Obituaries & Death Notices

Oak Bluffs, West Tisbury and Edgartown are among the first towns in Massachusetts to approve a new “seasonal communities” designation, which will provide additional tools to address the Island’s housing crunch. All three towns voted the designation through at town meetings on Tuesday with overwhelming support, and they follow just Provincetown where voters approved the distinction on Monday. The passage is a significant step toward addressing housing needs on the Cape and the Islands, according…

West Tisbury voters passed a $1.6 million override to fund the upcoming fiscal year operating budget. Voters cast their ballots Thursday at the West Tisbury Public Safety Building for various, mostly uncontested candidate races, and to vote on ballot questions.  One of these ballot questions was for an override to fund its proposed, roughly $25 million budget, a reduced version that was passed during the annual town meeting on Tuesday.…

Elizabeth Brady (“Betty”) of Vineyard Haven, a lifelong community builder, mental health advocate, and dedicated executive assistant and office manager, passed away peacefully on March 19, 2025. Born in New York City in 1933, she grew up in the Bronx, child of Irish immigrants William and Anna Shortall. Betty raised a family of five children, building strong, lasting relationships along the way as the family moved through several states before eventually settling…

Aquinnah select board chair Gary Haley will be facing his first electoral rival since he was elected nearly a decade ago.  Chris Manning, Gay Head Lighthouse keeper, is the challenger running for a seat on the select board.  Aquinnah town clerk Kayla Darcy told the Times that Manning is stepping back from his other role as a constable, which he was elected to last year, to run for the board seat.  Haley, who is also a master electrician by trade, was elected to the board in 2016 after running…

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Voters in Oak Bluffs, Edgartown and West Tisbury all passed a phased-in ban of gas-powered leaf blowers at their respective town meetings on Tuesday night, starting what could eventually become an Island-wide ban. The deciding vote was closest in Oak Bluffs, where the tally came out 98 in favor and 79 against. West Tisbury was overwhelmingly supportive of the measure so much so that no hand vote was required. Edgartown voted 197 in favor and 42 against. Landscapers…

Robert M. Sawyer of Tisbury passed away peacefully on Friday, April 4, 2025, at his home on Martha’s Vineyard. He was 87 years old.  Robert was born in 1937 to David and Thelma Sawyer in Brookline, where he was raised with his siblings Jerry Sawyer, Sandra Kurson, and the late Kenneth Sawyer. After graduating from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he relocated to Chicago to pursue new business ventures. Robert was a respected real estate expert,…

We are finally getting some much-needed April showers. Daffodils are blooming all over town. There are tiny green leaves showing on the earliest autumn olive and multiflora rose bushes, the first pale blossoms on magnolias and cherry trees. Don’t forget to watch the new trees that were planted on Brandy Brow and around the town center last year. I remember having invited Debby Athearn and Betty Haynes over for lunch and to see the daffodils I had planted the previous fall. They were blooming in…

Gail R. (Combra) Landers passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at home, surrounded by her family. She was 71. Born in Oak Bluffs on Oct. 11, 1953, to Philip R. and Anita E. (Rose) Combra, she was the youngest of four siblings. As a hard-working single parent, Gail devoted her life to raising her daughter, who was her pride and joy. Family and friends were everything to her. She cherished traditions, especially the holidays and large family gatherings,…

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s proposal to re-establish federal funding for a Vineyard veterans counseling program bracing for federal spending cuts never made it to the Senate floor. According to U.S. Senate staffers who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Senate leaders of both parties — Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, and John Thune, a South Dakotan Republican — decided which amendments filed by Senators would receive a vote. Warren’s amendment that would have helped Martha’s…

Edwin J. Griggs passed away peacefully at home on April 2, after a two-month battle with cancer. He was 74.  Ed was born in Belleview, Ill. He grew up in many places, due to his father’s military service. He learned to make friends quickly; a trait that would manifest throughout his life. While in high school, he played trumpet in an amateur band. He lived his later teens and early 20s as a real hippie; he traveled across Canada by hopping trains, hitchhiked extensively,…

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Carole J. Sittard, 82, of Oak Bluffs, formerly of Chicopee. Carole passed away peacefully, with her loving husband of nearly 59 years at her side. Born to Wilbur and Irene (Mercure) Simard in Chicopee, Carole graduated from Chicopee High School and Westfield State College. She began her career as a dedicated teacher in the elementary schools of Chicopee before taking time to raise her family. Afterward, she returned…

