Obituaries & Death Notices

YARMOUTH PORT, MASSACHUSETTS — A single-vehicle crash snapped a utility pole and knocked out power along Route 6A early this morning, leaving parts of the neighborhood dark while the driver faces criminal motor vehicle charges. Yarmouth police and firefighters rushed to the area of 765 Route 6A around 1:30 a.m. after at least two calls came in. One woman reported a wrecked vehicle on her front lawn. The first officer on scene found a snapped pole and downed wires. Power went out across the area…

Caren Öberg Gomes, 56, of Nantucket, died Tuesday, June 9, 2026. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Unitarian Church, followed by a reception from noon to 3 p.m. at Cisco Brewers.

Mary Ann Wallace Brunelle of Plymouth, Nantucket, Vero Beach, Fla. and Madison, Conn., passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026 at the age of 84.

Judith M. Williamson, 83, of Oak Bluffs and recently of Attleboro, died on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at the Brookdale Assisted Living. She was predeceased by her husband, Chief of Police Peter M. Williamson, and she was the wife of Andrew Dufresne. Judy was the mother of Julie Williamson Gakidis and Timothy P. Williamson. Visitation in Chapman Funeral Home, 56 Edgartown Road in Oak Bluffs, will be held on Tuesday, August 25 from 5 to 7 pm. Her funeral mass will be held…

Mary Ann Wallace Brunelle, 84, of Plymouth, Nantucket, Vero Beach, Fla. and Madison, Conn., died Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026. A funeral mass was celebrated Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026 at St. Bonaventure Parish in Plymouth.

Rebecca Lambert Bent, of Washington, Conn. and Nantucket, died peacefully in hospice Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026 surrounded by family after a short illness. She was 79.

Thomas Joseph Murphy, of Waynesville, N.C. and formerly of Nantucket, passed away Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. He was 76.

Neil J. Graner, 85, a longtime summer resident of Nantucket, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, at the McCarthy Care Center in Sandwich, surrounded by his loving family after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Carol Ann (Broschart) McLaughlin, age 70, of Nantucket, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family Aug. 11, 2026, at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain.

Richard Gershon Lesser, 91, of Jupiter, Fla., and Martha’s Vineyard, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his beloved family, on August 13, 2026. Dick lived a full life defined by family, hard work, generosity, and an extraordinary capacity for making people feel valued. Dick was born on Nov. 14, 1934, and grew up in Newton. He was the son of loving parents Charlotte and David Lesser, and the younger brother of Adison Lesser. He attended Northeastern University,…

Kayla Jo Gault Parkhurst, of Martha’s Vineyard, passed away on July 29, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Kayla was a beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. Although Alzheimer’s slowly took pieces of the woman she had been, it could never take away the love she gave, the memories she created, or the place she holds forever in the hearts of those who loved her. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered…

Capt. Frederic E. Scott (“Fred”) has cast out his last line in Boca Grande waters. He passed away on June 10, 2026, at the age of 85, and joins many of the island’s legendary fishing guides in a place where the tarpon never throw a hook and the snapper are plentiful. He was born on Oct. 25, 1941, in Oak Bluffs to Fred Scott Sr. and Mary (Canha). Mary worked for a family on Martha’s Vineyard who had a home in Boca Grande, and that is how the family came to…

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Carol Shilakes, age 84, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Edgartown. Carol passed away on August 16, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Michigan, Carol devoted her professional life to education, serving as both a teacher and a principal. Through her kindness, dedication, and genuine care, she touched the lives of countless students, families, and colleagues. Her impact will not be forgotten. In her later years, Carol…

HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS — Shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday, Barnstable Police responded to a loud noise complaint at Aselton Park on South Street and found a disturbing scene: one man severely injured and bleeding from a forehead wound with his eye bulging out, the other passed out and unresponsive. Officers arrived after a caller reported a group “yelling on the green.” The injured man, a Hyannis resident, was bleeding heavily. Police immediately requested rescue.…

