Obituaries & Death Notices

Gov. Maura Healey announced in the middle of an East Falmouth wildlife management area on Thursday that she plans to file legislation that would modernize the hunting laws that currently limit access to the sport. The measure is also a part of an effort to curb the spread of tick-borne illnesses and allergies that increasingly pose a risk to public health. “It’s about more than freedom,” Healey said at the press conference on the changes. “In this case, to hunt, it’s about more than…

Richard L. Menschel, 92, of New York City and Nantucket, died Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Service information is not yet available.

Anyone living in the Northeast U.S. during the winter of 2026 will long remember the days, weeks even, of bitterly cold temperatures, along with high winds so strong it was difficult to walk anywhere. And the snow: The huge storm that dumped up to 20 inches of snow on the Vineyard on Feb. 22–23, with some Island towns getting more than two feet, was one of the worst in its history. Massachusetts and Rhode Island officials reported that their states in some areas contended with more than three feet…

Hilliard Wood, 87, of Nantucket and San Luis Obispo, Calif., died Thursday, March 19, 2026. No services will be held.

Philip Cutler Wattles, 73, of Nantucket, died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, June 6 at the family's home at 14B Norwood St. on Nantucket.

(March 19, 2026) Won't you be my neighbor? The Atheneum will host two events Friday celebrating the birthday of the late Fred "Mr." Rogers, the iconic PBS children's television host and longtime summer resident who died in 2003 at age…

Eric Francis Stone, 92, of Sarasota, Fla. and longtime summer resident of Nantucket, died Tuesday, March 10, 2026. A memorial service will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Armonk, N.Y. Details regarding the service will be shared with…

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) will host the third annual Waylon Madison Sauer Memorial 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, celebrating Waylon’s legacy through a day of fun-filled competition and community connection. Waylon Madison Sauer of West Tisbury was just 17 when he died in 2023 after a car accident on State Road in West Tisbury.  Teams of teens and adults will compete in a three-game guarantee tournament starting at 10 am. The top four teams…

My soda bread was in the oven as I sat down to write my column this morning. I will bring it to our early St. Patrick’s Day dinner at Diane Wall’s, a tradition of many years. We are meeting early, around 4 o’clock, to accommodate the four children who are now part of our celebrations. Skyler and Syrus Wallcox, and Addy and Reed Rebello, are Diane’s grandchildren. Their mothers, Hilary Wallcox, and Tessa Rebello, were the focus and fun of our dinners together when they were little; now we…

(March 18, 2026) Results of a partial necropsy and tissue tests taken from the sperm whale that washed up on Nantucket's south shore late last year indicate that it likely died due to injuries suffered from a vessel strike, according…

Susan Morris of West Barrington, R.I., died suddenly yet peacefully at age 82 in her home of 57 years, on March 2, 2026.  Susan was born in Providence, R.I., on August 10, 1943, to Margaret and P. Victor Dunbar of Merritt Road, East Providence. Her mother, Margaret, worked as an assistant to the pediatric practice of Dr. Farley. Victor served as a captain in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during WWII, and survived Omaha Beach on D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and…

John McVey of Mashpee, formerly of Martha’s Vineyard, and originally from Magherafelt and Newbridge, County Derry, Ireland, passed away peacefully on Feb. 1, 2026. John was the beloved son of Marian McVey and the late Desi McVey. He was the devoted father of his cherished son, Oisin. John was a loving brother to Donna (Gerry), Connie (Eddie), Louise (Stewart), and Maria (Pouya). He was a much-loved uncle to Sarah, Ciaran, Lorcan, and Aodhan, and a proud great-uncle…

Daniel Charles Feeney, 75, of West Tisbury, passed away peacefully at home on March 10, 2026. Born on May 8, 1950, in Boston, Dan was the son of Charles and Jeanne Feeney, and was raised in Sharon. After high school, he came to the Island with his parents and four siblings to help build the Martha’s Vineyard Family Campground in Vineyard Haven. When the campground opened in 1972, he ventured north to Alaska to study wildlife biology at the University of Alaska in…

Devoted housewife and businesswoman Hilde Combra passed away in the early morning of February 21, 2026 with her devoted husband by her side.  Hilde was born on June 11, 1933 in Kirschweiler, Germany. She was the daughter of Heinrich Peter Schonewolf and Helene Klara Stumm. She immigrated to the U.S. on August 24, 1959, to New York, and worked for the Kyle family in Maplewood, N.J., as a domestic worker. They treated her as the daughter they never had.  Hilde came…

Priscilla Barstow (West) Summers of Williamsburg, Va., and Edgartown, passed away peacefully on Jan. 14, 2026, in Williamsburg. She was 100. Born on Dec. 29, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Percy D. West and Mildred B. West of Edgartown, and the sister of the late Robert (“Bob”) D. West. After graduating from the Edgartown schools, Mrs. Summers attended Boston University, and began her career with several Boston publishing companies. While working at a Boston…

Paul Raymond Senecal, 88, of Nantucket, died Tuesday, March 10, 2026. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 23 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, followed by a graveside service at St. Mary’s Cemetery and a reception…

Sandra Lee Gillies, 88, of Nantucket and Annandale, Va., died Thursday, March 12, 2026. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Annandale.

