Obituaries & Death Notices

Following the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, two Island residents stood outside of the newly opened Boch Park in Vineyard Haven on Thursday to bring awareness to what they say is escalating and dangerous rhetoric.  “I think [Charlie Kirk] was taken unjustly and the world’s mourning,” said Theresa Delaney, who held a sign that read: “Charlie Kirk RIP.”  “We just wanted to be a part of making people feel that this is a huge problem. There’s…

Oak Bluffs could have the opportunity to outlaw passengers on rental mopeds and only allow them to be rented to licensed individuals at a special town meeting in November.  The Oak Bluffs select board, while formalizing a measure to go to voters this fall, solicited feedback on Tuesday from the public on whether the amendments should be added into the town’s existing moped bylaw.  The potential warrant article was not finalized at the meeting, but board members seem likely to give voters the…

Audrey R. Moreis passed away in the early morning hours on Sept. 5, 2025, at her home in Aquinnah. She was 88 years old. She was born Audrey Ruth Gonsalves, on April 30, 1937, to Jerome and Maude (Haskins) Gonsalves of Oak Bluffs. After attending and graduating from the Oak Bluffs High School, she met and married James Moreis Sr. of Tisbury. In 1965 they moved their family to Oak Bluffs on Second Ave., where they brought up seven children, and remained there for 60…

Mary Anne Thomas Cummings (known throughout her life as Anne), 85, passed away peacefully at her home in Oak Bluffs on Sept. 2, 2025. Born July 3, 1940, in Oak Bluffs, she was the eldest child of Bill and Mary Thomas, who predeceased her. She is also predeceased by her brother, Bill Thomas Jr., and her sister, Barbara Thomas Murphy. Anne was proud to have attended Oak Bluffs schools from elementary through high school. She was a dedicated member of the Oak Bluffs High…

Ulick George Warburton, 88, of Vineyard Haven, died on Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Cape Cod Hospital. He was the husband of Ivy Warburton and father of Varrick, Nardia, Tamika, and Ricardo. Visitation in the Chapman Funeral Home, 55 Edgartown Road in Oak Bluffs, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 2 to 3 pm, followed by a funeral service at 3 pm. Visit chapmanfuneral.com for online guest book and information. The post Ulick Warburton appeared first on The Martha's…

Audrey R. Moreis, 88, of Aquinnah and formerly of Oak Bluffs, died on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, at her residence. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 12 pm in the Oak Grove Cemetery, 7 Pacific Ave. in Oak Bluffs. Visit chapmanfuneral.com for online guest book and information. The post Audrey Moreis appeared first on The Martha's Vineyard Times.

Our beloved Dr. Michael E. Jacobs died at home, surrounded by his devoted and loving wife and family on August 31, 2025, at the age of 85. A full obituary will appear in a future edition of The Times. The post Michael Jacobs appeared first on The Martha's Vineyard Times.

Mary Anne Cummings, 85, of Oak Bluffs, died on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, at her home. She was the wife of John J. Cummings. Her memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 12 pm at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 22 Massasoit Ave. in Oak Bluffs. Visit chapmanfuneral.com for online guest book and information. The post Mary Anne Cummings appeared first on The Martha's Vineyard Times.

Allan and Chris Menne’s family and friends invite all who knew and loved the father and son to a celebration of life on Sunday, Sept. 28, from 3 to 6 pm at 17 Bulkeley Road, Littleton. Father and son sadly passed within months of each other, so this joint celebration will remember and honor each of their unique contributions to and joys in life. Note that this event will be under a tent and is rain or shine, and it replaces the event previously scheduled on Martha’s…

William Joseph Connolly, 95, of Edgartown, died peacefully in the presence of family on August 31 at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He lived a wondrous life on and off his cherished Island, with Vineyard summers beginning 1970, and residency in 2011. His intellectual passion centered around reading, especially biographies, history, art, and architecture, often related to his travels throughout 50 countries. These trips were meticulously planned with his wife of 71 years,…

The Cape and Islands legislative delegation is calling on cellphone service providers to undergo infrastructure upgrades across the region considering the reported gap in coverage that worsens in the summer months. The seven member delegation, that includes Island representatives state Sen.Julian Cyr and state Rep. Thomas Moakley, sent a letter to executives at AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon laying out a series of recommendations like providing a plan and timeline for improving coverage, speed,…

