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Lawrence Fogg, 94
Was Former Island Educator
Lawrence A. Fogg, 94, a retired educator and school administrator, died on Tuesday, May 1, at the Pilgrim Manor Nursing Home in Plymouth. He was the husband of Norma R. Hewson Fogg and the late Ruby Strom Fogg.
Born in Buxton, Me., son of the late Jonathan A. and Ina Ford Fogg, he was a graduate of Buxton High School and received bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Gorham Normal School, Bridgewater State College, Fitchburg State College and Calvin Coolidge College.
He had lived in Carver for the past 15 years.
Mr. Fogg began his educational career in 1924 at the age of 17 in Buxton, teaching grades one through eight, and then in Hollis, Me., teaching grades five through eight. The Fogg family came to Vineyard Haven in 1930 and Mr. Fogg served as assistant principal of the Tisbury School for 11 years until he resigned to become principal of the Rogers Grammar School in Fairhaven. He later served as the first superintendent of the Wachusett Regional School and was superintendent of schools in Westport for eight years. Prior to his retirement in 1967, he was the supervisor of teacher training at Southeastern Massachusetts University in Dartmouth.
He was a member of the Redmen's Lodge and the Masons in Westport, and was also a lay preacher for many years. On the Island, he was active in the First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Morna M. Rimbach of Middleboro and Suzanne Raps of Carver; one grandchild and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the United Parish of Carver, with interment in South Buxton, Me. Arrangements were by the Shepherd Funeral home.
Allan R. Freelon Jr.
Was Pioneering Businessman
Allan R. Freelon Jr., 76, died in North Carolina on Friday, July 6, in his home following a valiant fight with cancer.
Allan was a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and was the son of Allan Randall and Marie Cuyjet Freelon. After graduating from Central High School, he served in the Navy during World War II and rose to the rank of ensign. He married
Elizabeth Mae Neale of Philadelphia in 1946 and, after graduation from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, they moved back to Philadelphia.
Mr. Freelon was a pioneer in the field of medical technology. He worked for Cordis Corporation, based in Miami, Fla., for 25 years, his final position being that of Head of Sales for Europe and the Middle East. After his retirement from Cordis Corporation and spurred by his entrepreneurial spirit, he founded several successful businesses which marketed high-tech medical devices to hospitals and doctors around the world. He maintained a residence on William street in Vineyard Haven and spent many happy days on the Vineyard.
He is survived by his children, a daughter, Randall Freelon Vega, and three sons, Gregory Allan Freelon, Philip Goodwin Freelon and Douglas Neale Freelon, six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and his estranged wife, Mary Flanagan.
Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Durham County Unit, 11 South Boylan, Suite 221, Raleigh, NC, 27603 or by calling 800-227-2345.
Michael R. Bruce
Enjoyed Summers in Mattakessett
Mattakessett homeowner Michael R. Bruce, 63, devoted husband of Beverly Brown, died Saturday, Oct. 6, 2001 at Martha's Vineyard Hospital.
Mr. Bruce grew up in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. and was a graduate of Austin High School, the University of Detroit and MIT. He owned his Edgartown home at Mattakessett since 1972. He was a retired IBM executive, COO of Sequoia Systems, president & CEO of Storage Systems, and executive consultant for Storage Computer Corporation. He also served as a director for E-Transport, AlphaNet Solutions, Princeton Financial Systems, ECCS, Inc. and multiple high tech start-ups.
Mr. Bruce was a man who enriched the lives of his family and friends, indeed, everyone whose life he touched. He had a keen mind and turned a conversation into an intellectual experience. He was a patient, generous, gentle man and an entertaining storyteller. Mr. Bruce was an avid fisherman, big game hunter, chess player, photographer, fencer and collector of 1950's sports cars. In the past few years he spent time in Africa hunting and recently returned from a caribou hunt in northern Quebec. He was active in the National Republican Party and was a member of the Safari Club International, the National Rifle Association and the United States Fencing Association.
Michael and Beverly had retired to the historic Well Sweep Farm in the foothills of the New Hampshire Ossipee mountain range where they renovated and expanded the farm for family and guests to enjoy. He was a man who loved nature and he enjoyed sharing his homes, adventures, wisdom and stories with friends and family. He was especially noted for his historical tours given for his guests at Mattakessett, Well Sweep Farm, Boston, San Jose, San Francisco, France and Germany.
His wife Beverly Brown; sons John, Charlie, Mike and Erik Brown; his sister Kathleen Boemer, his brothers John and Charlie; eight grandchildren and many nieces and nephews survive him.