Anne Cunningham Muceus, 78, of Paradise Valley, Nev. and formerly of Nantucket, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3 in Winnemucca, Nev.

Priscilla “Bambi” Marshall Gifford Mleczko, 79, of New Canaan, Conn. and longtime summer resident of Nantucket, died Thursday, March 12, 2026. A funeral service will be held Friday, March 27 at St. Paul's Church on Fair Street. A celebration of…

Harry Robishaw, 71, of Nantucket, died Tuesday, March 10, 2026. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 23 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Attleboro. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Brockton.…

Regulations put in place more than 15 years ago to reduce the risk of lethal vessel strikes on endangered North Atlantic right whales in waters off the East Coast may change soon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service announced in early March a request for information to modernize the 2008 vessel speed rule that currently prohibits vessels longer than 65 feet to travel faster than 10 knots (about 11 miles per hour) in management areas along…

The week started with an audible sign that perhaps spring has actually arrived: The beloved pinkletinks, our local name for spring peepers, were heard through their signature chorus of high-pitched shrill chirping sounds that sound roughly like a “peep” or “pweet.” These tiny, quarter-sized brown frogs (specifically, Pseudacris crucifer) are renowned for their ability to make massive, piercing noises that can be heard up to a mile away from the source of a chorus. A mating call for the males…

(March 12, 2026) Women on Nantucket voted for the first time in February 1880. The Massachusetts legislature passed a law allowing women to vote in April 1879, but it was limited to voting for school committee members.

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Lucille Weiner, 72, died Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. An intimate gathering will be held on Nantucket at a later date to celebrate her life.

Robert Risk III, 70, of Pennsylvania and longtime summer resident of Nantucket, died Sunday, March 1, 2026. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at St. David's Church in Wayne, Pa.

Russell Edmund Swartz, 87, of Edgartown and Bonita Springs, Fla., passed away peacefully on Feb. 28, 2026, following a brief illness. He was also known as “Russ,” “Rusty,” and affectionately known as “P” (for Grampy) to his grandchildren. Russell was born in Oak Bluffs on March 26, 1938, to William and Ida Swartz, and grew up in Vineyard Haven. He graduated from Tisbury High School in 1955, and went on to earn his associate’s degree in small engine repair…

Frieda Rabinovitz, a dedicated school psychologist and a strong advocate for children, died peacefully on March 2, 2026, at her home in Chilmark. She was 99 years old. Frieda was a doting grandmother, a devoted mother, a devout friend, and a loving wife. She was married for more than 60 years to her late husband, Jason, who predeceased her and cherished her until his final breath. Just a shade over five feet tall, with sparkling blue eyes and jet-black hair, she was…

Julianne Roberts (Julie Pykosz), 74, of Nantucket, died Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

Manuel R. “Manny” Sylvia, 78, of Nantucket, died Saturday, March 7, 2026. Service information is not yet available.

Warren Doty, a Chilmark leader and fishing advocate, died on Tuesday, March 3. He was 82. Doty and his wife, Nan, moved to Chilmark in 1976, and his work for the town spanned over 30 years. He served on the Chilmark Select Board for 24 years — eight terms — as well as served the town on the school committee and the planning board. He was also a strong advocate for the town’s fishing village of Menemsha as well as affordable housing. “Warren was exceptionally…

In Rebecca Zlotowski’s new feature film, “A Private Life,” screening at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center, we learn about multiple private lives. It opens with the short-tempered American psychiatrist Lilian (Jodie Foster), who has been living in Paris for a long time. She is methodically, with an exasperated air, preparing for her next client in her private home office. Aside from Lilian’s occasional English curses, she, and thus Foster, conducts her life entirely in fluent French. A surprise…

Beverly Jane (Shores) Matthews died peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at the Henrietta Brewer House in Vineyard Haven, with her close family by her side. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, her best friend and husband of 60 years, James Arthur (“Pete”) Matthews Jr. Her family was comforted in her final moments by a few quiet chuckles, knowing full well that Pete was there with her; no one could make her laugh like him. Forever a child of the…

James Cleary Jr. (“Jay”), 73, a lifelong resident of Taunton, passed away on Feb. 10, 2026.  Born in Taunton to the late James and Joanne (White) Cleary on Oct. 16, 2952, Jay graduated from Taunton High School, and was a man of loyalty and tireless work ethic. He began working for Trucchi’s Supermarkets as a teenager, and dedicated his entire 50-year career to the company, deeply valuing friendships he had there.  A devout Catholic and member of St. Jude the…

Frieda Rabinowitz of Chilmark died peacefully at home on March 2, 2026, at the age of 99.  A funeral service will be held at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center on Sunday, March 8, at 10 am. The post Frieda Rabinowitz appeared first on The Martha's Vineyard Times.

