A celebration of life for Deidre O’Connell Diodati will be held on Sunday, Sept. 12, at noon on Oak Bluffs Town Beach, between the jetty and the lifeguard tower, in front of the Capricorn House B&B. In the event of rain, the celebration will be held the following day.

Deidre passed on April 5, 2021, after a seven-year strong, courageous battle with cancer, in hospice care. She was surrounded at her bedside by her husband, four children, and granddaughter.

Please send inquiries to Barb Karlsson at barbkarlsson@icloud.com.

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The Rev. Dr. John David Schule passed on March 12, 2020, after a long battle with cancer. 

John D. Schule served as the pastor of the Federated Church from 1978 thru 1998, and continued to serve as pastor emeritus as needed. He was an integral part of the Island community. He was able to bring year-round and seasonal parishioners together and grow the church membership. He continued to perform weddings and memorial services until failing health forced him to stop his calling. He helped bring hospice to the Island. He established an interdenominational youth group that made numerous off-Island outings. He was a longtime president of the board of Union Chapel. He brought many diverse ministers, teachers, political leaders, and dignitaries to the Island to preach. He was devoted to serving the Island residents during his 44-year life in Edgartown.

His calling made him build a small chapel at his longtime home near the meadow. As far as it is known, it was the only consecrated private chapel on-Island. He held many services there for family and friends. He held Christmastime gatherings for the church choir in the chapel. The chapel is now open to the public at Featherstone Art Colony.

He is survived by his wife, Elyse Kraft; daughters Katrina Daigle, Heidi Schule-Lewis, and Elizabeth Schule; sons Hans Schule and Patrick Schule; and seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He leaves his sister, Barbara Howland, and two brothers, Robert and Donald. He was predeceased by his brother Gene Schule. 

Because of COVID-19, his memorial service has been delayed until Sunday, Sept. 12, A service will be held at the Federated Church in Edgartown at 1 pm. Also due to COVID-19, the church service will be limited to invited friends and family. A celebration of his life will be held for the public to share memories and stories at 75 South Water St., on the Mayhew Parsonage lawn, at

2 pm. Everyone is urged to be vaccinated, and to adhere to mask and social distance guidelines for unvaccinated or at-risk individuals.

In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

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William Cooper Barendse (“Bill”) died on August 5, 2021, in Kalispell, Mont., where he lived, worked, and climbed the mountains he loved. He was 42. We will remember him for his friendliness to all and his charismatic personality.

At the time of his death, he was employed clearing trees around the electrical transmission towers that run through the mountains above Kalispell. He loved working in the canopy of the forest, and it was in these forests and mountains that he felt most at peace. 

Born in Connecticut, Bill moved frequently with his family during his childhood. He lived in Vermont, New York State, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah, and eventually settled on Cape Cod. Wherever he lived, Bill explored the natural areas around his homes, camping, hiking, and becoming an accomplished outdoorsman. After moving to the Cape, he hiked many sections of the Appalachian Trail, and climbed in the White Mountains. 

Bill graduated from Barnstable High School, and attended the University of Montana, where he developed his lifelong love for the state, its national parks, and mountains. A graceful and natural athlete, he skied from an early age, and played soccer and baseball in school. He mentored young men in sports, and instilled an appreciation of nature. One of his legacies will be the success of these people. Many will remember his yellow Labrador, Fenway, whom he trained into a great companion, and who accompanied him on outdoor adventures. 

He is survived by his mother Diane Nicholls and stepfather Robert Nicholls (Oak Bluffs); his father, Henry Barendse (Southwest Harbor, Maine); his godmother, Mireille Purslow; his brother, Peter Barendse; his aunts, Barbara Link, Kathy Bourque, and Sandy Marsilius; his uncles, Pierre, J.P., and Rob Barendse; his cousins, Newman (Jennifer) Marsilius, Christian (Jennifer) Marsilius, Andrew (Kelsey) Bourque, Dana Bourque, Alexa Bourque, Mirabelle Purslow, Sarah Julie and Matthew Barendse; his stepbrother, Barton (Carol) Nicholls and stepsister, Kyle (Nate) Cobb; and by his many cherished friends. The family wishes to thank all who have so beautifully described their memories of Bill: his loving nature, his ability to make all occasions special, his capacity for hard work, and perhaps most touching, the lasting positive impact he had on their lives.

