Obituaries & Death Notices

BOURNE – Several Tall Ships sailed through the Cape Cod Canal this week en route to Boston Harbor for the start of Sail Boston 2026 this weekend, one of the nation’s largest maritime celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary. Many of the vessels traveling from New York to Boston passed through the Cape Cod Canal over […]

A 1.5-mile drive on Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road took 40 minutes. It felt impossible to send a text or get a call through. Parking at State Beach was haphazard and unattainable. Want a quick cup of coffee? Forget it. These inconveniences and disruptions didn’t overshadow the patriotic spirit of the annual parades or obscure the bursts of fireworks in the night skies, but they did make it much more challenging to enjoy them.  The chaos that came from the big crowds, a heat wave, and torrential…

• Nine-year-old Lukas Thompson reels in his first shark. —Bobby Ball
• Luke Thompson, Charlie Huckins, and Bobby Ball with Lukey’s first shark. —Sandy Fisher

If you’ve seen “Jaws” — and really, who hasn’t seen “Jaws” — you get it when I say, “It’s all psychological. You yell ‘Barracuda,’ everybody says, ‘Huh? What?’ You yell ‘Shark,’ we’ve got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July.” I’m not encouraging anyone to yell “Shark”…

The holiday weekend’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence brought packed parades, booming firework displays, and an unrelenting heat wave.  Days of soaring temperatures, which felt even hotter due to high humidity, were interrupted by torrents of rain and choppy seas that combined to create flooding on Beach Road and Five Corners as traffic jams clogged roads across the Island.  Summer is in full swing on the Island, and a deluge of visitors…

At a construction site in West Tisbury, a cluster of duplexes is almost completed in a project by the nonprofit Island Housing Trust (IHT). Shared front porches are still empty, the grass has yet to be planted, construction dust still hangs in the air, and the four buildings still await finished house siding.  But for the few dozen locals gathered last Thursday for a long-awaited groundbreaking ceremony at Housing Development 401 State Road, the unfinished homes represent one step of many toward…

We made it through the long, humid heat wave, and got some rain to celebrate over the weekend too! I’ve been putting off officially declaring it summertime, but it is time to concede: We are definitely in the throes of it now. We’ve passed the early benchmarks of Memorial Day weekend, the start of summer art and farmer’s markets, and the Taste and the Best of the Vineyard events. We’ve also flown by traditional benchmarks like the summer solstice, the end of…

Graeme L. Flanders, 82, passed away at home on June 23, 2026.  Born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard, Graeme was one of three sons of Leslie and Florence Flanders. Following his education at Tabor Academy, Princeton University, and Georgetown University, and his service in the U.S. Navy, he pursued a career in finance, and worked guiding charitable organizations. Graeme then returned to his Island home, where he could be found behind the wheel of a truck, tractor,…

Glenn Lawrence Field, aged 76, of Nantucket Island and Naples, Fla., passed away Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 3 a.m. in the company of his faithful dog, Charlie and his former fiancée, Diana Back at the Avow Hospice House in…

Gary Dennis Derr, 81, of Nantucket, passed away Friday, July 3, 2026. He was born Sept. 29, 1944 in Millville, N.J. and had been a longtime resident of Nantucket for over 50 years.

Early on the morning of Monday, June 29, 2026, Miriam Mandell (née Gibbons) passed away in her condominium in Philadelphia, Pa. from complications of a stroke.

Miriam Mandell, of Philadelphia and Nantucket, died Monday, June 29, 2026. Services and interment will be private.

Regional high school students will officially begin the upcoming school year with a mascot meant to blow the competition out of the water — or into it. A decisive vote at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) committee meeting on Monday night sealed the deal for students to purchase a mako shark mascot costume, although whether or not the shark will be the final and only mascot still needs to be ironed out. Monday’s decision was the culmination of months of student effort and toggling…

Gary Dennis Derr, 81, of Nantucket, died Friday, July 3, 2026. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, July 10 at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Amid this weekend’s sweltering heat wave, about 60 people congregated inside the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs on Saturday afternoon to listen and participate in the 22nd annual community reading of Frederick Douglass’s speech, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” Douglass first delivered his famous speech on July 5, 1852 in Rochester, New York to the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society. The speech, which criticizes the incongruency of American democratic principles and the existence…

