, and needed much work. Undaunted by the challenge, she dove into making the house a home for her family. An addition here, a renovated kitchen there — it didn’t matter, she loved making the home a place where family and friends would frequently gather for food, friendship, and perhaps a cocktail. Fran’s door was always open, and she had a way of making everyone feel welcome and special. While life in Fairhaven provided great happiness and many friends, the Vineyard never left her heart. Family summer vacations were at the family cottage, Holdemall, behind the house in which she was born. Winter weekends and holidays were spent in the main house with her mother.

In 1973, after 33 years of life off-Island, Fran and Al decided to start a new chapter in their life, and built a home in Edgartown on a piece of land that had been given to her by her grandfather, Edward T. Vincent. With her love of a good challenge, Fran accepted a position as operating room supervisor at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Her dedication, skill, and compassion enabled her to provide outstanding patient care. In the early days, there were no cell phones, so she always had to be available by phone should the hospital call in an emergency. She never missed a call, and was proud of the more difficult cases that the staff handled.

It was time to retire from nursing in 1984 and begin another new chapter. Fran joined her brother Edward and friend Robert Hathaway as a commercial quahogger. For several summers, early mornings were spent on the flats of Katama Bay, hand-digging her limit of quahogs. Her second brother, Richard, soon retired and joined the group. They were well-known fixtures on the Edgartown waterfront, and made many friends.

Retirement provided Fran a chance to spend time doing the things she truly loved: sewing, knitting, needlepointing, caring for grandchildren, and travel. Visits to Hong Kong, China, Macau, France, Italy, and Switzerland were some of her retirement adventures, along with trips to Falmouth to visit her sister Catherine. Her last few years were spent in enjoying the birds and wildlife in her backyard, visits from friends, and rides to see the Vineyard sights.

Some of Fran’s greatest joy was found at the Federated Church, where she was a loyal attendee and past church deacon. As a member of the Unity Club, her sewing skills helped stock the needlework table for the biannual church fairs. Fran was a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Sea Coast Defence Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Auxiliary, served on the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital board of trustees, and took great pride in working with the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Tree of Lights Committee.

Fran is survived by her children, Richard Resendes of Ruskin, Fla., and Jo-Ann Resendes and Irene Resendes of Edgartown; grandchildren John Resendes of Antioch, Tenn., Michael Resendes of Wareham, Emma Vancour of Edgartown, and Martha Shiels of Clovis, Calif.; and two great-grandsons, Aaron Resendes and Tanner Shiels. She is also survived by her sister, Catherine Griffin of Edgartown. Fran was predeceased by her husband Al in 1983 and her daughter Mary Vancour in 2015.

A celebration of Fran’s life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 11 am at the Federated Church in Edgartown. Donations in Fran’s memory can be made to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, or Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, P.O. Box 1477, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

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Francine Kelly, vibrant leader of Featherstone Center for the Arts from 2003 to 2010, and mother of Featherstone’s current executive director, Ann Smith, died on Jan. 10, 2017. Francine loved the arts and all creative pursuits. The woman who never said no delighted in showcasing the Island’s artists and more important, getting to know them on a personal level. Her warm spirit was contagious, and her smile infectious.

Francine did not want a funeral. There will be a celebration of life this summer at Featherstone. In lieu of flowers, donations in Francine Kelly’s name are welcome at Featherstone Center for the Arts, the place she loved more than anything: featherstoneart.org.

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Harry Ryder, formerly of William Street in Vineyard Haven, died at his home in Lancaster, N.H., on Nov. 21, 2016, at the age of 85. Up in the mountains of Northern New Hampshire, he sang the praises of Martha’s Vineyard most days for more than 30 years.

Harry would go to the dump (not “transfer station”), and hold court; he would go to the library and, after taking slips from all the exotic plants there (“It’s a win-win; they need periodic pruning anyway”), he would sing of the Island.