A service of thanksgiving for Bill’s life will be held at West Parish Church of Barnstable (2049 Meetinghouse Way, West Barnstable) on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 11 am, with an outdoor reception to follow. We invite all who loved Bill to join us in a celebration of his life. 

The family is partnering with the Appalachian Mountain Club to create a memorial project in Bill’s name. Donations in memory of Bill may be made through the Appalachian Mountain Club: outdoors.org/donate/tribute-gifts, or by mail to Appalachian Mountain Club, 10 City Square, Boston, MA 02129. Please include Bill’s name with the donation.

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Rosemary E. Gambino, 70, of Vineyard Haven, passed away at her home on August 27, 2021. 

A complete obituary will appear in a future edition of this paper, and services will be announced at a later date.

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A memorial service for Rosemary E. Gambino will be held on Sunday, Sept. 12, from 2 to 7 pm, at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury. Rosemary passed away on August 27, 2021.

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David B. Butchman, 75, of Vineyard Haven, passed away on Sept. 2, 2021, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. 

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

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Rosemary Elizabeth Gambino passed away comfortably in her bed, surrounded by loved ones, after a nearly two-year battle with small cell lung cancer. She was 70.

Rosemary was born in Middletown, N.Y., to Margery Horton Gambino and Charles Gambino on Jan. 17, 1951. She attended our Lady of Mount Carmel in her early years, and grew up working in her family’s restaurant.

She excelled as a nurse’s aide at Doctors Sunnyside Hospital in Port Jervis, N.Y., and after having her first and only child, she went to cosmetology school, with the dream of one day owning her own salon. In 1978, Rosemary moved to the island with her friend and son, and in 1980 she opened Rosecuts Hair Salon. She grew Rosecuts to become Martha’s Vineyard’s longest-standing beauty salon, all while raising a child.

In 2016, Rosemary also opened Found It! Antiques and Collectables. This was a dream in her later years, and was a passion project meant to occupy her through retirement.

In her more than 40 years in business, she touched the lives of nearly every Island family, be it through her salon, antique collecting and trading, or her work with shut-ins and hospice patients, about which she was always quite secretive. One could also occasionally spot her chauffeuring wedding couples in her beloved 1946 DeSoto Custom that her father rebuilt in the ’80s.

In addition to her many professional interests, Rosemary was an incredible gardener and orchid expert. She frequently took in sick or dying orchids and brought them back to life. Her plant expertise was only barely overshadowed by her incredible knowledge of classic movies and mid-century pop culture. For these, and for many other reasons, she was a wealth of knowledge, and will be sorely missed. She will be remembered by all as an extremely hard-working, passionate, compassionate, and trustworthy confidant.

Rosemary is survived by her son, Seth Gambino of Tisbury; her mother, Margery Gambino of Tisbury; and her brother, Charles Gambino Jr. of Wurtsboro, N.Y.

A celebration of Rosemary’s life will be held at the West Tisbury Agricultural Hall on Sept. 12, from 2 to 6 pm. All are welcome, but masks are mandatory — no exceptions.

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William Scott Turpie, the son of Joy and Bill Turpie, died on July 30, 2021. He was a complex person with a generous and loving spirit, who was always willing to help others.

Scott was born on Jan. 23, 1969, and grew up in Hingham, where he attended the Hingham schools, and was a graduate of Hingham High. He went on to Arizona State University. From a young age, he had a lifelong interest in design and architecture, and early on was sketching homes with remarkable accuracy and detail. He was a skilled carpenter, and learned the trade working for several builders and carpenters on the South Shore.

He moved to Bethesda, Md., where he worked with his sister, Sandra, at her store and design firm, Ella Scott Design. They later formed a design and build company under the same name, and continued to work together for many years until Scott launched William Scott Design, which served clients both in the Washington, D.C., metro area and in Miami. He helped many of his employees integrate into a new life in the U.S., and learned Spanish so he could communicate more effectively with them. His designs were always creative, and he excelled at solving the most difficult design or construction challenges.

