Edward (Eddie) Eugene Belisle of Edgartown, died on Thursday, Feb. 28, surrounded by family and friends at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He was 71 and had courageously battled lung cancer for 18 months.

Eddie was born on August 29, 1941 in Oak Bluffs. He was the son of the late Eugene and Lillian Belisle and brother of Karen Child of West Tisbury. He attended Edgartown School and was a member of the last class to graduate from Edgartown High School. He went on to Burdett College and graduated with honors.

He was married to Janice Cetrone Belisle, the love of his life, for 48 years. They were blessed with their daughter, Julie Anne Belisle, of Warwick, R.I.

Eddie was a native son, living in Edgartown his entire life. He started and ran Takemmy Laundry and Dry Cleaner for more than 40 years. He was passionate in business as well as in life. His ambition was tireless — always thinking of his next idea or project. There was never enough time to satisfy his insatiable love of living.

Eddie’s interests ran the gambit. Raising bees, growing prize-winning vegetables and flowers, fishing all over the world, hunting on three continents are just a few. Even in his last days he was making plans for a trip to Argentina to hunt birds with friends.

An invitation for a meal at the Belisles was always a special treat and unique experience. Eddie loved to cook and was very good at it. His grilled pizza was famous, as was the meatloaf he prepared for the seniors at the Anchors once a year. Eddie’s cooking always honored his Portuguese heritage and Vineyard traditions. Venison, freshly-caught fish, clams, duck, rabbit were prepared in his own unique way.

Eddie served for 37 years on the board of assessors for the town of Edgartown. He was a longtime member of the board of directors of the Cooperative Bank and Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank. He was a member of the Rod and Gun Club and served on the Edgartown police department in the 1960s.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Eddie is survived by his sister Karen and her husband Hal Child, their children Bess and Brandon Child, Brendan’s wife Stephanie and their son Aiden. He also leaves extended family members and close friends.

Interment will be held at 10 a.m. at the New West Side Cemetery in Edgartown on Saturday, March 9. A celebration of his life and a luncheon will follow at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Jimmy Fund and mailed to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 or jimmyfund.org.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs. Please visit ccgfuneralhome.com for information and an online guestbook.