Obituaries & Death Notices

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.

The Trump administration has rolled back the right of undocumented immigrants to challenge their detentions. For years, the right to go to court and ask why you are being detained was viewed as fundamental. The right goes by the Latin phrase “habeas corpus,” which literally means “bring the body forward,” but is regarded as a basic part of the due process of law. As Justice John Paul Stevens wrote 50 years ago, “There are literally millions of aliens within the jurisdiction of the United…

The family of a two-year-old boy who died after allegedly being left unattended in his babysitter’s vehicle have expressed frustration over the ongoing court proceedings. Aimee Cotton of Oak Bluffs appeared in Dukes County Superior Court for a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday, and her curfew was not reinstated, despite a request by the prosecutor. The victim’s family said they feel unheard after the indicted suspect was exempted from the prosecutor’s request. Court…

Dorothy Sayre (Delvac) Drozdyk died peacefully at home in Vineyard Haven on Jan. 26, 2026. She was supported by her daughters and Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard. Dorothy was born in New York City in 1936. She worked as an X-ray technician at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Jamaica, Queens. She was later married and raised a family on Long Island, N.Y. and in Connecticut. At 48, she attended St. Vincent Hospital’s School of Nursing in New York City and received her…

James Marshall (“Jimmy”), 83, passed away peacefully on Feb. 11, 2026, in Fitchburg, surrounded by his two loving daughters. Born on Sept. 9, 1942, in Tisbury, Jimmy spent his early years on the Vineyard, where he began his career with the state highway department. Known for his strong work ethic and quiet dedication, he later transitioned into a second career as a manager at Ace Hardware in Vineyard Haven, following his retirement. His calm presence and reliability…

Kathleen Mary (Smith) Schreck, 89, of Pocasset passed away peacefully on Feb. 11, 2026, after a brief illness. Born in Newark, N.J., on Jan. 26, 1937, Kathleen was the eldest of three children born to Marie and Joseph Smith. She married her high school sweetheart, Joseph Schreck, and they settled in East Orange, N.J., where they began their family, eventually having five children: Karen, Lisa, Peter, Jennifer, and Timothy. In the early 1970s, the family relocated to…

Priscilla Mae (Pachico) Estrella, born August 28, 1931, passed away peacefully on Jan. 28, 2026, in Florida, at the remarkable age of 94. Formerly of Martha’s Vineyard, Priscilla worked alongside her father at John’s Fish Market, where she learned the value of hard work, family, and community. A devoted beach lover and lifelong sun worshiper, she was happiest near the ocean she loved so deeply. She leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a family forever grateful…

Rosemarie Haigazian, 74, of Edgartown, passed away on Feb. 4, 2026, at Newton Wellesley Hospital, after a brief illness. She fought a long and valiant battle with multiple sclerosis.  Rosemarie was born in Philadelphia, Penn., on Sept. 19, 1951, to Alishan Haigazian and Mary Haigazian, and spent her childhood living in the family funeral home.  Moving to Martha’s Vineyard in 1969, Rosemarie put herself through college and law school, working at the Mansion House,…

Marybeth (Lopes) Baptiste, class of 1984, enjoyed high school until she got an F in algebra and almost croaked. She’d never had a D grade, never mind an F. She realized that she had been scheduled to the wrong class, so she quickly transferred into a more appropriate one. She still remembers how traumatic that F had made her feel. However, a highlight of high school was the student Close Up program trip to Washington, D.C. The students, over the course of a week, studied…

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“I encourage people: Attend some meetings, see if it’s a good fit for you, talk to people. Some boards have associate members, so there is less pressure, but the learning curve is there.”  –Tara J. Whiting-Wells, West Tisbury town clerk   Since 1671, Vineyarders have been self-governed; there are artistic renderings of local government meetings that show what a 1774 community meeting would have looked like. The history of town government on our Island is long and vibrant. And…

An unhoused Chilmark man was found dead under piles of blankets inside a car where he had been living through some of the coldest days of the winter when frigid temperatures plunged to near zero. The cause of the death of William P. Steranka, 78, is “unknown,” according to Chilmark Police, who pronounced him dead after his body was discovered in a commercial lot on Tabor House Road by an Island resident on the morning of Jan. 27.  Steranka, who often recited poetry and frequented church dinners…

Right before the nonprofit Harbor Homes plans to close on a new permanent location for its efforts, after over two years of scouring the Vineyard for a place and moving between temporary spots, shelter director Lisa Belcastro resigned her post.  The nonprofit organization, which now serves dozens of unhoused locals through their winter shelter, community outreach, meals, and other resources, started with just a few meetings and the common goal to provide for those who didn’t have stable housing.…

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Helen (Meeks) Leon-Guerrero, 61, of Martha’s Vineyard passed away peacefully among loved ones in the early morning hours of Feb. 6, 2026. Helen was a kind, giving, and loving person dedicated to her family and friends. She worked for the Vineyard Transit Authority as the elderly bus coordinator, a job through which she touched many lives with her patience and kindness. She will be remembered for her warmth, strength, and happiness she brought to family and friends.…

Leonard Donaroma (“Lenny”) passed away peacefully Feb. 4, 2026. Born August 1, 1946, Lenny was a fourth-generation Vineyarder. A graduate of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, together with his teammates he was a big part of the only undefeated football team at MVRHS. He went on to serve his country in the military.  Lenny enjoyed auto mechanics and was especially fond of classic cars.  He left behind a legacy defined by a spirit that lifted the people…

Linda Jean Rose of Vineyard Haven died peacefully at home on Feb. 4, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, at the age of 79. A full obituary will follow. The post Linda Jean Rose appeared first on The Martha's Vineyard Times.

