James M. Sepanara of West Tisbury passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 5, 2025, while visiting Priest River, Idaho. He was 77 years old.
He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1948 to Penny and Michael E. Sepanara, and recalled as a young child pulling a toy boat on a string through a fountain in Prospect Park. A boat ride aboard the Circle Line around Manhattan was the “greatest thing ever” to his 6-year-old mind, marking the dawn of a lifelong sea fever.
When Jim was 6, his family moved to White Plains, N.Y., where he spent his remaining childhood and his teenage years discovering the early days of rock and roll, attending Boy Scout camps upstate, boating on Long Island Sound, and learning to drive cars borrowed from local car dealerships. He graduated from White Plains High School in 1966.
As a student at the State University of New York at Brockport in the late 1960s, the courses he took opened his eyes to a more nuanced account of U.S. history than the version he had learned in high school, and he became a passionate advocate for justice, engaging in many of the social, political, and cultural movements of the time. He attended antiwar protests in Washington, D.C.; at the Newport Folk Festival in 1969, he heard about a “really great party” in upstate New York a few weeks later. He described Woodstock as one of the high points of his life, where each song was better than anything he had heard before … and the next one was even better.
Following graduation from college in 1970 with a degree in psychology, Jim decided that he would read whatever he wanted, and take as long as he wanted to read it. And for the rest of his life, he did just that, with eclectic interests spanning history, science, politics, and current events.
After living in his family’s seasonal home on Cape Cod, he answered the call of the sea, taking a job as a deckhand with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, where he worked from 1974 to 1977, and later with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association from 1978 to 1980. His time as a merchant seaman took him to far-flung places such as the Azores, the Galapagos, and Egypt; he worked aboard the R/V Lulu (the mother ship for the Alvin submersible) and for oceanographer Bob Ballard during an exciting era of deep-sea research.
In 1976, Jim purchased land in West Tisbury and, between stints at sea, began carving a home into the scrub oak. His future wife, Carol, joined him in 1983; with the birth of their daughter, Jennifer, in 1984, the family was complete.
In 1977, Jim began work with the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority, a career that would span nearly five decades until his retirement in 2025. Starting out as an able-bodied seaman, he earned his pilot’s license in 1995, and spent the next 30 years plying Vineyard Sound, typically at the helm of the M/V Martha’s Vineyard, navigating fog, dodging pleasure boaters, and finding humor in crewmates’ antics. He maintained an impeccable safety record and an easygoing camaraderie with coworkers while serving the community.
Jim was one to follow the call of his own tide, whether that was a life at sea or simply reading by the woodstove. He cherished visits to the Idaho Panhandle, a place he loved, and spoke of the clear air and pristine forests. He followed the news regularly and maintained a strong moral compass. He was a fan of classic Chevrolets and an early electric vehicle enthusiast. For decades, Jim eschewed a car on his commute in favor of a bicycle. He steadfastly shunned technology.
But it is perhaps his devotion to his family that best demonstrates his character. As a father, Jim had a gentle and warmhearted presence, a quiet but unquestionable love, and a hint of mischief. He gave his daughter her first driving lessons at the age of 3, threw spare pennies into the hole when she wasn’t looking as she dug for treasure at the beach, and was quick to share an amusing anecdote, offer a reading suggestion, or take interest in her endeavors. As a husband, he was not merely a spouse, but also a friend. Following the deaths of his parents, he became a patient and compassionate caregiver to his brother Andy for over 19 years. Those who knew him saw his good-natured demeanor and accepting nature. Whether at the wheel of a ship or charting the course of family life, he showed a humble but unwavering dedication that seldom sought recognition.
Jim is survived by his wife of 41 years, Carol Marrama, and daughter Jennifer Sepanara of West Tisbury; his brother Andrew Sepanara of South Yarmouth; and brother Michael C. Sepanara of White Plains, N.Y.
Those who wish to honor Jim’s memory may consider a contribution to an organization whose cause he championed, such as the Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, American Civil Liberties Union, or Camp Jabberwocky.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
Fair winds and following seas, Jim.