Obituary : Jesse V. Minor
Jesse Vernon Minor died on March 7 while vacationing in Sarasota, Florida. Jesse is survived by his wife, Rita (Silva) Minor of Vineyard Haven ; his daughter, Mona Minor Combra and her husband, Craig, and grandchildren Matthew and Sara of Kennebunk, Maine; and her brothers, Eugene Minor of Ohio and Charles Minor of California.
Jesse was born September 19, 1930, in Shinnston, West Virginia. He joined the United States Coast Guard, and was serving at U.S.C.G. Station Menemsha when he met and married Rita M. Silva of Vineyard Haven on September 24, 1955. The couple resided at West Chop Light in 1958 where Jesse was the first U.S. Coast Guard Lighthouse Keeper. At the end of a 20-year Coast Guard career BMCS Jesse Minor retired from Coast Guard Station Milford Haven in Hudgins, Virginia. The family returned to the Island and Jesse began a new career with the WH/MV/Nan/ Steamship Authority, retiring as a steamship captain after more than 20 years with the company.
Jesse had a great love and respect for the water and upon his retirement spent many hours in his own boat fishing in Vineyard Sound. He also enjoyed visiting with friends in Florida and vacationing in Barbados.
A private burial is planned at a future date.