He brought his family to Martha’s Vineyard in the ’60s, and told his son and daughter, over and over again, that this was a special place, that they should always remember it, that it wasn’t ordinary, that they were blessed to be here.

Harry wouldn’t talk about the typical Vineyard attributes that all the world knows about; he would talk about the midnight walks he took, from his home on William Street down to the boat wharf, down to Beach Road, insomnia providing him an unexpected gift — meeting those who also couldn’t sleep, returning with many more adventurous tales than his dreams would ever give.

He would talk of cold, foggy, Sunday afternoons at Lucy Vincent, gathering driftwood with his wife and kids, using it to create makeshift dwellings complete with chimneys and Sterno campfires, heating hot chocolate, and hoping there were other brave souls venturing out to the beach on those days, who would see the cozy shelters and wonder who the lucky ones were inside.

He talked of the teen gatherings at the Ryder house, laughter abounding, of waking his children up in the middle of the night to walk William Street in the deafening silence of a good Christmas snow.

Starting in the Vineyard school system, then doing whatever possible to keep his family on the Island, Harry paid the price of being a visionary in all things; he was not always understood, nor always easy to work with … but oh, how he loved the Vineyard.

He talked of Island people: the everyday, honest, straightforward, open people, and the creative, outside-the-box people.

His wife Faith, Scott, Debra, Alyson, Ian, Lindsey, and Peter, and Beth, Mark, Heath, Eli, Megan, Harper, and Addison Skye are all resting in the knowledge that they will see him again in glory, and are trying hard to remember whom they represent.

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Carol died in the early morning of Dec. 26, 2016, a victim of metastatic breast cancer, a disease she had fought bravely for the past 15 years. She was 69 years old, but for those of us who loved her, she remained lovely and young.

Carol was born in New York City on August 19, 1947, the first daughter of John and Katherine Ebert. Her father was an electrical engineer, her mother a mathematician. Carol graduated from Bethesda High School in Maryland in June 1965. Three months later she moved east to become a member of the freshman class of 1969 at Wellesley College. A year later, Carol’s parents moved to Wellesley Hills when her father was appointed vice president of an electronics firm in Waltham. In January of her junior year at Wellesley, Carol was introduced to Ed Perry, a technical writer from Natick, by their mutual friend Cathy Kostick from Sherborn, one of Carol’s dorm mates. Their first date was on Groundhog Day, for dinner and then to watch planes take off and land at Logan Airport. For some reason, Carol was impressed by Eddie, and the two became boyfriend and girlfriend, the beginning of a relationship which would last 48 years, with much of that time spent at the Perrys’ summer cottage in Oak Bluffs. Carol majored in economics at Wellesley College, and after graduation in 1969 spent an academic year at the University of Michigan, where she earned her master’s degree in economics.

Carol’s first job after college was with Shawmut Bank of Boston, researching the economic viability of potential branch bank sites. Ed, meanwhile had retired from technical writing in 1970 to build and operate his first radio station, WCIB-FM in Falmouth, which featured Vineyard notables Nelson Coon and Louise Bugbee broadcasting Island news. Most of Carol and Ed’s dates were restaurant dinners in Falmouth or on the Vineyard, where Ed would try to sell radio advertising to the owners while Carol studied the economics of the business to determine how much each restaurant could reasonably afford to spend. Carol left Shawmut Bank in 1972 to take a position as an economist for Blue Cross in Boston, a job she loved and would keep for the next 22 years. Carol and Ed married in September 1973, Ed sold his interest in WCIB, and in March 1974 the Perrys bought their home in Duxbury, then began working to build a new FM radio station in Marshfield.