Scott had an extraordinary capacity for knowledge and an ability to learn anything that caught his interest, whether it was music, language, engineering, or complex computer programs.

He was at ease connecting with a wide range of people from all walks of life, from those down on their luck to successful businessmen and women. It was a testament to his nonjudgmental spirit and acceptance of others. He found the good in all of his friends, encouraging them to accept themselves even when they didn’t feel accepted or valued. He went out of his way to help anyone in need. 

He had a wonderful sense of humor and a sharp wit, which kept everyone around him in stitches.

Scott is survived by his mother and father, Joy and Bill Turpie of Vineyard Haven; his sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Michael Meyer; his nieces Ella and Zoe Meyer; his uncle and aunt, Dick and Susan Jelinek; and by his many friends.

A celebration of his life will be held at the United Church of Christ in Norwell on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, at 2 pm, with an outdoor reception to follow. All who loved Scott are welcome.

Donations may be made to the United Church of Christ, 460 Main Street, Norwell, MA 02061, designated for the Scott Turpie Memorial Fund, to be used to help others in need.

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On Friday, August 6, 2021, Spencer Huntington Nitchie of Baltimore, Md., died after a short illness. He was 57, a musician, father, husband, brother, son, and loving friend to many. He was widely known as an exponent of Maryland’s Irish traditional music community, and was respected for his expertise on the tenor banjo, Irish flute, fiddle, concertina, and guitar.

Spencer was born on Martha’s Vineyard on Dec. 17, 1963, the youngest of three children. His parents, Hubbard and Nancy Nitchie, worked as teachers in Annapolis, Md., where for many years they published Banjo Newsletter, a monthly magazine covering all aspects of the five-string banjo.

Spencer grew up in Annapolis, and spent summers in Chilmark. As a teenager, he learned to play the flute, guitar, and five-string banjo. He worked at Poole’s Fish Market in Menemsha, and later learned carpentry skills from island craftsmen, skills which he continued to hone throughout his life.

After attending Towson State College, Spencer traveled to Europe with his guitar in 1984. Learning languages as he traveled, he played music on the streets of London, Paris, Nice, Florence, Athens, and other cities. He returned to the States with Silvia Breida of Revigliasco, Italy. The couple soon had a daughter, Sofia Huntington Nitchie, born while they were living on Martha’s Vineyard.

When Silvia died in 1990, Spencer proudly took on the role of single parent to his spirited daughter. For many years, Spencer received both Father’s Day and Mother’s Day cards, handmade by Sofia.

After Hub Nitchie’s death in 1992, Spencer and his older brother, Donald, carried on Banjo Newsletter. They increased its subscribership, and developed digital content that paralleled the print magazine Spencer published from his home office in Eastport, Md. As publisher, Spencer was the organizing force for circulation and mailing. He became a resource to subscribers as he diligently responded to their queries: He was the voice on the phone.

Spencer fell in love with Irish traditional music in the 1990s. He adapted his familiarity with the five-string banjo to the tenor banjo, and amassed a seemingly endless repertoire of jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas, slides, marches, slip jigs, and barn dances. He had a gift for variation, and was astute enough to learn a melody after hearing it only a few times. For many years, he graced Irish traditional music sessions in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., but his greatest contribution was made in Annapolis, where he hosted sessions at Sean Donnellan’s, Fadó, Castlebay, and most recently, Galway Bay. For the past 11 years, Spencer had the joy of a loving partnership with Tara Boyle. They joined hearts and families at a lovely wedding in 2018 on Martha’s Vineyard.

On the evening after his death, Spencer was mourned by notable Irish traditional musicians at the Baltimore home he shared with Tara. Another musical event occurred a few days later at Galway Bay in Annapolis, where friends gathered to recall cherished memories of Spencer, his musicianship, and his good character. A memorial to celebrate Spencer is being planned for a future date.

Spencer is survived by his mother, Nancy Nitchie of Oak Bluffs; his aunt, Jane Huntington of Parkville, Md.; his wife, Tara Boyle of Lauraville, Md.; his daughter, Sofia Nitchie of Madison, Wis.; his stepdaughter, Maeve Boyle of Ardmore, Pa.; his brother, Donald Nitchie and wife Elizabeth Parker Nitchie of Chilmark, their son Nigel Smith and his wife Danielle of Forestdale, and their son Tucker Smith and his daughter Annie of West Tisbury; his sister, Emily Meegan and husband Billy Meegan, and their children Jake and Delilah Meegan, all of Chilmark. He is also survived by the musicians in whom he invested the gifts of his genius and his warm friendship.

