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L. Thomas Linden
Was Former Tisbury Official
L. Thomas Linden, Tisbury executive secretary from 1988 to 1993, died suddenly on July 11 in Shirley, apparently of a heart attack. He was 67.
Mr. Linden was Shirley's town administrator from 1994 until the present.
A memorial service was held Monday at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Wayland, where he and his wife, Sally, raised their two daughters and made their primary home for 41 years. His family hopes to hold a gathering of friends on the Vineyard in the fall.
Mr. Linden is fondly remembered in Tisbury, in and beyond town hall. Aase Jones, secretary to the Tisbury selectmen, recalled him this week as a gracious person. "I never saw him angry. We disagreed on many things, but he was so generous, and bright. He'd send me a memo … he was so witty, and a meticulous craftsman of the English language. I kept all his memos for years."
"Tom was executive secretary when I started here, "said Jay Wilbur, Tisbury's harbor master since 1992. "We worked as a team - he had a cooperative point of view of what our job was, was always helpful and optimistic. He cared very much about his job and his town. I was very fond of the man."
Selectman Tristan Israel called him "a nice, gentle man. He was always good to me, a decent guy. It was a tough time."
After he accepted the position in 1988, Mr. Linden bought the house on the north corner of Main street and Daggett. His wife, a librarian at Wellesley College, joined him on weekends. He walked to work. After work, he'd walk to Net Result and buy whatever he found choice, enough for dinner for one.
"He was a perfect gentleman," said Louis Larsen, owner of Net Result. "I'd call him Mr. Linden, he'd call me Mr. Larsen. Then it was Louis and Tom. He'd buy six cherrystones, and wouldn't fold the bag. He always returned his bags looking like he never used them."
"He loved his food, he loved his wine, he loved to travel," recalled Aase Jones. "And he had a wonderful laugh. I loved his laugh."
Mr. Linden was a graduate of Noble and Greenough School, and of Harvard College in 1956. He attended Columbia Law School for three years, while macular generation of the central part of his retina gradually reduced his eyesight. Despite being declared legally blind in his third year, he was refused a reader for his exams, and he had to withdraw before graduating. Boston College Law School admitted him, provided him with a reader, and he received his degree two years later. He passed the Massachusetts bar exam on his first try.
He went on to work for the Boston Legal Aid Society from 1960 to 1966, then became counsel and administrator for the Eli Sandman Co. In 1983 he joined the Massachusetts Municipal Association as executive secretary, "turning his hobby into his vocation," according to his wife. He was a selectman in Wayland from 1968 to 1988.
While in Tisbury, he was asked by a group of environmentally concerned citizens to reactivate the harbor management committee. He agreed.
"Let's revive it, but let's not make this adversarial," Harriet Barrow, vice president of Tisbury Waterways Inc., recalled him as saying. He brought together the harbor management committee and TWI, and helped them to work together on such issues as pump-out stations, water quality testing and writing the pamphlet passed out to boaters. As a citizen, he became active in TWI and remained so until last week, providing help wherever needed, from legal to physical.
"He worked nonstop on the yearly clambake, "said Mrs. Barrow, "setting up and taking down tables, making the dip. He will be missed this weekend [the annual TWI clambake]. I could call him anytime for legal advice - he was invariably correct."
The respect the town of Shirley felt for Tom Linden bordered on adoration. The July 16 edition of the town's newspaper, the Shirley Volunteer, printed some dozen separate recollections written by, among others, a selectman, a librarian, an ambulance driver, the superintendent of schools, the town clerk and the chief of the Shirley fire department. The writers echo assessments heard in Tisbury since his death, describing him as helpful, intelligent, sensitive, incisive and fair.
The Boston Globe of July 13 quoted Ayer town administrator Anita Hegarty recalling "Mr. Linden's gentle manner." She added, "Tom was a truly genuine person. He was very down to earth, and always used common sense when dealing with contentious issues and day-to-day problems." Last Friday's Lowell Sun praised his humanity.
In addition to his wife, the former Sally Blumberg, Mr. Linden is survived by his daughters, Hannah, and her partner, Cheryl Scott, of Seattle; and Joan, and her husband, Jeff Coyne, of Roslindale. Also surviving are a younger brother Richard and his wife Leilani of Sherborn.
The town of Shirley has set up a Tom Linden Memorial Fund. Contributions may be sent to the fund at Town Hall, P.O. Box 518, Shirley, MA 01464.