WATD-FM began broadcasting in December 1977, and is now in its 40th year serving the Massachusetts South Shore. Carol left Blue Cross in 1994 to begin a full-time job at the station while raising three children: Franklin, born in 1979, Katherine, born in 1981, and William, born in 1988. Carol loved spending summers on Martha’s Vineyard, walks across Long Point to Tisbury Great Pond, creating artwork, train trips across the country, collecting books and jewelry at Vineyard summer yard sales, and her family and many good friends. She’s survived by her children, her husband Ed, her mother Katherine Ebert, now a resident of Duxbury; her sister Ellen Jeydel, who lives in Westfield, N.J.; and her best friend, Karin Dumbaugh of Boston.

A celebration of Carol Ebert Perry’s life will be held in the Daniel Webster Room of the Marshfield Tavern, 1 Proprietor’s Drive, beside Roche Brothers in Marshfield on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 1 to 5 pm. Donations can be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Carol’s honor, or via , and can also be made to the Featherstone Center for the Arts in Oak Bluffs in Carol’s honor.

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Betty (Sundberg) Turton died on Sept. 21, 2016, and began writing a new hymn.

Betty was born on August 2, 1930, to Lawrence and Roberta Turton in Ohio. She graduated from Northwestern University and obtained her master’s in education from the University of Illinois. She married Carl H. Sundberg Jr. and moved to Barrington, Ill., where they raised three children.

Betty loved to travel. She visited more than 17 countries, during winter months so as to not miss her summers on Martha’s Vineyard and her cute home on Radio Station Road. She later moved to Virginia, and kept traveling around the world to share the ABCs of getting into heaven.

She will be missed by her children, Dan (Mary), Bill (Melissa), Roberta (Tom), her grandchildren, and many friends.

A beachside hymn sing-along will take place on Martha’s Vineyard at a later date; a notice will be placed at that time.

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Jonathon Hitesman, a former Edgartown resident, died on Jan. 11, 2017, in Wellington, Fla. He was 66.

Jon was born on March 10, 1950, in Montreal, Quebec, to Walter and Betty Hitesman. The family later settled in Bedford, N.Y., as Walter maintained what would be a long career of senior-level management positions at Reader’s Digest.

In the summer of 1950, the family purchased a home on Planting Field Way in Edgartown, which, along with the Vineyard itself, quickly became a cherished destination. Involvement followed in many island organizations including the Edgartown Yacht Club, the Chappaquiddick Beach Club, the Edgartown Golf Club, where Walter served as president, and the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, whose original property bordered the family land.

Following his graduation from Washington and Jefferson College in 1973, Jon moved to Boston and pursued a career as an on-air personality broadcaster. He found work at several area radio stations over the next decade, including WBZ, and mixed his lifelong appreciation of music and composition with a healthy dose of people relations and the art of sales.

In June 1982, Jon married Alison Leigh Smith at St. Andrew’s Church in Edgartown. Their son JP arrived in July 1984. With Alison having West Chop roots, the Vineyard continued to serve as a frequent family destination. Although Jon and Alison divorced in 1993, they remained amicable and kept JP’s interests at heart through continuing to reside on the North Shore of Boston and often traveling to the Vineyard.

Jon’s father Walter died in 1986, and his mother Betty followed in 1994, after which stewardship of the property in Edgartown passed to him. In 1998, Jon moved back to Edgartown full-time. Although he enjoyed an initial period of renewed involvement in the island community, he found the winter season to be challenging, which contributed to his decision to sell the house in the fall of 1999. Though he only visited the Vineyard once more for a single day in 2003, he grew to reappreciate the Island’s role in his life with the help of his son JP, who continues to be involved with Island causes and activities in the present day.

Following his departure from Edgartown, Jon returned to Manchester by the Sea. In the mid 2000s, he re-engaged with the Boston area broadcasting community, which led to many guest appearances on WBZ’s Jordan Rich radio show, several area speaking engagements, and a reconnecting with Sandra Younts, a fellow broadcaster whom Jon had dated in the late 1970s.

Jon and Sandi married in December 2006, and initially divided their time between the North Shore and the Palm Beach region of Florida, while enjoying their shared interests and times together. In 2011, the couple settled in Florida permanently. Jon was able to continue his broadcasting pursuits by working with a local web-based radio station, eventually hosting his own show devoted to film music appreciation.