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In loving memory of Dale R. Morgan, please join us in laying to rest Dale’s ashes at the New Westside Cemetery on Robinson Road in Edgartown, on Sept. 25 at 11 am. All are welcome to attend.

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Dolores Tinney Valeriano, “Dee” or “Deezee,” 92, of Oak Bluffs, passed away on Sept. 4, 2021, at her home. She was born in Derby, Conn., to Raymond Jr. and Margueriette (Battle) Tinney on June 14, 1929. She was the wife of the late Daniel J. Valeriano

Dolores was raised in Ansonia, Conn., where she attended Ansonia High School. While in Connecticut, she also lived in New Haven. She worked for U.S. Rubber Co. (Uniroyal), in Naugatuck, Conn., until she retired.

Dolores belonged to the Paugusett Tribal Nation (from Connecticut). She was a longstanding member and board member of the Oak Bluffs Senior Center. She was also a proud Methodist. Dee loved spending time with family and friends, traveling, quilting, crocheting hats, playing card games (specifically Hand and Foot), and watching the morning sunrise at Inkwell Beach.

In addition to her husband, Dee was predeceased by her brother, Howard Tinney Sr.; her sister Vivian M. Tinney; and her nephews, André J. Tinney and Mark A. Tinney. She is survived by her brothers-in-law, Walter Valeriano (Joan) and Edmund Valeriano; her sister-in-law, Carlota Williams; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at a later date in Connecticut.

For online tributes and more information, please visit chapmanfuneral.com.

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Jennifer L. (Colligan) Kuehne, 46, of Marstons Mills, passed away on April 19, 2021, at Cape Cod Hospital after a yearlong battle with cancer.

She was the daughter of Thomas Colligan of Edgartown and Paula Strople of Daytona Beach, Fla. 

Jen is survived by her loving children Alyssa and Oliver Kuehne, her parents Thomas Colligan and Paula Strople, her stepmother Patti Young, her brother Thomas Colligan, stepsiblings Heidi and Todd Vanderhoop, grandmother Charlotte Strople, former husband Christopher Kuehne, and by eight nephews, and multiple aunts and uncles. Jennifer was predeceased by her maternal grandfather Arthur Strople, her paternal grandparents Lillian and Edward Colligan and her uncle, Leonard Strople.

Jen will always be remembered for her beautiful smile and kind heart, and for always putting others before herself.

Family and friends are cordially invited to a memorial Mass on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 11 am at St. Augustine Church, 56 Franklin St., Vineyard Haven, followed by a burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Vineyard Haven. The service will be followed by a celebration of life, to be held at the West Tisbury Agricultural Hall. Masks when indoors are mandatory.

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Donald Read Shanor of Edgartown and Chappaquiddick, foreign correspondent, author, and former Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism professor, died on August 31, 2021, at his Edgartown home after a brief illness. He was 94. 

He and his late wife, Constance (Collier) Shanor, first came to Martha’s Vineyard in the early 1970s, and became year-round residents in 1993. Their Pierce Lane home was once an icehouse on Sheriff’s Meadow Pond, and was moved to its present site in the 1920s. To be closer to the ocean in the summer, the Shanors built, with their own hands, a getaway on Chappaquiddick.

Don was born on July 11, 1927, in Ann Arbor, Mich., a son of William and Katherine (Read) Shanor. He was a graduate of Comstock Park High School in Comstock Park, Mich., and the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., in 1951. In 1965 he received an M.S. degree from Columbia University

In 1945–46, Don served in the U.S. Naval Reserve in the Pacific. A lifelong animal lover (devoted especially to Chesapeake Bay retrievers), he frequently regaled his children about the time he adopted a monkey on a Pacific island stop and taught it how to type.

