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Thomas Walker, 86
Was Decorated Navy Veteran
The Gazette received news this week of the death of Thomas J. Walker, a native of Edgartown who had a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy, retiring with the rank of vice admiral. Mr. Walker died on Thursday, May 8, at Scripps memorial Hospital in Encinitas, Calif., at the age of 86.
In a career that spanned more than three decades, Admiral Walker logged 5,500 flying hours in a variety of aircraft.
A month after completing flight training in 1942, he began flying scout-observation planes that were catapulted from the stern of a battleship.
By the time he retired more than 30 years later as a vice admiral, he had served in three wars, received two Distinguished Service medals and commanded the Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet.
His military decorations included a Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.
In 1945, he was assigned to Los Alamos, N.Mex., where he commanded a B-29 crew that prepared to deliver the U.S. military's fourth atomic bomb.
The first bomb had been tested on the deserts of New Mexico in July 1945. The second was dropped on Hiroshima the following month, and the third devastated Nagasaki three days later. The fourth bomb, as it turned out, was reserved for the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
During the Korean War, Admiral Walker developed techniques and tactics for the delivery of atomic weapons from light-carrier-based aircraft as the first commanding officer of Air Development Squadron VX-5 at Moffat Field.
In 1957, he was assigned command of an all-weather training unit in San Diego. He trained pilots in instrument flying, including an air defense squadron attached to the Air Force Defense Command.
His first sea command was in 1959, when he was assigned to the ammunition ship Nitro. In 1960, he became the first commanding officer of the aircraft carrier Constellation.
In June 1966, during the Vietnam War, Admiral Walker served as commander of Carrier Division 3, an assignment that resulted in the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.
Based at North Island Air Station from 1971 until his retirement in 1973, he oversaw the Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet. Under his command were nine aircraft carriers, 16 naval air stations, nearly 100 air squadrons and more than 68,000 service personnel.
As a civilian, he pursued a career in international and domestic marketing with Hughes Aircraft before retiring in 1986.
He then settled into a home near the golf course at Lomas Santa Fe Country Club in Solana Beach. He was an avid golfer.
Admiral Walker was a supporter of and adviser to the San Diego Aerospace Museum and was active in the exclusive Early and Pioneer Naval Aviators Association, better known as Golden Eagles.
He was the son of the late Raymond and Barbara Coffin Walker. He is survived by his wife, Katharine; his sons, Thomas Jr. of Wilton, Conn., and John of Santa Cruz; and two grandchildren. Also surviving are his cousins, Cynthia Riggs, Ann Riggs Fielder, Carlin Smith, Alvida Riggs Jones and Eileen Sibley Robinson. He was predeceased by his sisters, Eileen Walker and Nancy Walker Hand; a brother, James C. Walker, and a son, David Raymond Walker.
Admiral Walker's ashes will be strewn at sea from the aircraft carrier Constellation in full military ceremonies as the carrier steams from Hawaii to San Diego.
Whitney Blake, 76
Was Actress and Filmmaker
Whitney Blake died in her home on the Edgartown Great Pond at the age of 76 in the early hours of Sept. 28. At the time of her passing she was attended by the Hospice of Martha's Vineyard and in the presence of family members.
Ms. Blake enjoyed a long and varied career as an actress, television host of talk shows and filmmaker.
She was a staple of the "golden age" of television, guest-starring on all of the premiere shows of that era including Playhouse 90, Bonanza, Route 66 and others. She starred on the initial episode of Perry Mason and was the first performer to repeat starring roles on that show, once as a "black-eyed blonde" and later as a "restless redhead," and she enjoyed the same status on Maverick. Ms. Blake was perhaps most known for co-starring with Shirley Booth in the hit situation comedy Hazel.