Jon is survived by his wife, Sandi, of Palm City, Fla., and his son, JP, of Grosse Pointe, Mich. His gentle spirit and demeanor will be missed by all who knew him. in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jon’s memory to the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1829, Edgartown, MA 02539.

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On Jan. 8, 2017, John Morgan was finally able to find the peace that he yearned for so furiously in his too-short life. Born Nov. 29, 1986, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, John attended the Edgartown Elementary School and Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

John was technologically gifted, whether the task at hand involved wrenching on a bicycle or rebuilding a computer, and he found enjoyment in both. He was quite the wizard, and has been described by his brother as “too smart for his own good.”

John was a lover of music and an avid Boston sports fan, particularly the Red Sox and Patriots. He was rarely seen without a red B cap adorning his head. He was quite the audiophile, finding particular joy in hip-hop and electronic music. He was very talented in music production and creating beats.

To those closest to him, John will be remembered for his wry, borderline-appropriate sense of humor. Though his off-the-cuff one-liners and ongoing quiet commentary could only be caught by those within very close earshot, they were well worth the proximity. In the past few years, he delved into memoir writing, and his well-crafted stories were both hilarious and bittersweet.

John continues to be fiercely loved by those he has left behind, including his mother, Barbara Morgan; grandparents Ted and Floss Morgan; brother Dylan Morgan; sister-in-law Nili Morgan; his beloved nephews and niece, Ethan, Aaron, and Tibie Morgan; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A celebration of John’s life will be planned for the spring. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, 111 Edgartown Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

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Francine Esther Kelly died on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, at her daughter’s home in Culver City, Calif. Francine was born on Sept. 30, 1939, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated from Walnut Hills High School in 1957. She spent time as a youth in the Young Churchmen at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, where her grandfather, Edmund Oxley, was the rector. She matriculated to Oberlin College and graduated with a degree in history and international government in 1961. Francine married, began teaching history, social studies, and economics to middle and high schoolers, and became the mother of four daughters.

Francine lived in Cincinnati, Ohio; Iowa City, Iowa; Ankara, Turkey; Basel, Switzerland; and Lynbrook, Long Island, before settling in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1972. She became a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority in the Cincinnati Chapter in 1973.

Francine credited the strong influence of her mother (a physician, artist, and pianist/organist), her exposure to the arts at Oberlin, and her extensive worldwide travel in making her a champion of and for the arts. Francine always encouraged artists and promoted the arts. She was an art collector and art dealer, but most important an arts supporter. Francine was a major civic volunteer in Indianapolis — she served as a docent at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, served on the boards of the Indianapolis Art Center, Young Audiences, and Very Special Arts. She was a member of the Indianapolis Chapter of Links, the Coalition of 100 Black Women, and Jack & Jill.

Francine served as the director of programs at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum (the world’s largest children’s museum) from 1986 to 2000. She created thousands of innovative programs for children of all ages, and managed a staff of more than 20 programmers. She became the director of community initiatives in 2000, with a groundbreaking role of using the Children’s Museum’s influence to revitalize the surrounding neighborhood, creating partnerships with Lilly Endowment, the Community Development Council, Neighborhood Resource Centers, and Habitat for Humanity. She retired from the museum in February of 2003.