It was at Medill that he met Connie Collier, who would be his wife for the next 66 years. In the early 1950s, the young couple took a freight boat to England to find work as journalists. They lived abroad for several years — for a time, on a houseboat on the Thames River in London — when Don worked for United Press International. Later, as a foreign correspondent for the Chicago Daily News, covering Germany and Eastern Europe, the Shanors lived in Bonn, Germany, and Vienna, Austria. They also lived in Beijing, China, where Don taught journalism at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Don was on the faculty of the Journalism School at Columbia University from 1970 to 1993, where he headed the international division for foreign students. He was present at the fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989. In the days that followed, he walked the entire 29-mile length of the barrier that divided East and West Berlin to interview Germans who had lived with the wall since 1961. Along the way, he collected small pieces of concrete rubble to bring home to his children. 

He was the author of five books, including “Soviet Europe,” and co-author, with his wife, of “China Today.” At the time of his death, Don was completing his late wife’s biography about Isabel Barrows, America’s first female ophthalmologist.

If he was not writing, chopping wood, or listening to classical music, Don Shanor was likely to be found with a hammer and nails building something. Once, he decided to build his own catboat. It was never sailed, however, though his granddaughter, Zoe Shanor, a frequent companion of his on outdoor adventures, is planning to get it — at last — into the water.

Even in his 80s, he was indefatigable. He looked forward to the Land Bank’s annual cross-Island hike, and enjoyed long rides on his Chinese bicycle, the Flying Pigeon. But there was nothing as wonderful as ice skating with Zoe on Sheriff’s Meadow Pond.

Don is survived by his sister, Alice Marsh of Grand Rapids, Mich..; two daughters, Rebecca Shanor of New York City and Lisa Shanor of Oak Bluffs; and a granddaughter, Zoe Shanor of Oak Bluffs. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by a son, Donald Jr.; a brother, Richard; and a sister, Katherine Baum. A private celebration of life will be held.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, Box 1088, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

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Herbert Paul Golub, Ph.D., 81, died on Thursday, August 19, 2021, at his home in Chilmark.

Herbert Golub was born in Boston, the only offspring of Benjamin and Janet Golub. He was a practicing clinical psychologist for almost 50 years, retiring just short of his 75th birthday. 

Dr. Golub received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, where he met his wife-to-be and fellow clinical psychologist, Carol Marie Golub, Ph.D. Herbert Golub earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts, and two graduate degrees from Boston University. Dr. Golub also did postdoctoral work at the Harvard Laboratory of Community Psychiatry, and completed a fellowship at the University of Southern California. He held faculty appointments at Northeastern University, Boston University, Tufts University, and Cambridge College. 

Professional activities included being chair of the legislative committee and then secretary of the Massachusetts Psychological Association. While serving as legislative chairman, he was instrumental in the passage of the psychologist licensing bill, and the mandatory mental health coverage for insurance bill. He was an American Psychological Association site visitor for around 30 years, evaluating psychology predoctoral internship programs across the country. Throughout his career, Dr. Golub maintained a private practice, sharing the office at home in Boxford with his wife, Dr. Carol Golub. He was a chief psychologist and later consultant for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. Dr. Golub consulted for the Department of Mental Health for a dozen years in Roxbury and Mattapan, which he found especially rewarding since these were the communities where he was born and raised. 

For about 30 years, he served as an expert witness for the Social Security Administration, testifying on whether applicants met the standards for disability, based upon their patient records. More recently the Drs. Golub were military family life consultants for the Department of Defense on bases in Germany and Belgium, working with soldiers deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan and the families they left behind in Europe.

Dr. Golub served on the school committee of the North Shore Technical High School for six years, the Boxford Library Board, and the Perley (Boxford) Scholarship Fund Board. For about 15 years, he was elected chair of the Boxford Democratic Town Committee, and was a Boxford delegate to the Democratic State Convention many times. He was a 32nd degree Mason, and a Shriner. He was a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Healthy Aging Committee, the Chilmark Democratic town committee, and the Martha’s Vineyard Democratic Council. He also chaired a number of his high school reunions. 

Herbert and Carol Golub were married in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1967. They have one son, Steven, a highly regarded bus driver who drove the National Guard to Ground Zero on 9/11. He drove President Obama and V.P. Joe Biden to dinner functions from Air Force One. He also drove Ted Williams and other players to the All-Star Game. In 2016, Herbert and Carol retired to Martha’s Vineyard, to their Chilmark home of more than 20 years.

