Douglas W. Dias

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Douglas W. Dias died peacefully on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at Falmouth Hospital of complications from a stroke. He was 71.

Doug was born in Oak Bluffs on February 19, 1940, to the late William J. Dias and Mary D. (Silvia) Dias, both of Tisbury. He is survived by his two brothers William J. (Billy) Dias and Robert Dias, also his son Antone and his fiancé, Jannette, and their daughter, Oceana; his daughter, Jennifer Norton Dias, and his son, Christopher J. Dias, his wife, Antonia, and their daughter, Alexandra; also his nephews. William J. Dias Jr. and Robert Dias Jr.

He attended Tisbury High School and his classmates from that time always held a special place for him. He lived on Martha’s Vineyard his whole life, mostly in his grandfather’s home on Main Street in Vineyard Haven. He loved the Vineyard and people who live here.

He enjoyed his work and did many jobs — landscaping, carpentry, sword fishing, tree work among them. He ran Scrubby Neck Farm, he had an excavation company and a lumber business, and later in life he worked in the Vineyard fire tower. He served on the Tisbury finance committee. He had a great knowledge of horticulture and gardening.

He enjoyed years of bow hunting in Pennsylvania and fishing around the Island. He had many Harleys over the years and was an avid rider.

Doug had an almost encyclopedic memory for Vineyard people and events and always had a good story. Doug lived his life on his own terms, and his quick wit and sense of humor will be missed.

Special thanks to his caregivers after his stroke at home and at Mashpee Care and Rehab.

Memorial visiting hours in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 1, from 5 to 7 pm. Donations may be made in his memory to the Vineyard Nursing Assoc., P.O. Box 399, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568. Please visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.