Francine first came to Martha’s Vineyard in 1951. She summered on the Island ever after. Francine loved the Island, and knew that this was where she would retire. Francine fulfilled her dream, “retiring” to the Island in March 2003. On April 1, 2003, she was named the executive director of Featherstone Center for the Arts (the first paid executive director). Francine increased the number of gallery shows as well the class offerings, and initiated collaborations with numerous organizations including Polly Hill, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, and the Yard. She was particularly proud of Featherstone’s five-year partnership with the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, where each March, Featherstone showcased high school art for the entire month, providing these students the opportunity of presenting their artwork in a professional setting, preparing their portfolios for college, and readying them for future art experiences. Mentoring the next generation of artists was one of Francine’s strongest passions. Francine truly fulfilled Featherstone’s mission of a year-round community center for the arts, creating a welcoming and inspiring environment for all and nurturing personal relationships with Island artists. Known for never saying “no” and dubbed the “Queen of Collaboration,” Francine retired as Featherstone’s executive director on Labor Day 2010. As director emerita, she consulted for Featherstone’s 15th anniversary celebration in 2011, and the 20th anniversary in 2016. She continued to be present at all Featherstone special events and opening receptions, and was a catalyst for fundraising for Featherstone’s current capital campaign. The Martha’s Vineyard Museum honored Francine with the Martha’s Vineyard Medal in 2011. Francine and her daughter, Ann Smith, were the recipients of the Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard’s Creative Living Award in 2015. And just this past summer at Featherstone’s Annual Gala, Featherstone celebrated Francine’s many accomplishments in conjunction with Featherstone’s 20th anniversary.

Francine served as the Oak Bluffs appointee to the MVTV Board and the Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council. She was a past board member of the Oak Bluffs Association, and a proud participant of the Savor the Moment Della Hardman Day Committee. She often served as a judge at the All-Island Art Show. Francine was instrumental in drafting the Arts Section of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s Island Plan. Francine enjoyed being in the pool at the YMCA for water aerobics and catching up with her cronies. She loved a good meal, and was often seen frequenting her favorite dining establishments on the Vineyard. Most of all, Francine was extremely proud of her family, and loved to celebrate their achievements and successes.

Francine was preceded in death by her parents, Frances Jack Kelly and Dr. Lucy O. Oxley. She is survived by her four daughters: Ann Smith (William Green), Janis Smith- Gomez (Todd Gomez), Gwen Smith (Haim Steinbach), and Jill Moniz; five grandchildren: Anna Gomez, River Smith Steinbach, Jonathan Moniz, Jackson Moniz, and Julian Moniz; her only niece: Kimberly Christmas Goins (Rick Goins); her great-nieces: Kristin Goins and Kelsi Goins; her aunt Elizabeth Oxley Hatcher; and a host of cousins. Her presence will be missed by so many — extended family, friends, and colleagues. Donations in her memory may be made to Featherstone Center for the Arts at featherstoneart.org or by mail: P.O. Box 1145, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

A celebration of Francine’s life will take place at Featherstone this summer.

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Mariana Aguayo Gill of Vineyard Haven died at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017. A memorial service is being planned for a later date and time to be announced. A complete obituary will follow in a later newspaper edition. Arrangements are under the care of Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Oak Bluffs.

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Maitland Armstrong Edey,  81, sailor, jazz musician, philosopher,  died on Dec. 30 at Massachusetts General Hospital of complications from multiple myeloma.

Mait was born on Dec. 28, 1935, the oldest child of Maitland and Helen (Kellogg) Edey. He grew up on Long Island and spent summers in Edgartown, where his love of sailing was born.  He successfully skippered his wooden Beach Boat to many a victory at the Edgartown Yacht Club.  In sailing races, his expert racing skills and subtle knowledge of Vineyard waters made him a force to reckon with.

In 1968, Mait and his friend Peter Duff founded the renowned boat shop, Edey & Duff. His aesthetic for the lines of classic wooden sailboats motivated him to build fiberglass versions of the Crocker Stone Horse and the Herreshoff Doughdish. Mait’s deeper purpose was to revive the beauty and functionality of traditional wooden sailing craft for the general public, whose appetite for ‘modern’ fiberglass designs saddened him.

As a young man, Mait spent time living in Europe with his first wife, Anna Jufors, with whom he had three daughters. Mait and his family then moved to Brooklyn, where he had a popular jazz radio show called “The Scope of Jazz” on WBAI; and then to Cambridge, where he and his band played frequent gigs in the greater Boston area.