At the end of Mr. Linden's memorial service in Wayland, a parishioner from the Unitarian Church climbed the steeple stairs and, wielding a wooden mallet, struck the Church's Paul Revere bell 67 times.
Lois Virginia Sparks, 47
Had a Gift for Friendship
Lois Virginia Sparks, age 47, a resident of New York city for 20 years, died of cancer on June 26 in Chilmark.
Ms. Sparks was president of Sparks Systems, a small telecommunications consulting firm based in New York city. She was an avid traveler who loved life, laughter and 20 years of gathering with friends on the Vineyard. Her upbeat attitude, contagious enthusiasm and gift for friendship were legendary. Her special gift was linking people from diverse backgrounds and places. Her determined spirit as a nine-year cancer survivor and veteran of seven operations inspired many cancer patients and friends around the world. She was cared for in her last weeks by family, friends and the Visiting Nurse Service and Hospice program on the Vineyard.
She loved New York city, participating in her block committee and the famous annual 69th street Halloween parties. She served as a chalice bearer at All Angels' Church and, as a member of the altar guild, chairing the flower ministry. A native of Birmingham, Ala., she was graduated from Auburn University where she belonged to the Pi Beta Phi sorority. Growing up on the Tennessee River, she learned boating and water skiing early in her life. She always enjoyed exploring new places, particularly Italy, the Adirondacks and beaches of any kind.
She was predeceased by her sister, Jean Sparks Stanfield. She is survived by her parents, Caroline and Chester Sparks of Guntersville, Ala., and her sister, Caroline Sparks of Washington, D.C. Other survivors include nephews, William Stanfield and Christopher Stanfield; her niece, Jeanne Crago; great-nephews David and Andrew Crago; great-niece, Emily Crago; brother in law, Joseph Stanfield, and her beloved dachshund, Latte.
A service in celebration of her life was held at 4 p.m. on July 8 at All Angels' Church, 251 West 80th street, New York city. Interment will be in the garden of Church of the Epiphany, 1101 Sunset Drive, Guntersville, Ala., at 11:30 a.m. on July 20 and in Abel's Hill cemetery on Martha's Vineyard. Memorials may be made to the Adopt-A-Bench Program, Central Park Conservancy, Lois Sparks Fund for a park bench near the entrance to 69th St W, where she always walked Latte. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.
Lillian Rokicki, 80
Was Devoted Mother, Friend
Lillian V. Rokicki, 80, of Connecticut, a former resident of Oak Bluffs, died on July 14, at home with her family at her side.
Born July 24, 1921, in New Bedford, she was a daughter of the late Konstanty and Victoria (Budnik) Strzepek.
On Feb. 21, 1943, she wed Joseph W. Rokicki in New Bedford. Together they shared 56 years of marriage before he predeceased her on May 5, 1999.
In her spare time, she thoroughly enjoyed playing bridge with her friends at area senior centers. Most importantly, she was a loving mother, grandmother and friend, ever devoted to her family, always there with an optimistic outlook and a personality filled with sweetness.
She is survived by her daughter, Tanya, and her husband, James Gustafson, of Marlborough; two sons, Joseph and his wife, Frances, of Bolton, and Glen and his wife, Connie, of Hebron, and six grandchildren, Daren, Erik, Kara, Elyssa, Krista and Tricia.
The funeral procession assembled Wednesday morning, July 17, at 9:30 a.m. at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home in Colchester. An 11 a.m. funeral liturgy followed at the Church of the Holy Family in Hebron with Fr. Michael Smith officiating. Interment afterward was at the State Veterans cemetery, Middletown.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Holy Family, 185 Church street, Hebron, CT 06248, or the VNA Health Care, 103 Woodland street, Hartford, CT 06105.
Howard Henrikson
Served Nation and Island
Howard Russell Henrikson, 87, died on July 8 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He was flown there from Martha's Vineyard Hospital early Sunday morning with severe complications from a stroke, and passed peacefully, in a coma, with his wife, Betty, son Douglas and daughter Susan at his side. It was the way Howard wished to depart this life, quickly and after a full and active day on his beloved Vineyard. For that, his family gives thanks.
Mr. Henrikson was born in Providence, R.I., on May 31, 1915, the son of Arthur G. Henrikson and Ruby A. Hulting. Coming of age in the depth of the depression years, Howard held jobs during the day to support his family, attending night school classes at Northeastern University in Boston. He spent several years in retail credit management in Baltimore, Trenton, N.J., and Providence with the old Bond clothing store chain gaining valuable business and management skills.