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#tdi_4 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 { background: url [https:] 0 0 no-repeat; } #tdi_4 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 { background: url [https:] 0 0 no-repeat; } 1 of 2 Male Colletes inaequalis, photographed in Vineyard Haven this past March 16. —Matt Pelikan Female Lasioglossum cinctipes, photographed in Vineyard Haven this…

Roger L. Thomas passed away peacefully on Feb. 14, 2025, at the age of 73, surrounded by his loving family. Roger was born on March 17, 1951, in Providence, R.I., to Ida May (“Holly”) Thomas and Edward (“Ted”) Thomas. In 1964, his family moved from East Greenwich, R.I., to Vineyard Haven, though their love for the Island began long before. Summers were spent aboard their 24-foot sailboat, where a family of five made cherished memories on the water. As a teenager,…

In the last minutes of the first day of spring, Johnny Athearn peacefully passed away. He had been patiently coping with illness for several years. During that time, he was able to enjoy the devotion of his friends, family, and caregivers, for which he would always show his gratitude. Johnny was born in 1951, in the 10th generation of his family’s residence on Martha’s Vineyard, the fourth child of Elmer (“Mike”) Athearn and Elizabeth Brehm Athearn. Growing…

James L. Harrison Jr. passed away peacefully on March 29, 2025, at the age of 93. He was surrounded by his loving family at home in Edgartown, following a long illness.  He was born on Oct. 8, 1931, in New York, N.Y., to James L. and Pauline M. Harrison. Jim was a man of many talents and interests, living a life dedicated to his family, community service, and the love of nature. He attended the Buckley School in New York City (class of 1946), graduated from St. Paul’s…

Dennis J. Beckwith of Oak Bluffs passed away peacefully early on the morning of Monday, March 24, 2025, at Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was 71 years old. Dennis dedicated his life to his work, running a successful electrical business from 1987 until his retirement in 2017. Yet it was his true passion for carpentry that defined his spirit. Dennis’ dream was realized when he and Nancy purchased their island home on Martha’s Vineyard, a Victorian…

Starting next week, voters will be asked to impose limitations on one of the largest industries on the Vineyard, when town meeting attendees across the Island decide whether or not to limit and eventually phase out the use of gas-powered leaf blowers completely.  The idea is to cut down on noise and environmental pollution by transitioning to battery-powered technology. Under proposals at five town meetings — including Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, and West Tisbury on Tuesday, April 8 — gas-powered…

I was waiting for Iyla at the Chilmark School last Thursday afternoon, watching all the activity, listening to children talking and laughing. Kate was serving snacks at a table, then everyone laid yoga mats on the floor to exercise. Books, games, lots of Legos, and art supplies were all to hand. What a contrast with my own elementary school days. Miss Isabel O’Shea, the principal of Veteran’s Park Elementary School, was a tyrant. She patrolled the halls with a ruler in her hand. She wore tailored…

Gail R. (Combra) Landers, 71, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at home, surrounded by her family.  A full obituary and service announcement will follow. The post Gail R. Landers appeared first on The Martha's Vineyard Times.

The Broadway play “The Shark Is Broken,” a comedy drama based on the making of the movie “Jaws,” is coming to the Vineyard this summer in celebration of the film’s 50th anniversary. The play is currently touring the U.K. and Ireland, after showing from August to November 2023 on Broadway in New York’s John Golden Theatre. It will be on the Vineyard amid the height of events commemorating the premiere anniversary of “Jaws” on June 20. “The Shark is Broken” is based on real…

#tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 { background: url [https:] 0 0 no-repeat; } #tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 { background: url [https:] 0 0 no-repeat; } 1 of 2 Left to right: Gail Barmakian, Benjamin Robert Clark, and Amy Lee Del Torto are running to be Oak Bluffs town clerk. —Eunki Seonwoo Sean DeBettencourt is running…

HYANNIS – A campaign is being launched to provide a new sanctuary on Cape Cod for families who are grieving the death of their child. Nine-year-old William Shaw died in a tragic skiing accident in Big Sky, Montana in 2019. His family is looking to raise two-million dollars to purchase a property which will be […] The post Family Campaigning For House On Cape To Serve Grieving Families appeared first on CapeCod.com.