Mait’s connection to classic jazz was so great that it moved him to tears to hear a solo or riff played by one of his many favorite musicians — even if he had heard it a thousand times.  He could recognize all the great players of that era by their voicings and tone; they would only have to play a few notes, and he could identify each one, like family.  His deep love of this music prompted him to start playing himself. He enrolled at the Berklee School of Music in his 20s, learning piano and composition techniques.  He founded a small independent record company, Seeds, and his band made several records of original tunes.  His almost ecstatic embrace of this musical genre sustained him throughout his life.  He continued to listen and to play gigs until he got too sick to do so.  His last public appearance was at the grand finale of the  2016 Pathways Gathering Space, which can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/167325060

Mait graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University, where he won the Philosophy prize. His intellectual curiosity remained one of his most notable attributes throughout his life.  Mait was an unusually voluminous reader; a large stack of the books he was currently reading defined all of his favorite spaces and was a mark of his presence. He had a committed meditation practice, and was a dedicated philosopher and writer.  He continued to focus on his philosophical works throughout his various activities, writing on consciousness and on the question of subject and object. He published articles in the Journal of Consciousness Studies, and was working on a much longer book at the time of his death.

Mait served on the board of the Vineyard Conservation Society, and spent one term as its president. He was on the board of the Edey Foundation.  He fervently believed in living lightly on the earth, and was a recycler, energy conserver, and generally right-minded citizen long before these things became politically correct.

Mait and Fausta Hammarlund met and fell in love in 1978;  in 1988 they were finally married on the Vineyard at a celebration at Seven Gates Farm. The two of them cruised frequently in New England waters, walked the beaches in all weather, and made an effort to tame the local crows. Many evenings would see the couple ghosting through Tashmoo opening in his dory, Mait bent, barefoot, and smiling at the oars, bound for a sunset or moonrise viewing.  

Mait is survived by his wife, Fausta Hammarlund Edey, of West Tisbury; by his children, Lisa Pierce,  Kirsten Edey, and Annika McCann; by his stepchildren Marc Hammarlund, Nooni Hammarlund, Shira Hammarlund, and Erik Hammarlund; by his sisters Beatrice Phear and Marion Edey; and by 18 beloved grandchildren who brought joy to his heart: Laura, Russell, Zane, Eva, Riley, Elijah, Abigail, Shiloh, Bluma, Sadie, Delilah, Oscar, Simon, Jonah, Zuki, Levi, Zeke, and Estelle.

Mait was a gentle spirit: a kind, focused, patient, honorable, intensely deep-feeling man.  He wanted to minimize his wake, living his life with empathy and generosity.  He did not like to be rushed, nor did he rush others.  He was calm and soft-spoken, but could be raised to a joyful passion by the arc of a jib or the wail of a saxophone. When he found his passion he brought a fierce intensity to bear, whether for his own sake or to help another — this, combined with his underlying brilliance, was the source of many of his proudest accomplishments.

In his personal life he was outwardly reserved, but was immensely caring, loving, and connected to those who were closest to him. His solidity of purpose inspired loyalty in his friends and caring in his family. He tried to live the golden rule, treating all beings as he would want to be treated.  His deep spiritual practice, which was probably the most profound part of his existence, tapped into his natural pure-hearted core; he tried to manifest this openness, however imperfectly, throughout his entire life.  To know Mait was to feel somehow changed for the better.  He wasn’t trying … he just had that effect.

The family is trying to assemble a book on his life, and would be deeply appreciative to receive any relevant writings, clippings, or photos from anyone who wishes to contribute. The mailing address is Fausta Edey, P.O. Box 814, West Tisbury, MA 02575.

There will be a memorial service for Mait on Saturday, May 6, at 2 pm at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury.

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Lynn Murphy died last Thursday, Jan. 12, in his own bedroom at his home in Chilmark. He was 88.