In the latest challenge to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s review of the 100-unit Green Villa project, developers are pushing against the regulatory body’s authority to review 40B housing developments.  In a lawsuit filed with Massachusetts Land Court on Sept. 5, Green Villa LLC and Atwood GV LLC, the company of Falmouth-based developer William Cumming, argued the Commission has no authority to review Chapter 40B housing projects.  “Instead, all such projects would be reviewed exclusively…

Rachel Abigail Holder explores the ever-changing landscape of a New York City borough and tangled relationships in “Love, Brooklyn,” playing at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center starting Sept. 19. This intimate drama, which unfolds with quiet nuance, was an official selection at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and was winner of the Favorite Feature Narrative award at the 2025 Black Star Film Festival.  At the heart of the talented ensemble cast is Roger (André Holland), a writer struggling…

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The Vineyard lost an irreplaceable gift when David McCullough died in 2022, two months after the death of his wife, Rosalee, whom he referred to as “my editor in chief and the star I steer by.” She was a true collaborator in his success as a writer, humanist, and celebrant of American history. Gone with McCullough is a sense of connection to living history. A natural storyteller, he was best known for his biographies (John Adams, Thedore Roosevelt, the Wright Brothers,…

Representatives from across the Island travelled to the Massachusetts State House and tuned-in virtually on Tuesday morning to passionately advocate for the creation of a housing bank on Martha’s Vineyard — what they said would help create much-needed revenue to support new initiatives on an Island that is suffering with extremely few places to live year-round.  From leading officials at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and Martha’s Vineyard Hospital to housing planners and…

Chilmark residents are fed up by what they say is a deterioration of cellular connectivity and the risks they are facing in town because of it.  Town officials appear to be responding. The Chilmark select board unanimously voted on Sept. 2 to have town administrator Tim Carroll write a letter to major cell carriers complaining about service and to set up a meeting. Major carriers include Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, as well as American Tower, which operates a series of nodes throughout the town…

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The effort to pass key legislation that would help the Island raise funding for affordable housing is ramping up, with legislators, nonprofits, and town boards writing letters in support of new bills prior to a hearing tomorrow morning.  Legislation to support a real estate transfer fee would allow the Island to create a Housing Bank, which would operate similarly to the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank but would be geared toward raising money for affordable housing.  “There’s a mounting understanding…

Owners of an Edgartown home are filing a lawsuit against the town and its zoning board for its denial of a special permit for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) located on their property on Windsor Drive. According to court documents, the complaint filed by Ted and Roberta Scallet claims the town’s denial violates the state’s recently passed Affordable Homes Act, Edgartown zoning bylaws, and the right to due process; they are looking for the courts to review…

BARNSTABLE, MASSACHUSETTS – [HN “VIDEO” NOTES] – A man later identified as Ilous Atkinson, 53, currently residing in South Yarmouth, was reportedly making bizarre statements to police officers while being arrested last evening.   And the bizarre statements reportedly continued throughout the entire booking process.  While being placed in the back of a Barnstable Police cruiser, Atkinson reportedly blurted out, “Do I have to leave America?” For some unknown reason Atkinson seemed worried…

On May 27, masked agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in unmarked vehicles removed nearly 40 undocumented immigrants from the Island with the assistance of other federal agencies. It is inevitable that they will return to Martha’s Vineyard in light of President Trump’s recently enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which includes an astounding additional spending of $170 billion on immigration enforcement and detention. According to Just Security, which analyzes national…

On Friday, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School hallways were filled with the sounds of students for the first time in months as the school held a freshman orientation. Incoming students took the morning finding their classrooms and getting to know their teachers before the first day of school on Tuesday. They also got a moment to meet the school’s new principal — Sean Mulvey, who was tapped for the position earlier this summer. A tall and affable administrator, Mulvey was there to greet…

The first thing I did this morning was go to the beach.Of course, in actuality, I woke up to a good morning kiss from my dog, Roger, made plans for lunch with my mom, got out of bed on the left side, and walked to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I put on my bathing suit and begrudgingly applied sunscreen, because I wouldn’t dare show up to lunch with a burn. I searched through drawers to find my “missing” pair of sunglasses that are never really missing—just put where they belong by someone…