Stephen Francis Castanho of Edgartown died at the Cleveland Clinic on Jan. 24, 2026, from complications after a bilateral lung transplant, which he received on April 12. He was 65 years old. His partner of 40 years, Christina Cook, was by his side during his recovery and when he passed.  Steve was born in July 1961 in Providence, R.I., the youngest child of Manuel and Martina Castanho. He grew up in the Mount Pleasant area of the city…

Shirley B. Howell of West Tisbury passed away peacefully, with support from her loving family, on Feb. 4, 2026, at the age of 86.  A graveside service will be held for her at Abel’s Hill Cemetery in Chilmark on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 11 am. A reception will be held directly following the graveside service at the Howes House, located at 1042 State Road in West Tisbury, across the street from Alley’s General Store.  A full obituary will follow.. The post Shirley…

Local artist M-C Lamarre has launched Spread Love, a participatory community art project benefiting Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard (HPCMV). Inspired by Valentine’s Day and collective grief, Lamarre invited Island community members to decorate baseball-card-sized blanks with drawings and messages of love. The completed cards are sold through art-vending machines placed around the Island, with all proceeds donated to HPCMV. The Spread Love initiative grew out of Lamarre’s…

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I awoke on Saturday morning to softly falling snow that had covered our yard and the woods beyond. It continued on and off all day, although it didn’t accumulate more than a couple of inches, just enough to freshen up the foot or so of snow already there. I can’t remember the last winter we had snow on the ground for any appreciable time; it usually falls, looks beautiful for a few hours, a day at most, then disappears as soon as the sun comes out.  Mike and I went out in the morning to do errands…

Edward James "Ed" Almeida, Jr., 75, of Annapolis, Md. and Nantucket, died Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. Visiting hours will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 14 at Lasting Tributes Funeral Care in Annapolis. Memorial services will begin…

Shirley Ann Johnson Souza, 88, of Nantucket, died Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. There will be a graveside service Saturday, March 28 at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Daniel James Devaney, affectionately known as “Buddy” to his grandchildren, passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at the age of 83Dan was born on June 4, 1942, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Muriel and Daniel Devaney. Raised in Brooklyn, he developed lifelong friendships, a deep sense of loyalty to his loved ones, and a profound connection to his faith, his family, and the many traditions that bound them together. Dan was a graduate of Brooklyn Preparatory High…

James M. Sepanara of West Tisbury passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 5, 2025, while visiting Priest River, Idaho. He was 77 years old. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1948 to Penny and Michael E. Sepanara, and recalled as a young child pulling a toy boat on a string through a fountain in Prospect Park. A boat ride aboard the Circle Line around Manhattan was the “greatest thing ever” to his 6-year-old mind, marking the dawn of a lifelong sea fever. When Jim was 6,…

Edmund J. “Rookie” Ramos, 68, died unexpectedly at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. A wake and Rosary will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15 at St. Mary’s Church on Federal Street.…

Nancy Hoffman Evoy passed away peacefully on Jan. 3, 2026, at Crosslands in Kennett Square, Pa., aged 95. Nancy was born in Williamsport, Pa., and had lived in Abington, Bryn Mawr, and Villanova, Pa., as well as West Tisbury. She retained her curiosity, sharp mind, sense of humor, and ability to connect with almost everyone she met. Nancy attended Skidmore College, graduated from Penn State, and later earned her master’s in library science from Villanova University. …

Marcelle Claudette Paquet BenDavid peacefully passed away in her home on Jan. 31, 2026, surrounded by the family she loved so deeply. She was 90 years old. She was a quiet, steady presence — a silent caregiver who gave endlessly and never asked for anything in return. To be near Marcelle was to feel safe, cared for, and quietly understood. Marcelle was born and raised in St-Georges-de-Beauce, Quebec, Canada, on March 23, 1935, growing up as one of the youngest of…

Karen Ann MacPhail, RN, of Woodside Village in Vineyard Haven died peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones, at age 78.  Karen graduated from Wareham High School, and went on to achieve her degree in nursing at Labouré College. She spent decades as an emergency room nurse, sharing memories of her time at Carney, a small but busy hospital outside Boston. After retirement she was drawn to the Vineyard beaches and small Island community. Karen jumped into volunteering,…

Eugene Erez (“Gene”) passed away suddenly on Dec. 27, 2025, while on vacation in Bangkok, Thailand. He was 62 years old. Gene was born on July 21, 1963, in Ukraine (now Russia). As a young child, he immigrated to the U.S. with his family as a Russian refugee, eventually settling in Texas before they moved to Boston. Through determination, resilience, and hard work, Gene built a life defined by craftsmanship, loyalty, and generosity. He pursued his education at Northeastern…