As the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival enters its 25th year, it will host its first-ever head of state — former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who held office from 2017–2023 and rose to prominence for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Right Honorable Dame will appear for a Friday evening showing of the documentary “Prime Minister,” which tells the story of her two terms with recordings including home videos taken by her husband. “Prime Minister,” directed…

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You might be left wondering who exactly Andy Kaufman was after watching Alex Braverman’s documentary, “Thank You Very Much,” playing at the M.V. Film Center starting March 28. The film examines the career of this iconoclastic American entertainer and performance artist who defies categorization. Perhaps best known for his role as Latka Gravas on the TV sitcom “Taxi” and his performances on “Saturday Night Live,” Kaufman was loath to call himself a comedian. He certainly didn’t tell…

It’s officially spring now. My first daffodils are blooming. Snowdrops and crocuses are everywhere. After complaining about my eranthis a few weeks ago, I have found patches of it in unexpected spots around the yard. But best of all are the hellebores. Hellebores have become rather the rage the past few years. Most of my gardening friends are obsessed with them, as am I. Ginny Jones had begun collecting different varieties before she died, poring over catalogues,…

To the Editor: As a member of the board of health of Oak Bluffs, I must take exception to certain comments in the recent Op-Ed in The MV Times taking our Oak Bluffs board of health to task for not enforcing the plastic bottle ban bylaw passed in 2022 in Oak Bluffs, and by other Island towns around the same time. The Op-Ed missed many facts and distorted the truth in this opinion piece.  We are sympathetic to the issue of excess plastic in our environment. A year or…

BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) — Kitty Dukakis, the wife of former Massachusetts governor and Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, has died. She was 88. Dukakis’ family says she fought to make the world better by “sharing her vulnerabilities to help others face theirs.” The mother of three won high marks as a political campaigner during her […] The post Kitty Dukakis, Wife Of Former Governor And Presidential Candidate, Dies appeared first…

[Media statement from the office of Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois] Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois today announced that on March 21, 2025, a Grand Jury indicted Thomas Hayes, 23 years old, of Sandwich, MA, for his role relating to the death of a 71-year-old woman, occurring in July 2024, in the town of Sandwich. A Barnstable Grand Jury returned 2 indictments against the defendant Thomas Hayes, charging him with Manslaughter, and Assault and Battery on…

The Steamship’s interviews for a new general manager won’t involve the inclusion of a member of the public, at least for now. The ferry line’s board considered a request to include a nonvoting public member in the general manager interview process, but on Friday tabled the matter without debate. The ferry line is looking for its next director after Robert Davis announced in September that he would step down effective in November 2025. The Steamship, board chair Jim Malkin explained, has received…

The Oak Bluffs woman who is charged with leaving a child in a car for multiple hours is now facing manslaughter after the child died at a Boston hospital on Wednesday. Aimee Cotton, 41, was arraigned at the Edgartown District Court house on Thursday, March 20 after police arrested her on a warrant for the elevated charges. A judge set bail at $21,000 and she is due back at Edgartown District Court on April 3 for a probable cause hearing. The incident occurred on Thursday…

Capt. Everett Lee Whorton Jr., 80, of Oak Bluffs, peacefully yet unexpectedly passed away at home on Sunday, March 16, 2025. He was the beloved eldest son of Everett L. and Helen (Santos) Whorton, who affectionately called him “Joey.” Born on Sept. 12, 1944, in Oak Bluffs during the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944, Everett’s life began amidst a storm, setting the tone for his adventurous spirit. Everett spent his early years through first grade in…

Ted Edward Desrosiers, a man who could fill a room with laughter and make everyone feel like an old friend, passed away on March 11, 2025. He lived with a full heart, a quick wit, and an unshakable love for his family, his friendships, and the Island community that meant so much to him. Born in Fall River on July 9, 1950, to Arthur J. and Ann B. Desrosiers, Ted spoke of his hometown as if it were Paris. He had a way of making everything — places, meals, stories —…

Sean Allen Chalifoux, 49, of Venice, Fla., passed away in front of loved ones, after succumbing to his injuries after being struck by a car, on Jan. 8, 2025.  He was born on March 17, 1975. Sean was a beloved waiter and bartender at several Venice establishments for more than three years. He never met a stranger who didn’t become an instant friend. He will be remembered for his wit, humor, and incredible smile, as well as his kindness and willingness to help…