Dr. Golub’s avocational pursuits included being an avid Boston sports fan and traveler to many destinations, including trips to Iceland and Cape Horn in the same year. He particularly enjoyed his season tickets to the Boston Celtics during the Larry Bird years — he and his wife were Celtics limited partners for a number of years. As a youth, he enjoyed walking over to Fenway Park to be admitted to games for free after the conclusion of the sixth inning — a tradition he continued with his wife, walking from their nearby apartment when they moved to Boston. The Golubs traveled extensively through the Caribbean, South America, Europe, and New Zealand. Beginning in 2008, they wintered in Santa Barbara, which became their second home community.
His memorial service took place on August 29 in Oak Bluffs, officiated by Rabbi Lori Shaller, and was followed by a Masonic funeral service. Arrangements were under the care of Chapman Funerals in Oak Bluffs. Visit chapmanfuneral.com for online tributes and information.

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John C. Hartley passed away on August 30, 2021, at Massachusetts General Hospital, after a long battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.

John Hartley was born on Dec. 7, 1950, in Pittsburgh, Pa., hence his passion for the Pittsburgh Steelers and all things sports.

John graduated from Allderdice High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh, and went on to receive a doctorate of dental surgery (DDS) from the Medical College of Virginia.

He set up his private practice in Northern Virginia, where he became a successful and admired dentist. It was in Virginia where he met his beloved wife Robbie Hutchison. They were married on Martha’s Vineyard on July 31, 1988. After numerous visits to the Vineyard, they decided to make it their permanent residence. In the late 1990s, John set up his dentistry practice on Upper Main Street in Edgartown, and Robbie became a respected landscape designer. John was known for his caring treatment of his patients, and became well-loved by his employees and patients alike.

The Hartleys were often seen walking their dog during lunch breaks or while taking an evening stroll into town. Their dogs, Ginny (famously known for her heart pattern on her side) and Watson, won numerous ribbons at the Agricultural Fair. John also enjoyed playing cards with his friends, a round of golf, and growing tomatoes.

In 2017, they retired to their special winter retreat of Naples, Fla. John continued being active, teaching dentistry and finding more time to play golf.

John is survived by his sister, Barbara Hartley Karnes of Stuart, Fla.; nephews Greg and Brian Poland and their families of Pittsburgh; his father-in-law, Norman Hutchison of Round Hill, Va., and sister-in law, Kathy Sweeney and family of Winnemucca, Nev. He was predeceased by his wife, Robbie Hutchison; father, Clyde Edward Hartley; mother, Elsie Bernadine (Barr); brother, Kenneth Hartley; and nephew, Joseph Poland.

A service will be held on Thursday, Sept. 30, at 11 am at the Hillsboro Cemetery,15142 Hillsboro Road, Purcellville, VA 20132. John will be laid to rest next to his wife, Robbie.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Best Friends Animal Society.

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Alain F. Lucas, 50, of Oak Bluffs, passed away at his home on Sept. 13, 2021. 

A graveside service was held on Sept. 18 at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Bluffs. A complete obituary will appear in a later edition of this paper.

For online tributes and more information, visit chapmanfuneral.com.

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Bruce Lewellyn, 82, of Vineyard Haven, passed away at his home on Sept. 14, 2021. He was the husband of Jean (Braddon) Lewellyn. 

A funeral service will be held at a later date at the Federated Church in Edgartown, and a complete obituary will appear in a later edition of this paper. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, or online at hospiceofmv.org/donations; to the Federated Church, P.O. Box 249, Edgartown, MA 02539; or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, online at nationalmssociety.org/Donate. 

For online tributes and more information, visit chapmanfuneral.com.

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Paul Joseph Strople, 64, died after a long illness on Sept. 12, 2021, in Port Orange, Fla.

Paul grew up enjoying life on the Vineyard, and graduated from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. He was an avid fisherman. He and his cousin Herbie enjoyed fishing the shores. He took part in the annual Derby, always looking to catch the big one.

He worked as a drywaller and painter for Michael Ferry for many years before going out on his own. He moved to Florida in the late ’90s.