Her career as a performer began on the stage, her arena of choice, at the noted Pasadena Playhouse, and whenever she had a hiatus in film work she would return to that and other stages around the country, playing roles as varied as Ophelia to John Carradine's Hamlet and a gay divorcee in Chin Chin. Her film work included starring in the first Mickey Spillane novel to be translated to the screen and as the wife of Jack Webb in :30 and opposite Sir Laurence Olivier in The Betsy. Her peers demonstrated their respect for the quality of her work by electing her as member of the board of directors of Women In Film.
When TV and film work became less abundant, and less attractive to her, she charted her own turn in the road and for a year co-hosted a talk show on the Los Angeles flagship station of CBS. Following that she reinvented herself again, this time as the writer, director and producer of an award-winning documentary about a California teacher and his "dropout" students. The film, Reno's Kids, 87 days plus 11, honored at the Mill Valley Film Festival, the Chicago Film Festival and the recipient of a Cine award, has been seen in theaters and on TV in more than a dozen countries. Following the success of that venture she showed even further versatility by co-creating the long-running situation comedy One Day At A Time with her husband, writer and producer Allan Manings.
Throughout her adult years, Ms. Blake was an activist for civil rights as a speaker for the A.C.L.U. and open housing. The role of women in our society was vital to her, and she devoted her energies in the causes of equal rights and a women's right to choice. She was unstinting in her willingness to travel far for political candidates who worked to make those beliefs a reality.
Nothing in her life was more important to Ms. Blake than family and friends, but music figured strongly as well. On the Vineyard she sang with the community chorus and the choir of the First Congregational Church in West Tisbury as well as playing recorder with small groups here. Her love of music went with her to her off-Island home in Malibu, Calif., where she sang in the choir of St. Aiden's Episcopal church and was a member of the Westside Ancient Music Group.
Mr. Blake first came to the Island in the wake of Hurricane Bob, and although she did not see the Vineyard at its best, she was immediately taken by the beauty and serenity of the Island and almost at once instituted a search for a site to make a place for her family. This culminated in the building of a home on the pond in Edgartown that has been a haven for her, her husband and their family.
Whitney Blake was born in Eagle Rock, Calif., the oldest offspring of Martha Mae Wilkerson and Harry Whitney. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Harry. Although in her early years her family moved around the country extensively, she attended 16 schools in as many different cities before her high school years, Whitney considered herself a Californian. She completed her education at Pasadena City College.
She is survived by her husband, Allan; three children, Richard of Beverly Hills, Calif., Brian of Minneapolis, Minn., and Meredith of Santa Monica, Calif.; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The family suggests that any donations in Whitney's name be made to the Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust or the Vineyard Conservation Society.
C. Scott Norton, 58
Was Veteran of U.S. Military
C. Scott Norton of Dallas, Tex., died on Thursday, June 26. He was born in Edgartown to Louise M. and Philip J. Norton on March 31, 1945.
Mr. Norton was graduated from Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, attended Bryant Stratton and Boston University. He worked for Dukes County Savings Bank and Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette in New York city. He also owned a furniture and gift store in Houston, Tex., until 1996, when he moved to Dallas.
He served his country in the United States Army in Vietnam and Thailand. During his lifetime, he supported countless charities and philanthropic endeavors.
He is survived by his mother, Louise M. Norton; his brother, Philip J. Norton Jr. and wife Jane of Edgartown; two nephews, Andrew Norton, wife Shelley and son Reid of Alexandria, Va.; and Philip J. Norton 3rd and wife Shannon of Sausalito, Calif. Also surviving him is Randy Denosowicz of Dallas, Tex.
A graveside service will be held in Edgartown at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 3, in the New Westside cemetery with military honors provided by the veterans of Martha's Vineyard. Visiting hours will be held in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs on Wednesday, July 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. A service in celebration of his life will be held in Dallas at a date to be determined. The family has asked that memorials be made to the American Heart Association, the MSPCA or to the charity of your choice.
Ann Rumin, Age 87
Was A Native of Connecticut
Mrs. Ann (DeSantis) Rumin, 87, of Vineyard Haven, died Sunday, August 3 at Falmouth Hospital. She was the widow of Joseph J. Rumin.