A private memorial service was held on Wednesday, Oct. 9th at Well Sweep Farm in Tuftonboro, New Hampshire. Memorial contributions may be made to the Safari Club International Foundation/Disabled Hunter Program, in memory of Michael Bruce. Mail to Ken James, finance officer, Safari Club International Foundation, 4600 West Gates Pass, Tucson, Arizona 85745
Bertha V. Robinson, 83
Was Native of Gay Head
Bertha Vanderhoop Giles Robinson died while surrounded by her family on Nov. 15 in Boston. She was born in Gay Head on March 13, 1918, to Cummings Adrian and Jestina Vanderhoop.
After attending Gay Head's one-room school house, she was graduated from Tisbury High School and then went on to attend Dean Academy. After graduating from the Boston School of Occupational Therapy in 1942, she traveled alone across country to her first job as an occupational therapist at the Tacoma Indian Hospital in Tacoma, Wash.
During all these years, Bertha helped her sister, Viola MacDiarmid, operate a gift shop at the Gay Head Cliffs. Bertha's college training was funded from the pottery they made using the colorful clay from the cliffs. After the untimely death of her sister, she became sole owner of the business, which she later gave to two of her daughters.
On a trip to Mexico with her sister, Thelma, she met and later married
Fransisco Jose Giles of Taxco. Three daughters and one son were born of this marriage. Bertha and Jose later opened the Jose Giles Mexican Jewelry gift shop in Edgartown. Bertha lived and traveled extensively throughout Mexico selecting jewelry and handcrafts for their shop.
Subsequent to a divorce, she later married
Walter Robinson of Fayetteville, Ark., where they lived for several years. After a period of time, Bertha was widowed.
Being mindful of the many struggles that Native people have always had to endure, Bertha served her Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) in various capacities. She was also active in her community, serving on many town boards.
She was predeceased by her brothers, Clarence, Cummings Earl and Alfred Vanderhoop, and sisters, Viola MacDiarmid, Ida Colby and Thelma Weissberg, as well as by a granddaughter, Ana Ignacio.
She is survived by her four children, Adrianna (Bruce) Ignacio, Carla (Forrest) Cuch, David (Alicia) Giles and Berta (Vernon) Welch, and her two sisters, Beatrice Gentry of Aquinnah and Barbara Taylor of Gig Harbor, Wash. Surviving grandchildren are Ona (Ben) Ignacio-Cameron, Amera Ignacio, Cameron and David Cuch, Frank and John (Iritza) Perez and Nerissa Giles, and Giles and Sophia Welch. Bertha has three great-grandchildren, Skyler Cameron, Zenara and DeMarco Perez. She is also survived by numerous niece, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Funeral services were held at graveside in Aquinnah on Monday, Nov. 19.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Aquinnah Cultural Center, 20 Black Brook Road, Aquinnah, MA 02535.
Frank B. Rocha Jr.
Was Vineyard Haven Native
Frank B. Rocha Jr. of Vineyard Haven died August 23 in Boston Medical Center after a long illness.
Frank was born in Tisbury on June 14, 1924 to Frank B. Rocha Sr. and Mary Borges. He was a lifelong Island resident and educated in the Vineyard Haven schools.
Frank married
Dresna Pearlstein in 1983 after courting her for 15 years.
He was a mason’s helper for Fred Thifault and most recently was working for Community Services as a maintenance worker.
He was a parishioner of St. Augustine’s Church and member of the Holy Ghost Society.
He enjoyed country music, watching the boats in the harbor and taking rides to Woods Hole and back on the ferries.
He is survived by his wife and four sisters, Ruth Rocha, Madelyn Munn and Frances Rocha all of Vineyard Haven and Dorothy Cassell of Yarmouthport and several nieces and nephews.
His funeral mass was celebrated in St. Augustine’s Church on Monday, August 27. Interment followed in Oak Grove cemetery, Tisbury. Arrangements were by the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs.
Donations may be made in his memory to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen street, Framingham, MA 01701.
M. Jayne (Mycroft) Regan
Summered in Oak Bluffs
M. Jayne (Mycroft) Regan, a former schoolteacher, died Sept. 21 at her home in Rockland after a long battle with cancer. She was 72.
A native of Providence, R.I., Jayne attended St. Michael's and St. Xavier's schools before going on to attend Salve Regina College. She graduated as president of Salve Regina's first graduating class in 1951.
Jayne was a summer resident on Nantucket avenue in Oak Bluffs for the past fifty years with her husband, Richard. Her winter residence for the past thirty years was in Hingham. She was a schoolteacher at St. Paul's School in Hingham for fourteen years before retiring in 1986.
Jayne is survived by her husband Richard M. Regan of Rockland; sons Richard M. Regan, Jr. of Shrewsbury and Mark J. Regan of Tampa, Fla.; daughters Mary R. Coleman of Needham and Ann P. Murphy of Walpole; brother Walter J. Mycroft, Jr. of Wesley Chapel, Fla.; sister Claire F. Curry of Tallahassee, Fla. and ten grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at St. Paul's Church in Hingham on Sept. 26. She was interred in St. Paul's cemetery in Hingham.