Elizabeth “Betsy” Hawes Weinstock, a writer known for her style both on and off the page, died Monday, June 29, at her home in Chilmark. An acclaimed author, journalist, editor, classically trained pianist, professional-grade French cook, avid gardener, landscape designer, interior decorator, tennis player, amateur chainsaw enthusiast, and multiple blue-ribbon winner at the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Fair, she was the mother of three sons — Nicky,…

On March 1, 2026, Mark Grandfield died of a sudden heart attack at home in New York City. His loss was utterly unexpected, and is felt profoundly. Mark was born in the middle of the summer in 1954 in New Britain, Conn., and was raised in Ridgewood, N.J. He spent every summer of his life, and often more time each year, on Martha’s Vineyard. He grew up as a member of the Harthaven community in Oak Bluffs, where his grandparents had built a home in 1929. In more recent…

Theresa Robley Mulholland, 65, of Nantucket, died Thursday, June 4, 2026. Her ashes are to be spread in Tucson, Ariz.

No single publication could capture every perspective on freedom, nor should it. These reflections are only the beginning. Throughout the summer, Voices on Freedom will continue inviting Islanders from every corner of our community to answer this question, because the story of freedom is still being written — and every voice helps shape its legacy.  Sharisse Scott-Rawlins Sharisse Scott-Rawlins. Courtesy Sharisse Scott-Rawlins Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of 56 white men signed a Declaration…

The United States of America celebrated the 200th anniversary of the country on July 4, 1976. Richard Nixon had resigned on August 9, 1974. The war in Vietnam had ended on April 30, 1975. In the 12 years before those events, the country saw a growing tension between those in power and those who objected to their actions. It began with student protest against racial injustices, and rapidly expanded to frustration with what students saw as embedded and uncaring professors and administrators. Those…

Becky Cournoyer, class of 1985, runs a small farm in West Tisbury with her husband, Mark; they have chickens, goats, geese, visiting oxen and cows, and a huge garden. This is along with many other tasks such as beekeeping, mowing acres of land, chopping wood — and raising three boys.  Becky remembered how difficult it was to be in an open classroom at West Tisbury, and so the small, structured classes at the high school worked much better for her. She was happy with her teachers, and especially…

Independence Day is the annual celebration of America’s birthday — and so, on Martha’s Vineyard, it seems fitting that an innately American sport goes to bat each year on the Fourth of July. While the whole Island will be focused on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Island also has a 100th anniversary to mark in Chilmark at Flanders Field, at one of the oldest pickup softball games in the country. So Sunday morning, at the small diamond on Peaked…

Summer activities have begun. And plans sometimes change because the dog threw up on the slip-covered couch, one of the pillows’ zipper had no stopper for the pull and is now useless, and the main cover fit so tightly that any shrinkage will make it impossible to get back on. Note to self: Breathe in and out slowly, and repeat — don’t give up and don’t blow up.  Did you know that if you lick your thumb and index finger, it makes it easier to open doggie poop bags? And that logos and…

Deborah Susanne Spillane, 59, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.  Debbie was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, whose kindness, strength, and unconditional love touched the lives of everyone who knew her. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all. Debbie dedicated many years of service to the Steamship Authority before retiring. A certified nutritionist health specialist, she was passionate about…

Colin Britt, 40, of West Tisbury, passed away unexpectedly at his home on June 8, 2026.  Colin was a Islander and an accomplished fisherman and carpenter, both lifelong passions. He was admired for his serious and meticulous approach to his crafts.  Colin was predeceased by his father, Tom Britt. He is survived by his mother, Susan; his sister, Hallie; and his beloved daughter, Marguerite. Colin is also mourned by his large extended family, and a circle of…

“With pomp and parade, with shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations.”  –John Adams, on celebrating Independence Day “Shews” means “shows,” and this weekend, the most American show on the Island will be Island Community Chorus’s Fourth of July concert. The chorus’ 2026 repertoire is vast, encompassing multiple genres and eras — but all the pieces share the distinction of being composed by American musicians. The ICC has been performing since 1996, presenting…

James Ronald Shilakes, 84, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Edgartown, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 26, 2026, on Martha’s Vineyard. Born July 17, 1941, in Detroit, Mich., Ron enjoyed a long and successful career with Warner Lambert/Pfizer, retiring as vice president in 2000. He played a key role in bringing numerous life-saving drugs to market, a source of great pride throughout his life. All who knew Ron will remember his sharp wit and humor, his passion for…

Donald McIntosh Fisher Jr. of Butte, Mon., and West Tisbury passed away on June 23, 2026. He was 77.  Memorial services will be private. A full obituary will appear in a later edition of this paper. The post Donald McIntosh Fisher Jr. appeared first on The Martha's Vineyard Times.