Mrs. Rumin was born in Waterbury, Conn., on May 6, 1916, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Pasquale DeSantis. She lived in Naugatuck, Conn., for most of her life before moving to Martha's Vineyard. She retired after 28 years from the footwear division of Uniroyal Inc. She was a former member of the Naugatuck American Legion Auxiliary, the Naugatuck Friendship Club, the Evergreen Club at Waterbury Hospital and the AARP, Naugatuck Chapter 495. Mrs. Rumin enjoyed luncheons and activities at both the Tisbury Senior Center and Naugatuck Senior Center.
She leaves two daughters, Rosemary Ribarik of Danbury, Conn., and Eleanor Bates of Edgartown; three grandchildren, one great-grandson and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday, August 6 at 9:15 a.m. from the Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main street, Naugatuck to St. Mary's Church, 338 North Main street for a Mass at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be in St. James cemetery in Naugatuck. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Church, 338 North Main street, Naugatuck, CT 06770 or to a charity of the donor's choice.
John Brett-Smith
Was Antique Books Expert
John R.B. Brett-Smith, a longtime summer resident of Aquinnah and a passionate antiquarian book collector, died on July 27 at home in Princeton, N.J., surrounded by the family to whom he was devoted.
Born in Oxford, England, in 1917, he was educated at the Dragon School, Oxford and at Rugby. After a year in Freiburg studying German in preparation for the war that he saw looming, he went up to Christchurch, Oxford. There, he studied history from 1937 to 1939 and gained an Oxford Blue in field hockey. He won a Henry fellowship at Harvard; war was declared within 24 hours of his arrival in Boston and he returned immediately to England to enlist in the army. He saw service in Abyssinia, Kenya, the Sudan, Uganda and Madagascar. He returned to England to work in British intelligence at Bletchley Park and was later assigned to the office of the Combined Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C.
After demobilization in 1946, he joined the staff of Oxford University Press in London, taking a year's leave of absence to pursue the Henry fellowship that war had interrupted. He married
Catharine Hill, an associate at the press, in 1952. Together, they came to the United States in 1955 so that he could continue his work in the U.S. branch of Oxford University Press, of which he later became president. During his time at the press, the New English Bible and the two-volume edition of the complete Oxford English Dictionary were produced. He left the press in 1972 and joined Seven Gables Bookshop, where he was able to exercise his passion for rare books. In 1980 he set up his own antiquarian book dealership, Princeton Rare Books.
He and his family first came to the Vineyard in 1960, and in 1963 he found a summer home in Aquinnah to which he was deeply attached. He was able to feel at ease on the Vineyard in a way that remained special throughout his life.
John Brett-Smith had an abiding love for rare books, and a masterful bibliographical knowledge of 17th-century English drama and poetry. Over his lifetime he gathered a rare collection of Restoration plays, which now resides in a congenial home in the Cambridge University Library in England where it is often consulted by historians as well as students of English literature.
He was a member of the Friends of the Princeton University Library, the Grolier Club, the Johnsonian Society, the Bibliographical Society, the American Bibliographical Society, the Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia and the Friends of the Cambridge University Library. He was unfailingly generous in sharing his extraordinary visual memory and his wide-ranging knowledge of 17th-century literature and bibliography with his friends and colleagues.
He is survived by his wife, Catharine, and their children, Sarah, Helena and John. A service will be held at All Saints Church in Princeton, N.J., at 11 a.m. on Sept. 6.
Ruth Noble, Age 87
Was Active in Church Work
After a brief illness, Ruth Noble died peacefully on Sunday, July 20, in Edgartown, at the home of her daughter and son in law, Kathie and Ralph Case. Her family and her cat and constant companion Tigger were by her side. Ruth was 87 years old and the wife of the late James Noble.
Ruth, the youngest daughter of George and Margaret (Martin) Southworth, was born in Fall River Jan. 9, 1916. She grew up in Fall River and as a young adult worked at the Kerr Thread Company and the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. She enjoyed baking and was a talented craft person.