ABOVE: It’s unclear how this young woman in her early twenties, visiting from off-Cape, became separated from the friends she had been out with earlier. Fortunately, several Good Samaritans spotted her passed out on the pavement behind the JFK Museum around 2 a.m. this morning. She was a long way from home and certainly did not belong on the ground in an area with a history of violent crime. Thankfully, she was found and safely transported to Cape Cod Hospital. God…

One my favorite places to visit in Provincetown is the Portuguese Bakery at 299 Commercial Street. It has delicious, traditional Portuguese food and an interesting history. Before becoming a mecca for artists and gay partiers, Provincetown was a bustling fishing community. Portuguese fishermen began immigrating here around 1900 and brought with them their language, customs, faith, and culinary traditions, all of which became woven into the fabric of Provincetown life. Opened around 1900, the bakery…

• Tisbury Police at Five Corners. —Nicholas Vukota

First responders across Martha’s Vineyard — police, firefighters, and emergency medical services — regularly confront traumatic scenarios.  Think about this summer alone: Lifeguards, police, and first responders rushed to a remote stretch of beach at Long Point trying to rescue a father who ultimately died saving his sons from a rip current. And police and ambulance crews were first on the…

• EJ Montgomery’s great-niece, Jocelyn C. Walton (center) greeted patrons at the exhibition reception hosted by the MV Bank in Chilmark. —Dena Porter
• EJ Montogomery’s mentee Stephany Neal (left) and EJ’s long time friend Grace F. Reeves strolled to see the exhibition at MV Bank in Chilmark. —Dena Porter
• EJ Montogomery’s mentee Stephany Neal (left) and EJ’s long time friend Grace F. Reeves strolled to see the exhibition at MV Bank in Chilmark.…

Sam Busselle, who had a passion for repurposed wood and built a house for his family on Owen Little Way in Vineyard Haven, died peacefully on July 31, 2026, at age 85. Son of architect Alfred Busselle and Martha Knapp Busselle, he grew up in Princeton, where he swam his way through the Lawrenceville School, earning a swimming scholarship to Yale. For many summers he worked setting up umbrellas and spreading beach towels for the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club and, of course,…

Surrounded by his loving family, David F. Federowicz of Vineyard Haven, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2026, one day shy of his 83rd birthday. Born in 1943 to adoring parents Ben and Mary Federowicz, Dave grew up in Naugatuck, Conn., where he distinguished himself as a talented high school athlete. Inducted into Naugatuck’s Athletic Hall of Fame as a captain and three-sport athlete (1993), David went on to become a student-athlete at the University of New…

Editor, educator, and mother of environmental advocates, beloved matriarch Anne Ausubel died peacefully at home in Manhattan in her cherished Upper West Side apartment on July 28, 2026. In July 2025, Anne celebrated her 105th birthday at a raucous party in the family home in Oak Bluffs, covered by The MV Times. The family had begun celebrating Anne’s birthday on-Island in 1955. Born into privation and strife, Anne lived many lives far surpassing anything she could…

Carol L. Clark, 68, of Vineyard Haven, died on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. She was the mother of Caitlyn Clark, and the daughter of Evelyn Christopher. Funeral services will be held at a later date, and a complete obituary will appear in another edition of this paper. The post Carol L. Clark appeared first on .

Carol P. Whitmarsh of Edgartown, wife of Thomas S. Bennett, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, at the age of 76. A full obituary and service announcement will follow in another edition of this paper. The post Carol P. Whitmarsh appeared first on .

Carly Simon’s first album in more than 18 years, “Comes in Waves,” is set to be released this Friday, August 14, six decades after her solo debut. Written and recorded primarily at her Martha’s Vineyard home, the 12-track album combines a body of work that is said to feel “both personal and expansive,” according to a press release from her team. The album was created alongside Simon’s close circle of family, friends, and longtime collaborators, including John Forté, whose appearance…

The tragedy at Long Point will be remembered for generations, and it offers powerful lessons for all of us about navigating the treacherous waters of a rip current.  A father died after trying to rescue his teenage sons amid a rip current late last week at Long Point Wildlife Refuge. What the father, Kevin Foster, 55, of Cambridge, tried to do is nothing short of heroic, and The Times extends our deepest condolences to his family, and our gratitude to first responders…