Frances Anne Crane Bradley passed away in the wee hours of the morning on June 2, 2026, at the age of 78. It was just like her to wake her family at the crack of dawn, but this time we wish it was because she felt the urge to aggressively vacuum the stairs or to blast Leonard Cohen from the kitchen. Fran was born on July 26, 1947, in Norristown, Pa., the eldest of the four daughters of Paul and Margaret Crane. She graduated from Webber College (Babson Park, Fla.) in…

This past Friday, the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society hosted its first annual Farm Day, inviting guests of all ages to go behind the scenes and see how the Island’s local food is grown. The day-long celebration of Island agriculture was held onsite at seven Island farms — Beetlebung Farm, Island Grown Initiative Regenerative Farm, Native Earth Teaching Farm, North Tabor Farm, Morning Glory Livestock and Vegetable Farm, and Whippoorwill Farm. Lucy Grinnan, program and outreach…

We found the ambergris halfway up the beach at the high tide mark while we were driving back from a little surf casting.  Mark saw it first but I was the first to know what it was.   A wave of greed swept over me the first time I saw it.  Some nasty affliction.  I didn’t tell him what it was at first, hoping that perhaps I could keep it for myself.  I told him he could leave it in the back of my truck and that we would figure out what to do…

• Unveiling of the plaques for named residential buildings. —Sara Creato
• State Sen. Julian Cyr celebrates Navigator Homes. —Sara Creato
• One of the houses was named in honor of Philip J. Norton. —Sara Creato

Navigator Homes, a 26-acre nursing home complex, celebrated the completion of its facility on Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday afternoon. About 150 people, including many of the home’s elderly tenants, gathered beneath…

This summer, ticks are the talk of the town on Martha’s Vineyard. On Wednesday, they were also the subject of a roundtable discussion at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury where Gov. Maura Healey gave her support to Island organizations and town efforts, urging locals to push on with tick mitigation and preparedness.  The event brought the governor into a local — and national — conversation about what some local health experts say is the largest public health issue the Island has faced…

If you follow national news, you’d think that stepping outside on Martha’s Vineyard is a brush with death. The frenzy began last summer when the New York Times likened the impact of the lone star tick to the great white shark. Then the Boston Globe, NBC News, NPR, and CNN all descended on the Island to cover the “alpha-gal syndrome epidemic.” One bite, the headlines warned, and you may never eat a burger again. A man in New Jersey died. RFK Jr. invoked the Vineyard…

It’s been 80 years. Eighty years of the Martha’s Vineyard Polar Bears wading in the water and finding sustenance in fellowship with new and old friends. Every morning, from July 4 through Labor Day, the Polar Bears gather at Inkwell Beach for water aerobics, meditation, and socializing. This year, Zita Cousens will honor the anniversary at her gallery with a special exhibition inspired by the group, on view July 3 through 8.  Three iconic Vineyard photographers…

Pink roses are blooming in my garden. Along the south side of the fence is a good-sized shrub, ‘Heritage,’ a David Austin rose with tightly curled petals and a lovely fragrance. The other is the old-fashioned climber, ‘New Dawn,’ ubiquitous on Vineyard fences, that envelops my porch in a pink cloud every June. Julia Humphreys called the other day asking for my already read New York Times. She had taken hers to be recycled, having forgotten that she was having guests for a lobster dinner on…

While expanding the hunting season remains an important if methodical part of culling the Island’s overabundance of deer, who serve as a vector for a growing Island infestation of ticks, the wider usage of a relatively new state-run program has become a pivotal part of a Vineyard group’s efforts to be more aggressive in culling the Island’s deer population by 70 percent.  Tick Free MV, a local nonprofit whose mission is to mitigate the harm from tick-borne conditions, has been making efforts…