In 1963 Ruth and Jim came to the Vineyard to take care of Jim's brother, David Noble. After his death in 1969, Ruth worked for the Vineyard Nursing Home on Vineyard Haven Road. She retired when Jim did and they would often be seen on Lobsterville Beach fishing or at the Menemsha docks squidding.
After Jim's death, Ruth moved to Hillside Village where she was happy in a small home, living independently.
Ruth was a member of Celestial Chapter #72 in Vineyard Haven, and then of Oriental Chapter Order of Eastern Star of Edgartown, and on the advisory board of the Order of Rainbow for Girls. A communicant of the Methodist Church in Vineyard Haven, she was active in the women's club of the church and worked on many of the ham and bean dinners. In her later years she became an associate member of the Federated Church in Edgartown.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathie Case, and son in law Ralph of Edgartown; a son, Frank Noble, and his wife Linda of Somerset; two granddaughters, Deborah Bergus of Rehoboth and Cheryl Jehn of Greenhithe, New Zealand, and one grandson, J. Douglas Noble, currently in New Zealand. She also has six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Franklin Noble.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 27, at the Federated Church in Edgartown, with a collation to follow in the parish hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vineyard Nursing Association, P.O. Box 2568, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, the Federated Church, P.O. Box 249, Edgartown, MA 02539, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.
Dr. Robert L. Thorne, 78
Was Air Force Veteran
Dr. Robert Leslie Thorne, DDS, 78, of Pennacook street, Oak Bluffs and McIntosh Lake Avenue, Sarasota, Florida, died on Sunday, July 13, 2003, at the Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Oak Bluffs. He was the husband of Hurmie (Todd) Thorne to whom he was married
on August 4, 1946, in Flint, Mich.
Born in Saginaw, Michigan, on July 1, 1925, he was a son of the late Lewis and Emma (Hughes) Thorne. He had been a longtime summer resident of Martha's Vineyard and maintained his primary residence in Sarasota, Fla.
He was a veteran of the United States Air Force having served from 1943-1945 as a navigator and bombardier with the Tuskegee Airmen. Dr. Thorne was the youngest member of the Tuskegee Airmen when he entered the service at the age of 17. He achieved the rank of lieutenant and was enrolled in becoming a pilot at the time of his discharge.
Dr. Thorne had his own dental practice in New York city from 1952 until his retirement in 1994. He was a graduate of New York University. As a dentist, he donated his professional services to the children of New York city who otherwise would go without proper dental care. He had also served as the dentist for the City of New York school department his entire career.
He was a member of the Alpha Fraternity; was a member and served as the past president of the Tuskegee Airmen Association; was a member of the American Dental Society and the Negro Dental Society; was a member of the Gamma Sigma Phi Fraternity and the Boule Honor Society and the Farm Neck Golf Club.
Dr. Thorne was an avid golfer and as a true outdoorsman enjoyed skiing, fishing and hunting.
In addition to his wife of 56 years, he leaves three sons: Dr. Michael Thorne and his wife, Judy, of Detroit, Mich.; Ronald Thorne and his wife, Shawne, of Great Neck, Long Island, and Gary Thorne and his wife, Lynn, of Indian Mountain Lake, Pa.; a sister, Margaret Willis, of California; six grandchildren and 89 nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Emma Louise Boggis, Wilamina McQueen, Donald Thorne, Fred Thorne, Benjamin Thorne and Robert Thorne.
Funeral services and interment will be private.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, 508-695-0200.
Nicholas W. Marathas
Was Island Restaurateur
Nicholas W. Marathas of Natick and Martha's Vineyard died July 16 at his Oak Bluffs residence. He was 82. Mr. Marathas, born in Lowell, was owner of Nick's Lighthouse Restaurant in Oak Bluffs for 30 years.