Lynn was born on Mount Desert Island in Maine, the sixth of seven boys, the eighth of nine children. He learned to walk on his father’s sardine carrier. His father, Ernest Albion Murphy, died when Lynn was 6 and his baby brother Gordon was 2. His mother, Helen Lawson Murphy, moved the three youngest children to Fairhaven when Lynn was about 12, in order to be closer to some of Lynn’s older brothers who captained some of the big yachts that were serviced in the shipyards nearby.

Lynn lied about his age in order to join the Navy, which is why his service record falls under the World War II umbrella. He served on board the aircraft carrier Randolph (CV-15) as store keeper.

In the summer of 1948 he came to Menemsha on a fishing boat with his older brother Ernest. Menemsha reminded him of his home in Maine. At a midnight dance at the tavern in Chilmark he met Valerie Norton, and after a brief courtship they married in January of 1949. Together they had seven children.

Internationally, he will be remembered for the work he did on the movie “Jaws.” Locally, there must be dozens, if not hundreds of stories about Lynn, gleaned from almost 70 years of living a very rich, action-packed life on the Vineyard. Knowing the Vineyard’s propensity for “not letting the facts get in the way of a good story,” some of those stories may actually be true.

Lynn is survived by his second wife of over 40 years, Susan (Bainbridge), and their two sons, Lynn C. Murphy II of Chilmark, who shared caregiving duties with his mother for the past seven years; and Lucas Lawson Murphy and his wife Patricia (Kessler) Murphy, of North Easton, and the four surviving children of his first marriage: Dana Leonard Murphy of Edgewater, Fla.; Wanda Elizabeth and her husband Bert Irion of Wellsboro, Pa.; Sherry Lynn and her husband Carl Flanders of Menemsha; and Brian Ernest and his wife JoAnn (Kinnecom) Murphy of Vineyard Haven. Lynn had 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Lynn was predeceased by an infant daughter and his beloved boys, Jay and Lee.

If so inclined, please remember Lynn with a gift to the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living, P.O. Box 1729, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, a truly remarkable organization whose Supportive Day Program enabled Lynn to live a very full life right to the end.

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Douglas K. Look died on Sunday morning, Jan. 22, 2017, at Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Oak Bluffs. He was 77 years old.

Doug was born in Oak Bluffs on Jan. 2, 1940, the only son of Ralph A. Look Jr. and Millicent Luce Look. He grew up and lived most of his life in the family home on the corner of Franklin and Center Streets in Vineyard Haven. He graduated from Tisbury High School in 1958. He was drafted and trained at Fort Hunter Liggett in California, where he learned to be a hospital laboratory technician. As a boy he was an art student of local artist Sidney Riggs. He later studied art at the Art Students League and the New School in New York City.

Doug worked as a lab tech at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, but returned to Martha’s Vineyard and became a landscape gardener. He cared for several homes in Vineyard Haven for more than 40 years.

Doug was an artist and a landscape gardener, a tennis player and a scientist. A lifelong learner, he loved books, ideas, and good food and conversation. He went back and forth from drawing and painting tiny worlds to studying them under microscopes until he became completely blind from advanced glaucoma three and a half years ago.

He leaves behind many Island friends and extended family. He is survived by his daughter Sara Luce Look and granddaughter Zelda Jane Look of Pine Lake, Ga.

Donations in his memory may be made to Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library, 200 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, or to the Oliver Sacks Foundation, 225 West 83rd Street, Suite 12A, New York, NY 10011.

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Patricia Ann Blanc died peacefully at home in Hidden Cove on Dec. 31, 2016, surrounded by her loving family. First and foremost, Patricia was a devoted wife, mother, and matriarch of a large extended family, and she left an indelible impression on the many people she touched.