Shortly after Pearl Harbor, Mr. Henrikson enlisted in the Naval Air Corps, training as a naval aviator for carrier duty. His initial training was at Squantum, followed by advanced flight training at Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and San Diego, Calif. Then it was on to the South Pacific, where he was stationed at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal shortly after the Marines had secured that island. When Mr. Henrikson's told his tales of life at a jungle base fraught with heat, insects, malaria and nightly sorties on Japanese targets with enemy Zeros often engaging the marine and navy pilots, he would hold everyone's attention. Some of his most enjoyable moments, he said, came when he was back on base with a refreshing cold Miller High Life or Schlitz beer in hand.
Mr. Henrikson was transferred to the aircraft carrier Princeton and saw combat during the Marshall and Gilbert Island campaigns. After a year of combat duty, he returned home to Providence for a month's leave before being assigned to VT87 at Quonset Point, R.I. From there the squadron was sent to the Martha's Vineyard Naval Air Auxiliary Base, now Martha's Vineyard Airport. It is well known to their many friends that Howard and Betty Wight met that summer of 1944 on the Vineyard. This lovely Island thus became the love of their lives and became, in future years, their retirement home.
Mr. Henrikson spent another year of combat duty in the South Pacific on the carrier Ticonderoga with VT87, in Okinawa and over Japan -- Tokyo Bay -- where on July 24, 1945, his squadron of Avengers sank the battleship Hyuga and cruiser Tone. For this action Mr. Henrikson and his squadron mates received the Navy Cross; in addition, Mr. Henrikson was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and seven air medals. Yet he felt much happier, he said, dropping care packages over the POW camps in Japan at war's end.
He returned home in October 1945, and he and Betty were married
in November. They spent three years in Providence, where son Robert was born in 1948, working in real estate with his stepfather. A move to Windsor, Conn., followed, and Mr. Henrikson was active in the real estate and appraisal field in Hartford for many years. He was manager of the Jefferson Street Medical Building, a subsidiary of Hartford Hospital, with related responsibilities until his retirement in 1980. Two other sons, Richard and John, were born in Hartford in 1956 and 1957.
In 1960, an automobile accident took the lives of Betty's brother, John Wight, and his wife, Harriet. Their three young children, Susan, John Jr. (Jack) and Douglas survived, and joined the Henrikson clan in Windsor. Howard rose nobly to the challenge of raising, with Betty, a large, active family.
The family spent many happy summers on East Chop, and when Mr. Henriksen retired in 1980, it was off to Martha's Vineyard for many rich and fulfilling years. He lived in Edgartown but was so much a part of all of Vineyard life. Mr. Henrikson gave back to his community in many ways -- as a driver for Meals on Wheels, serving on the board of friends of the Council on Aging, active in the Federated Church and the Edgartown Capitol Improvement Committee. His interest and participation in the Experimental Aircraft Association during these last few years was a great joy to him and rekindled his love of flying, and association with those who sparked his enthusiasm. He always looked forward to his gathering of friends at the men's luncheons twice each month.
Mr. Henrikson is survived by his wife, Betty; his sons, Robert W. Henrikson of Hana, Hawaii, Richard Henrikson of Laguna Beach, Calif., John Henrikson of Oakville, Wash., Susan W. Craddock of Savannah, Ga., John B. (Jack) Wight of Seattle, and Douglas D. Wight of Concord, and their families, including seven wonderful grandchildren.
A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held Monday, August 26, at 1 p.m. at the Federated Church in Edgartown. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Federated Church or to Quonset Air Museum, Quonset State Airport, 488 Eccleston avenue, P.O. Box 1571, No. Kingstown, RI 02852. The museum has meticulously restored, named and dedicated an Avenger TBM, which Mr. Henriksen flew in World War II, to honor him.
Mae Folts, 103
Resided for Many Years in China
Mae Folts died Saturday, July 13, in Belmont. Born in Middletown, Pa., in 1899, she lived in three centuries.
Following high school in Olean, N.Y., she attended Syracuse University's School of Nursing, graduating in 1922 as class marshal.