Memorial contributions may be made in Jayne's name to the St. Paul's Parish Development Fund, North Street, Hingham, MA 02043 and to the Salve Regina Pioneer Class of 1951 Scholarship Fund, Salve Regina University, 100 Ochre Point avenue, Newport, RI, 02840.
Catherine D. Paull
Was Active in Volunteer Work
Catherine Durrigan Paull of Edgartown died Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Windemere Nursing Home in Oak Bluffs. She was born Feb. 26, 1908 to James and Bridget (Casey) Durrigan in Ardee, County Louth, Ireland.
After attending The Convent of Mercy in Ardee, Kate, as she was known to family and friends, traveled to the United States at the age of 18 to New York, where she was immediately employed by Schrafft's as a hostess. While in New York, Kate met her husband, John Paull; they were married
in 1942. They moved to Washington, D.C., where John, a prominent attorney, had been appointed to the chairmanship of the War Contracts Board. Kate decided to go to work for Garfinkle's Department Store, where she was hired as an assistant buyer for the women's sportswear department and was soon promoted to head buyer for the same department. She took great pride in her jobs, but her favorite job was at Garfinkle's, where she had a very successful and fulfilling career. Kate had many entertaining stories about both of her jobs, which she enjoyed sharing with family and friends.
Kate first found her way to Martha's Vineyard as a visitor in the 1930s and fell in love with the beautiful landscape. She and her husband eventually retired to Edgartown in 1963 after vacationing here many years.
Aside from her successful career, Kate found time to volunteer her time to the Martha's Vineyard Boys' and Girls' Club. She was a communicant of St. Elizabeth's Church and was always volunteering her unparalleled baking talents to the church bake sales. Kate was a tireless volunteer and generous person to family, friends and strangers alike.
She is survived by her sister, Ann Honan of New York state; a stepson, Richard W. Paull of Vero Beach, Fla., and her nieces, Ann Durrigan of Edgartown and Barbara Nealon of Ashville, N.C., as well as numerous nieces and nephews in Ireland.
Her funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, in St. Elizabeth's Church, Edgartown. Visiting hours at the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs were held Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. Donations may be made in her memory to the Red Cross Relief Fund for the victims of the New York city attack, to the Boys' and Girls' Club at P.O. Box 254, Edgartown, MA 02539 or to St. Elizabeth's Church, P.O. Box 156, Edgartown, MA 02539.
George Russell Luce
Was Volunteer for Red Cross
George Russell Luce of Vineyard Haven died Wednesday evening, August 1, at Martha's Vineyard Hospital. He was 73.
He was born in Oak Bluffs on Oct. 24, 1927, a son of late C. Russell and Bertha (Norton) Luce, and was graduated from Tisbury High School with the class of 1947. Mr. Luce was a finish carpenter by trade and helped build the Ocean Park bandstand in Oak Bluffs. He raised and lowered the Edgartown flag for 30 years and wound the town clock for 20 years.
Mr. Luce was Master of Oriental Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Edgartown from 1975 to 1976 and was Tyler many years. He was also a member of Aleppo Temple Shriners, past Sachem of Tashmoo Tribe Redman I.O.R.M. in 1948, past Governor of Loyal Order Of Moose in 1951 and past patron of Oriental Chapter #73 Order of the Eastern Star. He was presiding President of the Masonic Temple Corp.
Mr. Luce was the blood donor coordinator for the Martha's Vineyard Red Cross Chapter Service since 1991. At ceremonies held in March, he received a high state honor, the Red Cross Gift of Life Volunteer Award, for his 11 years of faithful service in running the blood drive.
He leaves his longtime companion, Grace E. Smith of Vineyard Haven; three daughters, Sandra Gilkes of Vineyard Haven, Patricia Buckley of Oak Bluffs and Brenda Weitzel of Minnesota; also five grandchildren and his sister, Anna Lee Eliott of New Hampshire.
His graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 7, in the Oak Grove cemetery, Vineyard Haven, with the Rev. Roger Spinney officiating. Visiting hours will be in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs on Monday, August 6, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Donations may be made in his memory to the American Red Cross, MV Chapter, P.O. Box 1116, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 or Oriental Lodge A.F. & A.M.,c/o Secretary Goulart, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.
Mary Agnes Burgess
Mary Agnes Burgess of Sacramento, Calif., and formerly of Tisbury, wife of the late Joseph Fred Burgess, died on March 3, 2001. She was 92.
A Memorial Mass will take place on Thursday, Sept. 13, at 9 a.m. in St. Augustine's Church, Vineyard Haven, followed by interment in the family lot at the Oak Grove cemetery, Tisbury.