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Erin Geddis Cummings died peacefully on Feb. 24, 2026, at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, surrounded by her family. Her death was a result of stomach cancer, complicated by the effects of her childhood battle with cancer. Erin was born in Summit, N.J., in 1957 to Donald Geddis and Mary Todd Everett. As a high school freshman she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Even as a teenager, Erin faced her illness with courage, humor, and a fierce determination to survive…

Jonas Miles Kumpitch, 54, of New York City and Chappaquiddick, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Jan. 22, 2026, after a courageous battle with ALS. Known for his exceedingly dry humor, gentle presence, and steadfast curiosity about the world around him, Jonas lived a life defined by humor, intellect, and deep appreciation for both people and experiences. Jonas was a kind, gentle soul. Born on Jan. 28, 1971, at Yale New Haven Hospital, and baptized at St. Bridget’s…

Leo A. Willoughby of Oak Bluffs died peacefully on Feb. 19, 2026, at the age of 68. A full obituary will follow in another edition of this paper. The post Leo A. Willoughby appeared first on The Martha's Vineyard Times.

The Massachusetts Aquaculture Association posthumously honored Roy Scheffer  as a “founding father” of the aquaculture industry on Martha’s Vineyard.  “The Golden Oyster” award was presented in his memory and accepted by two of his children, Isaiah and Martha Scheffer at the group’s annual meeting on Friday in Wareham. Roy Scheffer and his partner, Patricia (“Trish”) Bergeron, died on New Year’s Day in a boating accident while dragging for bay scallops…

William Q. "Biff" MacLean Jr., 91, of Jupiter, Fla., died Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. A funeral mass was held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 2 at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in New Bedford.

Lucy Butler Bixby, 73, of Nantucket, died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28 at St. Paul’s Church on Fair Street.

Jeanette D. Topham, 88, died peacefully surrounded by her children Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Her wake and a rosary will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 13 at her home at 29 Hummock Pond Road. A funeral…

(March 1, 2026) William Q. "Biff" Maclean Jr., former state senator, businessman and civic leader, died peacefully at his home in Jupiter, Fla., surrounded by loved ones Friday, Feb. 20, 2026,

The Department of Justice posted a website in December that allows anyone to search the millions of pages of partially redacted documents of what is now widely referred to as the Epstein files. Like many news organizations across the country, The Times decided to take a look. We wanted to find out about the depth of Jeffrey Epstein’s connection to the Vineyard, and I offered to dig around in the files. Of course, the island that Jeffrey Epstein is mostly associated with was his private island in…

The state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, better known as MassWildlife, held virtual public hearings Monday on two proposal packages to permanently formalize emergency deer-hunting regulations and make changes to other hunting regulations. Eve Schlüter, acting director of MassWildlife, led the hearings over Zoom after the brunt of the recent blizzard passed through Massachusetts. Martin Feehan, a deer biologist for the state department who recently came to the…

Hilde Combra, 92, died on Saturday morning, Feb. 21, 2026, at her home in Oak Bluffs. She was the wife of Herbert A. Combra (“Bert”).  Visiting hours will be held in the Chapman Funeral Home, 56 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road in Oak Bluffs, on Friday, Feb. 27, from 4 to 6 pm. Her funeral Mass will take place in St. Augustine’s Church, 56 Franklin St. in Vineyard Haven, on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 10 am. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Bluffs. …

The night before I left for Boston to have open-heart surgery, I roasted the best batch of sunflower seeds I had ever roasted. None of them were burnt. All of them were evenly browned. And as I was scooping them into the jar, I had a funny thought: What if I never get to eat these? And they’re the best ones I’ve ever made.  It’s really the first thought I had of the actual possibility of my dying.  That’s not exactly true. I had forced myself a few times that week to memorize things and…

Another weekend preparing for a snowstorm. Soup made. Wood in. Wheelbarrows full outside the dining room door. Snow shovels on the porches. Flashlights. Candles. Matches. Books. Water. Mike went off to the fire station for the night, one of a group of firemen assigned to be ready if there is an emergency. I hope that it will be a quiet night. Shirley Howell was buried in the Chilmark cemetery on Saturday morning. Rev. Baker had barely begun the service when someone’s dog leaned on the horn in his…

Susan Hill Birge, 86, of Concord and former summer resident of Nantucket, died Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Concord, with a reception to follow.