She briefly worked as a registered nurse until her marriage to DeFred G. Folts in 1923. Subsequently, she spent 30 years of her life in China, where her husband was an executive with an American oil company. On his retirement and employment by the Harvard Graduate School of Business, they made their home in Belmont, where she lived for the past 52 years. Their first of many visits to the Vineyard was while on home leave from Manchuria in 1935. She was predeceased by her husband and son, DeFred Jr.
Mrs. Folts is survived by her son, Franklin, of Oak Bluffs; five grandchildren, Sandra Folts of San Francisco, Susan Felton of New York city, DeFred G. Folts 3rd (Fritz) of Harvard, Blair Folts of Effingham, N.H., and Franklin Jr. of Edgartown, and two great-grandchildren.
Mae appreciated that she led a full, exciting and privileged life, dedicated to her family.
Dr. Richard Murphy, 65
Was Linguistics Professor
Dr. Richard A. Murphy, son of the late George and Lucy Gavigan Murphy of Fall River, died on July 6, after suffering a stroke, in Washington, D.C. He was 65.
Dr. Murphy was a graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School, Brown University (summa cum laude) and Cornell University. He received many academic honors, including Fulbright and Ford Foundation Scholarships. He was also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
During his professional career, he taught linguistics at Bosphorus University in Istanbul, Turkey during the 1960s and 1970s. He recently retired from the U.S. Foreign Service, where he served as English language specialist, setting up English language and educational programs in Europe and Latin America.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Karin, of Rockville, Md.; his daughter, Shirin, of New York city; his sister, Rosemary Brown, of Vineyard Haven, as well as several nieces and nephews. His sister, Virginia Murphy, and brothers, George and John Murphy, preceded him in death.
A private memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 12, at Pumphrey's Funeral Home, 7557 Wisconsin avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814.
James H. Wray Jr.
Was Proprietor of Auto Shop
James H. (Jay) Wray Jr., 55, died at his home in Oak Bluffs surrounded by his family and friends on June 22, after a long illness.
He was born in Fall River on Nov. 29, 1946 to James H. Wray Sr. of Somerset and the late Ruth E. (Towers) Wray.
While growing up in Fall River, the Wray family summered at their gingerbread cottage on the Camp Ground. In 1999, Jay purchased property in Oak Bluffs and established Jay's Auto Body. Although he liked working on cars for a living, he loved restoring antique cars as a hobby. He also enjoyed model railroading and taking Caribbean cruises with his family and friends.
He was an Oak Bluffs volunteer fireman, and made lifelong friends in the department.
In addition to his father, he is survived by his wife, Margaret (Peggy) Wray; his daughter, Stephanie Schecter and his son in law, Eric, both of Somerset; his sisters, Ruth Siple of Oak Bluffs and Marilyn Valcourt of Fall River; his brother, William (Bill) Wray of Edgartown, and several nieces and nephews.
His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26, at the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road in Oak Bluffs, officiated by the Rev. Thomas Roan. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, June 25, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Interment will be in the Oak Grove cemetery, Oak Bluffs. Donations may be made in his memory to Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.
Charles Augustini
Was Millwright, Loved Travel
Charles Augustini of St. Petersburg, Fla., died on Friday, August 2, in Vineyard Haven.
He was born Nov. 11, 1915, in Framingham and lived many years in Natick with his wife, Vincenza (Naticchioni).
He worked at General Motors in Framingham for more than 30 years as a millwright and as a UAW representative, retiring in 1981. His greatest joy was traveling with his wife about the country visiting with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Joseph of New Hampshire, Charlotte of Wareham, David of Ohio, Charles of Bellingham, Denise (Mianti) of Maryland, Roberta of Vineyard Haven and Mary Ellen (Austin) of Kansas; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Ernest of Natick; his sister, Angie Canesi of Milford, and many loving nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass was held on Tuesday, August 6, at St. Augustine's Church in Vineyard Haven. Memorial donations may be made to The Diabetes Foundation, Mass Chapter, 31 Spring Hill avenue, Marlboro, MA 01752.
Arrangements are by the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.
Christine F. Gilkes, 82
Loved Her Children, Pets
Christine F. Gilkes of Oak Bluffs died Sunday, August 4, 2002 at the Martha's Vineyard hospital. She was 82 years of age. She was married
to Cooper A. Gilkes, who predeceased her Oct. 23, 1990 and formerly to Earl K. Bowes, also deceased.