Patti, as she was known to her loved ones, was born in New York City in 1930 to Richard H. Burke and Elizabeth Donnelly. She graduated from the College of Mount St. Vincent with a B.S. in nursing, and trained at St. Vincent Hospital in New York City. In 1953, she met her husband René on a blind date. They married in June 1954, sharing a dream of raising a large family together. René’s job brought them to Jacksonville, Fla., where desegregation was in its early stages. Patti joined the faculty at the Brewster-Duval School of Nursing, a training hospital for African-American women, and created the curriculum to enable accreditation for this newly established school. A liberal thinker, talented teacher, and generous-hearted nurturer, Patti loved her work helping others.

In 1963, Patti and René moved to Simsbury, Conn., with four children. There they welcomed two more “duckins” to the family, and lived for the next seven years, raising their family in a rented three-bedroom home. These were halcyon days with not much money, but the house was filled with mountains of love, mishaps, and laughs. Patti accepted a job as nursing supervisor at Hartford Hospital, working nights, so she and René could juggle child care. She always made time to create a beautiful and nurturing environment for the family, orchestrating daily schedules, creating traditions, and being the conduit to both sides of the family.

In 1969 her brother, Richard Burke, introduced Patti and René to Martha’s Vineyard. They began taking family vacations together in Oak Bluffs, where they would squeeze four adults, nine kids, and a 150-pound, sand-covered, drooling Newfoundland into the back of a Ford Econoline van and head to various Island beaches. This would be the beginning of the famous beach cookouts, and the catalyst that brought Patti and René to spending summers on the Island, eventually making it their full-time home in 1986.

Patti had a natural aptitude for creativity and drawing, and entered a painting contest, which eventually led to a second career as an accomplished artist and art teacher. Combining her incredible artistic ability, her eye for beauty and color in the world around her, and her love of teaching, Patti was a magnet for aspiring artists. Over the years, her studios would be a place where she enthusiastically shared her talent, finding the inner artist in all her students, and creating lasting friendships and memories for all who passed through.

The family moved to Norwell in 1970, where they built a beautiful house with an attached apartment for René’s parents and an art studio in the basement for Patti. She cultivated a beautiful garden and home there. René traveled quite a bit for work at that time, and Patti cheerfully (mostly) managed a household with six kids, her in-laws, a couple of cats, and a stray dog. She helped with homework and in giving “artistic flair”to the kids’ report covers! Her love of all things beautiful was infectious, and she was so demonstrative that it was impossible not to appreciate it. She taught her kids about classical music, art, and flowers, but also to be curious learners and compassionate people. Family dinners were a nightly and memorable routine, always at a nicely set table. Many paintings were sold, and she taught art to enable her family to spend summers on Ocean Park, a few houses down from her brother’s rented house. Patti’s photo albums depict their many happy times together on the beach and on their porches. Memories created during Vineyard summers are an integral part of the entire family’s history.

During the ’80s, Patti helped her three daughters plan and orchestrate their weddings on the Island. She enjoyed the process so much she decided to start her own wedding consulting business, An Island Affair. While the Vineyard has always been a popular wedding destination, Patti was one of the first people to offer planning services. Her artistic influence, cheerful demeanor, and excellent organizational skills helped create wonderful wedding memories for countless families. She enjoyed lasting friendships with many of her brides and their families.

René’s French upbringing and ancestry inspired Patti and René to take several trips to Europe to visit family. Patti especially loved these trips, and created many beautiful paintings there. Dubbed “les Americains” by their French relatives and friends, they returned with lots of wonderful stories, photos, and memories to share.

Patti’s depth of character and ability to see beauty was an inspiration to all who knew her. Her enormous spirit and love are beautifully woven into the fabric of her family. She leaves her beloved husband of 62 years, René, and her brother Richard Burke. She also leaves sons Richard Blanc, Christopher Blanc, and Timothy Blanc, and daughters Deborah Duhon, Linda Young, Lisa Stewart, and their spouses. She adored her 14 wonderful grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families. It has been incredibly poignant exchanging stories with family and friends who have shared the ways she influenced their lives. She will be missed and appreciated forever.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.

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