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I’m loving the hints of fall: the coolness in the mornings; the stillness of the green-leaf tapestry outside our windows, as if the leaves are holding their breath. On Labor Day weekend, Charley and I went to Philbin in the late afternoon and looked at all the contented vacationers, worn out from their day in the sun, many of them wrapped up in towels and sweaters with their hats shading their eyes, some quietly reading, others strolling the waterline hand in hand, and lots of them napping. How…

Francis Richard Bernard passed away peacefully on Martha’s Vineyard on August 12, 2025, where he was born to Joseph Bernard and Mary Keane Bernard on Dec. 7, 1933. Francis grew up with two brothers, John Bernard and Edmund Bernard, and two sisters, Louise Leonardo and Beatrice House. Francis grew up hunting, fishing, and playing sports, and attended the Oak Bluffs School, where he graduated in 1951. After school, Francis joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served…

Patrick William O’Daly, M.D., passed away at home in Edgartown, days shy of his 87th birthday, on August 21, 2025, with his wife of 47 years by his side.  He was born on Sept. 9, 1938, in Knickerbocker Hospital, Manhattan, NYC. When he was 2, his family moved to Brooklyn, where he grew up. He graduated from PS 198, St. Frances Prep High School, Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind., and received his medical degree from SUNY Downstate.  He completed a mixed medical…

Renee Balter of Oak Bluffs died peacefully at home on August 26, 2025, surrounded by her family, at the age of 90.  A full obituary and service announcement will follow in another edition of this paper. The post Renee Balter appeared first on The Martha's Vineyard Times.

William Connolly (“Bill”), 95, of Edgartown died on Sunday, August 31, 2025 at the M.V. Hospital. He was the husband of Joan Connolly. Services will be held at a later date, and a complete obituary will follow in another edition of this paper. Visit chapmanfuneral.com for online guestbook and information. The post William Connolly appeared first on The Martha's Vineyard Times.

YARMOUTH – Governor Maura Healey has issued a statement about the vandalism of the Lance Corporal William Joseph Donovan Jr. Memorial Bridge in Yarmouth. Last week, flags honoring Donovan, a two-time Purple Heart recipient and Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School graduate who tragically died in a motorcycle crash, were torn down. Healey said “Destroying the American […] The post Mass State Police helping with flag vandalism case appeared first on CapeCod.com.

Mrs. Barbara Perry Francis, 99, of Aquinnah, passed away on August 16, 2025, at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital after a short illness, with her family at her side. She was born in Cambridge on Feb. 27, 1926, one of four children of Earl M. Perry and Aramentha (Cooper) Perry. She was the second eldest female tribal member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and a descendant of many of the tribal families of Aquinnah. She was a caretaker for many family homes…

Cynthia-Jane Wayman died peacefully on July 18, 2025, in her home in Lambert’s Cove. Cynthia was born in Newton in 1934, the daughter of Elsie and Robert Walsh. She was an only child, with an older half-sister. She met her future husband, David, at a young age in the local Christian Science Sunday school, as he was the brother of a friend.  She attended Rhode Island School of Design, majoring in illustration, and later married her childhood churchmate, David Wayman.…

Leonard Tow, 97, died peacefully on August 10, 2025, with his loving family and caregivers by his side.  Born on May 30, 1928, in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was the son of Estelle and Louis Tow. Leonard was a resident of New Canaan, Conn., since 1987, and lived in nearby Pound Ridge, N.Y., for 15 years prior. He spent summers in Chilmark for more than 40 years.  Leonard (“Len”) was a telecommunications pioneer and philanthropist. His life was defined by a commitment to…

Susan Benway Jenkinson (“Susie”) passed away peacefully at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on August 9, 2025.  Born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard, Susie came from a long line of multigenerational Islanders. Known for her joyful spirit and radiant smile, Susie brought light to every room she entered, even in the face of life’s challenges from a young age. She was a devoted Red Sox fan, and had a deep love for animals, especially cats. During her time at Windemere,…

Allen MacMartin Look of West Tisbury passed away on Nov. 8, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. He was 79.  Allen was born on June 21, 1945, in New York City, and spent much of his childhood in Rye, N.Y. He was the third child of Allen Look Sr. and Maria Auchincloss Look. He had two older sisters, Barbara (Bull, Edgar) and Maria (Hart), and a younger brother, Dan. Allen went to the Fay School, followed by Phillips Academy — Andover and then returned home to graduate…