She was born on Dec. 22, 1919, in North Woodstock, N.H., the daughter of Lyman Cloud and Clara Paschal. She grew up in New Hampshire and lived for a short while in Newton before returning to North Woodstock. She had been an Island resident since 1971.
Mrs. Gilkes spent most of her life in the retail trade, and she managed the first Cumberland Farms store with Cooper. They also owned and operated the Antique and Decoy Shop on Towanticut avenue in Oak Bluffs.
She is survived by her two sons, James L. Bowes and his wife Ann of West Moreland, N.H., and Thomas E. Bowes of Oak Bluffs; her daughter, Susan Blodgett and her husband, David of Hodges, S.C.; and step-children of Edgartown; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Gilkes was also the surrogate mother of some of her many nieces and nephews and foster mother of many children. She leaves behind her most loved pets, her dog, Bumper, and her two cats, Lacy and Daisy.
A graveside service for the interment of her cremains will be held on Friday, August 23, at 11 a.m. in Oak Grove cemetery, Oak Bluffs. Donations may be made in her memory to the Visiting Nurse Association, P.O. Box 2568, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.
Caroline O. Seacord, 94
Was Historian, Organist
Caroline Osborn Seacord, 94, died peacefully in her sleep on July 21 at the Windemere Nursing Home in Oak Bluffs. She had lived at Windemere since April 2 of this year.
Carrie was born Caroline Warren Osborn at the Timothy Coffin House on South Water street in Edgartown on February 7, 1908, during a New England blizzard. The house was built by her great-great-grandfather Timothy Coffin and owned by her great-grandfather, Timothy Coffin Jr. She was the daughter of Walter Strong and Marion Hill Osborn.
A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution for 41 years, Carrie designed and created an authentic DAR flag in addition to making an American flag. She created the DAR flag during the summer and completed it in time to have it carried on the DAR-sponsored float in the Fourth of July parade in 1961. Carrie served as regent three times and as historian on several other occasions. She represented the Island at three constitutional conventions in Washington, D.C. Her patriotism included scolding local businessmen into flying American flags on their storefronts on a daily basis and educating the public on the proper name of Memorial Park (referred to by some as Cannonball Park).
Carrie had a long musical background. She played the piano at the Edgartown Theatre during the silent-movie era, was the organist at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Edgartown for 47 years and served as choir director for many years as well. For 13 of those years, she also played the organ at Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven. Carrie gave piano lessons to many young people in her home on South Summer street and was the organist at the weddings of many Edgartown residents. She retired as church organist in June 1987.
Carrie was an avid swimmer. In 1979, at the age of 71, she received a Presidential Sports Award from President Jimmy Carter for swimming 50 miles as part of the American Red Cross's Swim and Stay Fit Program. She completed this program in a six-month timespan. Her other hobbies were playing duplicate bridge, polishing stones, making jewelry and knitting items of clothing for her children and grandchildren.
Carrie's first marriage was to Alton Butler Tilton of Vineyard Haven, where Alton was a fisherman for many years. Carrie and Alton lived in Vineyard Haven.
Her second marriage was to William (Bill) Thomas Reynolds of Edgartown. Bill's mother, Charlotte Pent, owned and created the Charlotte Inn on South Summer street. Carrie and Bill lived in the Charlotte Inn Cottage, across the street from the inn.
Her third marriage was to Frederick H. Seacord of Edgartown and Indian Lake, N.Y. Carrie and Fred lived in their home on West Tisbury Road and spend the month of August in Fred's cabin at Indian Lake each summer.
Carrie is survived by her sister, Elizabeth Osborn Ward of Roanoke, Va., her daughter Carolyn Tilton Medgyesy of Sengekontacket and Attleboro; her son David Butler Tilton of Rye, N.H., and Chilmark; her son Steven Whipple Tilton of Jeffersonville, Ind. and Saunderstown, R.I.; and her son William Philip Reynolds of Edgartown, and their families, including 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Predeceasing Carrie were her sisters, Raida, Mary, Natalie, Diadamia and Henrietta, and her brothers, Frederick, William, Samuel and John.
A memorial service will be held at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, followed by a celebration of her life at a site to be selected. The date will be announced when arrangements have been completed. Donations in Caroline's memory may be made to St. Andrew's Church, P.O. Box 1287, Edgartown, MA 02539 or Martha's Vineyard Historical Society, P.O. Box 1310, Edgartown, MA 02539. Arrangements under the care of Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home.