Christopher Franklin Barritt, 72, of Mount Airy, Md., passed away unexpectedly on June 13, 2026, only two and a half months after the death of his beloved wife of 53 years, Eleonore.  He was born on Sept. 22, 1953, to Clay and Maxine Barritt. Chris lived a life defined by curiosity, craftsmanship, determination, and an enduring love of adventure. We find comfort in imagining him cycling into the sunset, reunited with Eleonore and the many beloved dogs who shared…

The Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School (MVPCS) heralded the beginning of construction of a project room and office space with a last day of school celebration on Tuesday morning. Gathered on the school’s basketball court under an overcast sky, MVPCS students, faculty, families, and community members took in remarks by school officials and honored students and Brazilian culture. School officials commemorated the start of construction with a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony.  The first…

Dr. Judith R. Birsh, 90, died on June 17, 2026, at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, after a brief illness.  A longtime resident of West Tisbury, first as a summer visitor, then, since 2020, as a year-round resident, she was an active and generous community member. Dr. Birsh served on the West Tisbury Library Foundation board and, for many years, contributed her expertise as a dyslexia and learning disabilities educator to those in need of help on the Island. She was…

With the heaviest of hearts, we share the heartbreaking news that Otis P. Jeffers III (“Peter”) passed away peacefully on June 18, 2026, at the age of 66.  Peter was deeply loved by so many. We take comfort in knowing how many lives he touched, and how much he meant to those who knew him. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 27, at 1 pm at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Bluffs, with a celebration of life to follow at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak…

Albert E. Lussier, Jr., 91, of Siasconset and Middlebury, Conn., died Friday, June 19, 2026. A celebration of life will be held at the Siasconset Chapel at the convenience of the family.

Craig Kay, 75, of Alford and formerly of Nantucket, died Thursday, June 18, 2026. A celebration of life will be held Sunday, July 12 in Alford.

Robin Sternbergh Callahan, 79, of Nantucket and Stuart, Fla., died Monday, June 15, 2026. No service information is available at this time.

Eileen Patricia (née Lipkowski) Willett, 81, of Edgartown, passed away on June 17, 2026, in Oak Bluffs, with her family by her side.  Born on April 3, 1945, to parents Louise (Gorlewski) and John Lipkowski, in Chicago, Eileen was a dedicated special education teacher, touching the lives of hundreds of students in the Chicago area. She loved reading, drawing, gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, and brothers Richard…

Gemma Rose Nicoletti, 35, of Wellesley, died Monday, June 15, 2026. A celebration of life will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, June 26 at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church in Wellesley Hills.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS — A 49-year-old Carver man has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to participate in an animal fighting venture, admitting his central role in a years-long dogfighting ring that bred, trained, fought, and gambled on pit bull-type dogs while inflicting severe cruelty on the animals. Corey Elliott (note: no booking photo provided by the D.O.J.) entered the plea agreement with federal prosecutors for violating the federal Animal Welfare Act. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled.…

In a turn of events, after the State House of Representatives removed provisions to expand hunting access across Massachusetts proposed by Gov. Maura Healey in a budget bill earlier this month, legislators passed those same allowances in another bill Wednesday night. Healey originally filed a supplemental bill that included a reversal of the law that prohibits hunting on Sundays, an expansion of access to crossbows, and a reduction of the setback limit, or distance…

Dedicated to my friend, Patricio Honores. There are moments in life that change us physically, emotionally, and spiritually all at once. Sometimes those moments arrive suddenly, without warning, and leave us searching for meaning in the aftermath. For me, that moment came through an accident that could have left me feeling frightened, isolated, and defeated. Instead, it revealed something extraordinary about humanity, friendship, and what many people call karma. As a reminder, the accident occurred…

Back in March, Gov. Maura Healey announced in the middle of an East Falmouth wildlife management area that she planned to file legislation in a budget bill to modernize hunting laws that currently limit access to the sport across the state. But a revised version of that supplemental budget passed by the State House of Representatives last Wednesday, which now goes to the State Senate for consideration in the coming weeks, didn’t include the provisions on hunting.…

The Martha’s Vineyard Museum was filled to capacity on Thursday, June 11, to hear a distinguished panel discuss the history, legacy, resiliency, and power of community among the Cottagers, who are, as moderator Linda Moffat said, “generations of black women who have shown up, spoken out, and lifted others along the way for 70 years.” She continued, “Let’s take that in. Seventy years…