Patsy Shelton Fullin of Vineyard Haven passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on March 14, 2025. She was 74.  Born on May 14, 1950, in Oak Bluffs, she was the daughter of Virginia Shelton of Edgartown. A kindhearted and humorous woman, Patsy had a deep love for her family and friends, always going out of her way to show her affection. Over the years, she worked in various establishments on the Island bartending, including Hearts in Heart Haven in Oak Bluffs,…

Karin Magid, former owner of Red Pony Farm, passed away on Feb. 17, 2025. She was born on August 31, 1943, to Maurice Magid and Erika Stolzberg Magid in White Plains, N.Y.  Karin grew up near Scarsdale, studied at Sarah Lawrence College, lived in France, had a film career in England alongside her former husband Michael, and went on to operate an antique business–cum–dressage barn on Martha’s Vineyard. She was a force and an enigma:…

I am writing a late column this week, on Monday morning. Rain is pouring down, and the wind is blowing hard enough to almost flatten light shrubbery and saplings in our woods. Abby wasn’t interested in going out until Mike donned his rain jacket and walked to the door. I can’t imagine she was eager for their customary morning walk, but she trotted out behind Mike, and came back totally soaked a few minutes later. Now she is resting next to me on the sofa, where I settled with a second cup of…

James Stern Zisson, 72, of Palm Beach, Fla., passed away peacefully on Feb. 15, 2025. He is survived by his sons, Ethan (Alessandra) and Alec (Aisa). Jimmy was a summer resident of Chilmark since 1988.   A private graveside service was held in West Palm Beach, Fla. Those who wish to honor his memory may make a donation to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund at Palm Beach Synagogue, 120 North County Road, Palm Beach, FL 33480. The post James Stern Zisson appeared…

There’s been some controversy over a fence at the West Tisbury Village Cemetery. The local historic district commission pushed back against a plan to use plastic fencing, and then the town decided to make more temporary changes when wood proved more expensive. Now, there is an idea to host a Day-of-the-Dead fundraiser to bring the wooden fence back to life. Meg Carman, a member of the town’s historic district commission, delivered her presentation as a resident to her town’s select board…

BOURNE – Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority Administrator Tom Cahir unexpectedly passed away Wednesday morning. He was 72 years old. Cahir also served as 3rd Barnstable District State Representative for 14 years from 1985 to 1999. As Administrator for the CCRTA, he oversaw the implementation of their dial-a-ride service, free transit for seniors, as well […] The post CCRTA Lead and Former Bourne State Rep. Tom Cahir Passes Away appeared first on CapeCod.com.

Joseph A. Costa of Vineyard Haven died peacefully, in the arms of his loving family, on Thursday, March 6, 2025. He was 94. He was born on June 4, 1930, in Vineyard Haven, to John and Margaret Costa, and was the youngest of four children. He met and married the love of his life, Vivian J. (Scott) Costa, in 1952 in Arizona, and they were married 70 years as of Oct. 1, 2022. Vivian passed away in June 2023. They were blessed with four children.…

Richard Arnold Carr (“Dick”) of Oak Bluffs quietly passed away at the age of 93 on March 2, 2025, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, surrounded by his children. Dick was born in New Rochelle, N.Y., son of Morris and Dorothy (Jones) Carr. He spent most of his childhood on Martha’s Vineyard, a place always held close to his heart. A proud veteran, Dick served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Intrepid, where he was a chef and recognized as a valued diver, allowing…

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“Well-behaved women seldom make history.” —Laurel Thatcher Ulrich It is Women’s History Month, so here’s to all the women who make this world a better place! St. Patrick’s Day is March 17, the day to celebrate Irish culture. On my recent trip to Ireland, I was reminded of the strength and overwhelming positivity of the Irish people. It is a country of extraordinary beauty. The green, rolling countryside is dotted with ancient ruins that the people revere, and every county is filled…

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School principal Sara Dingledy is proposing new graduation requirements for 2025 after Bay Staters voted to remove the state’s standardized test as a graduation requirement in November. Dingledy recommends a passing grade in a number of English, Math, and science classes offered at the high school for the current school year while they await state guidance for following years. Dingledy’s proposal is that students pass one of the following English classes: English…