John B. Freeman of Oak Bluffs passed away on July 29, 2026.  John was an educator for 30 years before retiring to Martha’s Vineyard. He was a very active member of the United Methodist Church of Martha’s Vineyard, and all the ministries connected to UMC of M.V. He loved reminding people he met that God loved them just as they were. He posted several hundred “thoughts and prayers” on the UMC of M.V. Facebook page, focusing on observations, Bible quotes,…

Joan E. (Lang) Keith, of Dedham and Nantucket, died in Bedford, N.H. Thursday, July 23, 2026.

Don Freedman, aged 87, of Belton, Texas and formerly of Nantucket, passed away Saturday, July 25, 2026, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of creativity, determination, love and adventure.

(Aug. 5, 2026) Christopher Eugene Bierley, 63, of Nantucket, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, July 23, 2026.

Peter Vinton Ferguson, 90, of Macungie, Pa., and Oak Bluffs, passed away on July 30, 2026, with his family by his side. Born in Richmond, Va., he was the son of Mary Todd (Sawhill) and Thomas Wells Ferguson Jr. Peter was a graduate of Wilbraham & Monson Academy, and was awarded an ROTC scholarship to Cornell University before earning his bachelor of fine arts degree from the Massachusetts College of Art. His professional career spanned decades as an advertising…

David Michael Alton, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2026, at the age of 78. Born on May 1, 1948, in Pittsburgh, Pa., David was the cherished son of David Alton and Helen (“Sue”) Alton. David’s early years in Forest Hills were marked by the warmth and love of his family and the beginnings of lifelong friendships in the neighborhood and at Central Catholic High School. His journey of learning…

Justine Lucia Collatz Connors, 84, of Nantucket, died Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026. A small, private ceremony honoring Justine's life will be held at a later date, details to be announced.

Sherryl Louise Souza Ramirez, 61, formerly of Nantucket, died Friday, June 12, 2026. Funeral arrangements are private.

After deliberation on a 54-acre, 52-lot development in Edgartown, called Katama Meadows, went long on Thursday night, Martha’s Vineyard Commissioners pushed a final approval or denial until the following week for the second time in a row. And conditions on the proposed single-family housing project, which will be put on the developers to integrate into their plans if it is approved, are already some of the most substantial in Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) history.  “The tenor of the…

Christopher Eugene Bierley, of Nantucket, died Thursday, July 23, 2026. Visitation will be held from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10 at St. Mary’s Church, followed by a mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. Burial at St. Mary’s…

David M. Alton, 78, died on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at his home in Edgartown. He was the husband of Coreen Alton.  A celebration of life 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 David M. Alton appeared first on .

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Nick Tuminaro (“Nick”) on July 22, 2026. Nick exuded joy, a passion for life, and a spark that lit up those around him. His generous heart, uplifting presence, and infectious smile touched the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know him. Born on April 1, 1970, Nick was the beloved eldest son of Dominick and Virginia Tuminaro, and big brother to his three siblings, Dave, Cynthia, and Jonathan. Nick spent nearly 30 years working alongside…

Fay Greene, 91, of Boston and Edgartown, died on July 18, 2026, in Peabody, surrounded by her husband and children. Born at the Martha’s Vineyard Cottage Hospital on August 2, 1934, she was the daughter of James Henry Butler Jr. and Gertrude Fay Butler. The Fay family of Lowell started spending summers on Martha’s Vineyard in 1909. They owned cottages along Beach Road on East Chop, including the New York Yacht Club’s former Martha’s Vineyard Station, which…

Tru Luv Flo, formerly known as Robin Todd Jackson, was born in Urbana, Ill., on Jan. 22, 1956. After recently enjoying another visit with his mother and sister on Martha’s Vineyard (where he spent summers in his youth), Tru passed unexpectedly at his Urbana home on July 11, 2026. He was 70 years young. This gentle soul was a unique, creative, intelligent, and gifted individual who lived life on his terms, seeking a path of peace and happiness. Tru’s life was varied…