He was a social, active man who was deeply involved in his fishing hobby. He enjoyed his friends and family, who will always remember him as a good sport who loved a joke. He will be truly missed by his friends. He had a special fondness for his friend Sandy and her grandchildren; and for Cheryl, who was always there for him.

Paul is survived by his mother, Charlotte Strople, of Port Orange, Fla.; his daughter, Elizabeth Strople and husband Sean; his son, Joseph Strople; his sisters, Paula Strople, and Rosemary Strople Kieffer and husband Timothy; brothers Arthur Strople III, and Donald Wager and wife Georgette. He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Strople; his brother, Leonard Strople; and his niece, Jennifer Colligan Kuehne.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Port Orange. The nurses took such wonderful care of him.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. 

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David B. Butchman of Vineyard Haven died on Sept. 2, 2021, of cancer at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was 75 years old.

He was born on Dec. 13, 1945, in Framingham to F. Harold and Gertrude (Archer) Butchman. He graduated from Natick High School in 1963. David attended UConn and took evening courses for business administration at Northeastern University. David lived in various states, including Long Island and Yorktown Heights, N.Y., and New Jersey, before settling on Martha’s Vineyard in 1983.

David held many jobs over his lifetime. He worked for Shawmut Bank in the Empire State Building during the 1970s. He worked as a realtor for Cape Cod Realty for many years. On the Island he worked as a bank teller and at the movie theaters, then ended his career at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, supporting the medical records department.

David enjoyed spending his free time gardening, collecting coins and rare bills, playing cards, and reading mystery books. You would never see David without a good book close by. He always had one if not two books going at the same time. He was also a big fan of Wallace Nutting colored photos. His favorite pastime was being on the golf course. He was always up for a round of golf with his brother. David had a great sense of humor, and enjoyed making others laugh with his witty comments. 

David is survived by his older brother Alan and wife Gillian Butchman of Seattle, Wash., and Oak Bluffs. He leaves behind three children, Christopher and wife Michelle Butchman of Londonderry, N.H., Jennifer Butchman of Killingly, Conn., and Andrew and wife Kristy Butchman of Worcester; eight grandchildren, Nicole, Cameron, and Aidan Butchman of Londonderry, along with Michael, Megan, Morgan, and Matthew Graham and Joseph Butchman of Killingly, Conn. David also had two nieces whom he adored, Alycia Lamb and her husband Adam Wilson, and Amanda and husband David Weaver, all of Seattle. He was predeceased by his father, F. Harold Butchman, who died in 1985, and his mother, Gertrude Butchman, who died in 1992.

A private service will be planned by the family to honor and celebrate David — a son, a brother, a father, a grandfather, an uncle, and a friend.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Cancer Society in David’s honor, online at donate3.cancer.org.

For online tributes and more information, visit chapmanfuneral.com.

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Cheryl Anne Palmer of East Falmouth passed away on Monday, April 26, 2021. 

Cheryl was born on Dec. 12, 1957, in Worcester. She grew up in North Stonington, Conn., and as a teen moved with her family to a farm in Corry, Pa.

In Corry, Cheryl met the love of her life, Fred Palmer. They married on May 15, 1982. A couple of years later, Cheryl and Fred moved to Martha’s Vineyard with their two children, Jonathan Palmer (now in Texas) and Rebecca Palmer Claussen (on Martha’s Vineyard). In October of 2000, Cheryl and Fred moved to their forever home in East Falmouth.

Cheryl most enjoyed being at home, surrounded by her family and their pets. She especially loved her cats, and received immense joy from them.

Cheryl was predeceased by her mother, Joan Svetz (Vineyard), and is survived by her husband Fred; her children Jonathan and Rebecca and their spouses; and three granddaughters: Kayla and Kata Palmer (Texas), and Lillian Claussen (Vineyard). Cheryl is also survived by her father, John Svetz (Vineyard); her brothers Gary and Jim Svetz (both in Pennsylvania); and three nephews, Joshua, Mathew, and Samuel Svetz.

It was Cheryl’s wish that no public memorial be held. Instead, close family and friends held a celebration in her honor this summer in her cherished backyard.

In lieu of condolences, please give your loved ones a hug and your pets a scratch.

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