During his retirement years he drove a tour bus for Island Transportation for 22 years. Nick was the most requested tour driver because of the unique style, knowledge and irrepressible humor that he incorporated in his tour excursions.
He is survived by his wife, Stella (Barakas) Marathas; his children, Bill Marathas of Randolph, Ginny Gianellis-McDonough of Plymouth and Lisa Sarle of Maynard; his siblings, Mary Giosmas of Cambridge, Arthur Marathas of Winthrop, Alexandra Mastrangello of Framingham, Kay Zaglakas of Wellesley, Steve Marathas of Natick and Georgia Cosmopoulos of Framingham, and his grandchildren, Nicole, Jason, Renee, Nicholas G., Jarrod, Jimmy, Gregory, Stephen, Alex, Evan, Justin and Nicholas.
Funeral services were held from the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home in Wellesley on Saturday, July 19, at 9 a.m., followed by a funeral service in St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 57 Brown street, Weston. Interment was at the Woodlawn cemetery in Wellesley.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to Hospice of Martha's Vineyard. P.O. Box 1357, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.
John Macdougall Jr.
Was Former Vineyard Judge
Judge John S. Macdougall Jr., 81, a life-long resident of Haverhill, died Friday at his home. He was the husband of Olive N. Reynolds Macdougall.
Born in Boston October 22, 1921, Judge Macdougall was the son of the late John S. Macdougall Sr. and Mary (Storer) Macdougall. He was a graduate of Haverhill High School, class of 1939; Phillips Exeter Academy, class of 1940; Harvard College, class of 1944, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa; and Harvard Law School, class of 1949.
He was first employed at the former Holland, Johnson & Hays law firm in Boston. He then moved to Haverhill where he took over the law practice of John Bradford Davis, and then went on to become a partner at the Soroka, McDonald, Davis & Macdougall law office in Haverhill. In 1981, former Governor Edward King appointed him First Justice of the Dukes County Probate and Family Court on Martha's Vineyard and Associate Justice of the Middlesex County Probate and Family Court in Cambridge until his retirement in 1991.
Judge Macdougall was committed to the study and practice of law throughout his professional career. For many years he was a trustee and finance committee member of the Pentucket Bank; a finance committee member of both the First Congregational Church and Griffin White Home; a fellow of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel; budget committee member of the former United Way; a 50-year member of the Monday Evening Club and various bar associations. He was widely read and enjoyed the Red Sox and gardening.
Judge Macdougall is survived by his wife of 35 years, Olive N. Macdougall.
A memorial service was held at 2:30 p.m. Monday, July 28, at the First Congregational Church in Haverhill. Interment followed at Mt. Auburn cemetery, Cambridge. Memorial contributions may be made to either the Haverhill Public Library, 99 Main street, Haverhill 01830 or The Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack street, Building 9, Lawrence 01843.
Margaret DeBettencourt
Was Devoted to Family
Margaret Durkin DeBettencourt of Vineyard Haven, a devoted mother and wife, died Tuesday evening, July 22, at her home. She was 78. She was the wife of Raymond J. DeBettencourt.
Margaret was born on Oct. 4, 1924 in New Bedford to the late George and Nora (Leach) Durkin. She grew up in East Providence and was a graduate of East Providence High School. She received her degree from Bryant College and moved to Martha's Vineyard in 1949. She soon after met her husband and they were married
on Jan. 6, 1951. Her mother, Nora, lived with the family until 1974. The family moved to Nantucket from 1956 until 1965. They returned to Martha's Vineyard, where Margaret pursued her career in real estate. For the last several winters, Margaret and Raymond enjoyed spending time in Florida.
In addition to her devoted husband of 52 years, she is survived by her sons, Raymond J. DeBettencourt Jr. of Vineyard Haven and Mark F. DeBettencourt of Cape Cod; one grandson, Sean P. DeBettencourt of Vineyard Haven, and a sister, Nancy Hodgkins of Phoenix, Ariz. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557. Arrangements are by the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.