Otis P. Jeffers III (“Peter”) passed away on June 18, 2026, at the age of 66, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with mesothelioma. Born in Oak Bluffs to the late Otis P. Jeffers II and Barbara Jeffers, Peter lived life with energy, humor, and a deep appreciation for a good time. He had a gift for making people laugh, bringing people together, and turning ordinary moments into unforgettable memories. Whether he was on the golf course, at a Bruins…

This was a summer highlighted by the World Cup. Bars and eateries across the Island that showcased the games saw crowds of fans who stared at the screens with bated breath, erupting into boisterous cheers or collapsing into silence at the end of their favored team’s run. There was fierce support from fans of the U.S., Brazil, Cabo Verde, England, and Norway on the Vineyard.  In the wake of Spain’s World Cup victory on Sunday, six Democratic Massachusetts senators, including the Cape and…

Aquinnah surely is a magical place. Where else will you find the sound of powerful drumming and beautiful singing, hundreds of people of all ages walking and running around, breathtaking jewelry, the finest artwork, a firetruck, an ambulance, a helicopter, police cars, food vendors, and a booth with antitick socks, all in the same field on the same day at the same time, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. That was the scene during the day last Saturday. That night, a wild storm blew in with pounding…

In “Away to See,” longtime summer residents Paul and Liz Norwood have collaborated on a book of Vineyard moments and places that everyone here will recognize. “Away to See” is a memento of their “favorite corners and experiences,” distilled into illustrations and verses that capture iconic views of Martha’s Vineyard. On the back cover, the Norwoods invite the reader with an image of a sailboat alongside these verses:  An Invitation Each facet of the Vineyard bends and blends land…

Earlier this month, when most of the country was celebrating the Fourth of July, I realized this was the first Independence Day in my whole adult life where I hadn’t acknowledged the seriousness and the beauty of the day. Every year — except this year — I have had the honor of participating in the local televised reading of Frederick Douglass’ famous address, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” If you’ve not heard or read the speech, it is basically an exposé on the hypocrisy…

Tanya Stum, who resided in Oak Bluffs with her family, Michele and Rich Beasley Maloney, during her last years, died on Jan. 27, 2026, holding her sister’s hand, after a valiant battle with resurgent Stage IV breast cancer, which reappeared after 16 years in remission. Tanya was born in Chambersburg, Pa., on April 17, 1967, and lived there her first 18 years. Tanya received her undergraduate degree in voice performance from Carnegie Mellon University and graduate…

Barrett John Snow, Jr., 55, of Allston and formerly of Nantucket, died Monday, July 6, 2026. A funeral and burial were held Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at St. John the Baptist Monastery in Warwick.

• John Harwood asked Julie K. Brown to describe the network of lawyers, financiers, and high profile individuals who were involved in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking scheme. —Dena Porter
• Podcaster and former CNN White House Correspondent John Harwood and Miami Herald investigative reporter Julie K. Brown. —Dena Porter
• The discussion of the Jeffrey Epstein story held the audience’s attention. —Dena Porter
• The Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center’s…

• Event organizers Zoe Treitman and Leah Thomson (left to right) give a speech to the crowd. – Courtesy Swim Across America – Martha’s Vineyard
• – Courtesy swim Across America – Martha’s Vineyard.
• – Courtesy swim Across America – Martha’s Vineyard.
• – Courtesy swim Across America – Martha’s Vineyard.
• – Courtesy swim Across America – Martha’s Vineyard.
• –…

Mark Grandfield, a musician who collaborated with numerous talents on the Island, is remembered for his music, love of his family, and his ability to connect with the people he met.  Grandfield died of a sudden heart attack on March 1 in his New York City home at the age of 71. He is survived by his wife Tova Ferro, daughter Ava Grandfield, and sister Dorsey Grandfield and her family.  Mark Grandfield was born in New Britain, Connecticut and grew up in Ridgewood,…

(July 17, 2026) The state senate last week passed a bill to regulate youth social media use in what one senator said is an attempt to return the platforms to the "OG social media" of the early 2000s.