Arrangements are by the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs
Daniel Alisio
A memorial service for Daniel Alisio, who died on June 28, 2001 will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, August 8, at Grace Episcopal Church, Woodlawn avenue, Vineyard Haven.
Hazel Keith Sears, 88
Summered at Wasque
Hazel Keith Sears, 88, of Woodstock, Conn., died on Monday, August 6, at the Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Richard N. Sears, whom she married
in 1941.
Mrs. Sears was born March 18, 1913, in Brockton, the daughter of the late Karl and Lottie (McConkie) Sears. She made her home in Woodstock most of her life, spending winters in St. Augustine, Fla., and summers at Wasque Cottage, Chappaquiddick.
Mrs. Sears was a founding member of the Woodstock Players and directed and acted in many of their productions. She volunteered hundreds of hours at the Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam and also at the Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine. At one time she served as head of the Women's Board of the Day Kimball Hospital.
She enjoyed the New York Times crossword puzzles and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was an avid bridge player, enjoyed playing the piano and organ and had a great love for jazz. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by four sons and their spouses: Christopher and Ginny Sears of Woodstock; Anthony and Aija Sears of Yonkers, N.Y.; Richard and Debbie Sears of Sneden's Landing, N.Y., and Paul and Christine Sears of Upton. She also leaves two daughters, Sally Sears Sinclair of Hudson, Ohio, and Anne B. Sears of Norfolk, Va.; one sister, Lorna Baldwin of Amherst; 19 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Keith G. Sears, in May 2001, and her husband, Richard Sears, in 1992.
A memorial service will be Saturday, August 18, at 2 p.m. in the East Woodstock Congregational Church, Woodstock Road, East Woodstock. There are no calling hours. Interment will be in Indian Hill Burial Ground, Chappaquiddick.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the East Woodstock Congregational Church, Organ Maintenance Fund, P.O. Box 156, East Woodstock, CT 06244. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove street, Putnam, is in charge of the arrangements.
Delmont Estabrook, 64
Was U.S. Navy Veteran
Delmont (Ralph) Estabrook died at his home in Florida on July 30 at the age of 64 after a lengthy illness.
He served in the U.S. Navy, enlisting on Dec. 13, 1955. After completing some marine school, he worked as a torpedo man mate 3rd class on the USS Sea Robin SS407 and was honorably discharged on Dec. 12, 1961. After finishing the Navy, he went into the electrical trade and had his journeymen's license. Retiring from electrical work in 1995, he moved to Bradenton, Fla.
Mr. Estabrook was predeceased by his three brothers and one sister. He is survived by his wife, Helen Estabrook; three stepdaughters, Sandra Gilkes of Edgartown, Patricia Buckley and Brenda Weitzel, and five grandchildren. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at a later date to be announced.
Henrietta W. Hermenau
Was Native of Oak Bluffs
Henrietta Webb Hermenau died on Wednesday, August 16, at the Center for Optimum Care in Mashpee. She was 96 years old.
She was born on April 5, 1905, to Aaron Taylor Webb and Lottie Lee Norton in Oak Bluffs. She married
and divorced in Edgartown, where she lived for many years.
In 1954, she married
Arthur E. Hermenau, who preceded her in death. She lived on the Vineyard all her life, until moving to Mashpee in 1995.
Etta, as she was called, enjoyed crocheting and braiding rugs. Family and friends remember her gifts of homemade jelly and relish. She loved to walk and on her travels kept the roadsides clear of aluminum cans. Her favorite Island spot was the Art Cliff Diner, where she could get a good meal and visit with friends.
She is survived by her daughter and son in law, Priscilla Ann Mazzella and Jack Mazzella of Longmont, Colo.; three grandchildren, Regina Barton of Johnstown, Colo., Jack Michael Mazzella of Buena Vista, Colo., and Annette Halverson of Gillette, Wyo.; three great-grandchildren, Andrea Wood of Casper, Wyo., Morgan Phillips of Gillette, Wyo., and Maxwell Mazzella of Buena Vista, Colo.; four stepchildren, Marie Hadfield of Westport, Carl Hermenau of Vineyard Haven, Arthur Hermenau Jr. of Pembroke and William Hermenau of Brockton; 10 step-grandchildren and several step-great-grandchildren.
One sister, Lottie W. Hufford of Boulder, Colo., survives her. Two brothers, three sisters and a nephew preceded her in death. Her nieces, Lucia Small of Hyannis and Barbara Maciel and Shirley Kaeka of Vineyard Haven, were devoted to her care in her late years. She is also survived by two nieces, Marian Docherty of North Attleboro and Arlene Daigle of Windham, Me.; two nephews, Stanley Rhodes of Ontario, Canada, and Garry Rhodes of Shirley.
She will be cremated. In the spring, a family service will be held at the Farm Neck cemetery. The family has requested that any donations be sent to Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands.