One of my dear friends bought a dream home in a place that is special to him: Provincetown, affectionately known as P-Town. It is at the northern-most point of Cape Cod and is known as a LGBTQ+ haven. Some opt to take a ferry in from Boston. This is exactly what I did. Ferry Ride Over Operating during summer and early fall, the ferry ride takes an hour and a half and can cost over $100 for a roundtrip ride (steep, I know). It’ll drop you off at MacMillan Pier and much of the town is walkable…

Michael Loberg, an Island resident and 15-year member of the Tisbury board of health, died in early August at the age of 78.  Loberg had an impressive career in the pharmaceutical industry. With a PhD in nuclear chemistry, he helped develop new healthcare scanning technology and drug treatments for cancer and diabetes still used today.  He also left a big mark on Martha’s Vineyard, where he worked to combat nitrogen pollution in coastal embayments introducing fertilizer…

SEPTEMBER IS A GIFT! At least for us on the Island… in the real world (off Island) September means back to work and school. For us, it is a sweet reprieve. We love the ebb and flow of this place and truly appreciate all the seasonal visitors who love it too, but there is nothing normal about living with 20,000 people in the off-season and seeing the population climb to 100,000 in season. It is intense. By late August, we are spent. People are always amazed when I say I live here year-round; they…

BARNSTABLE – The state recognizes International Overdose Awareness Day Sunday, including recognition on Cape Cod. All Barnstable County facilities are flying flags at half-staff today in honor of the day. The state annually observes the day representing all those who died as a result of overdose. There were 140 substance-related deaths on Cape Cod last […] The post Sunday marks International Overdose Awareness Day appeared first on CapeCod.com.

The new owner of one of the more iconic Vineyard properties is facing thousands of dollars in fines after building what local officials say is an unpermitted rock wall and clear-cutting coastal vegetation. The Tisbury conservation commission has issued more than $15,000 in fines against Island investor David Malm for work at Chip Chop, a Vineyard Haven property on Chappaquonsett Road. The fines are the culmination of what the town has said are months of inaction from the property owner to address…

Gary Paraboschi of Aquinnah passed away peacefully at Falmouth Hospital on July 14, 2025, at the age of 75.  He was born on April 4, 1950, in Somerville to Clement and Juanita Paraboschi. The family moved to Burlington when Gary was 10. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1968, and received a degree from Middlesex Community College in the ’70s. Gary loved music and played drums in several garage bands, and later played blues harmonica with Scituate-based…

Dr. Patrick William O’Daly of Edgartown died peacefully at his home on August 21, 2025, at the age of 86, with his loving wife of 47 years, Carolyn, by his side.  A full obituary will appear in a future edition of this paper. The post Dr. Patrick William O’Daly appeared first on The Martha's Vineyard Times.

YARMOUTH – Fifth Barnstable State Representative Steve Xiarhos says it’s “shameful” that someone vandalized a memorial to a Cape Cod Marine. The West Yarmouth road overpass on Route 6 overpass in Yarmouth was named for U.S. Marine Corporal William Joseph Donovan Jr. in 2018 after legislation was passed on Beacon Hill. American flags were reportedly […] The post Yarmouth police seeking tips on flag destruction at bridge dedicated to Marine appeared first…

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HYANNIS – The Town of Barnstable is inviting the community to attend a public presentation and open house on August 27 to discuss the Hyannis Main Street “Great Streets” Transportation Network and Streetscape Project on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Barnstable Town Hall.  The project, which recently passed the 75% […] The post Barnstable invites the public to discuss redesigns on parts of Main Street Hyannis appeared…

Bruce Ian (Buzzy) Murdoch died December 27, 2024. He was born on March 22, 1957 in Kingston NY to John and Irene Murdoch. He grew up in Woodstock, NY, and graduated from Kingston High School in 1975. After high school, Buzzy lived in Santa Cruz, CA, Burlington, VT. For the past 35 plus years, Oak Bluffs was his home. He was a skilled Stone Mason, specializing in old style drywalls that don’t require mortar to hold the wall together. Binding is obtained by careful…

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Paul R. Cheek Sr. of New York City passed away on Sunday, August 10, 2025, in Edgartown, aboard his boat Athena. He was in his favorite place — on the water, surrounded by the beauty and peace he loved most. Born in Greensboro, N.C., Paul was a lifelong sailor with a love for 12-meter sailboats, and the 12-meter class. He was known for his love of music, generosity, hospitality, and belief that “life is all about the journey.” Paul cherished time with family and…