Stephen Nash Hurley of Boston died peacefully and surrounded by his family on August 5 after a lengthy illness. He was 80.

Born in Boston to Miriam Greene and Donald J. Hurley, he grew up in Weston and Chilmark with his siblings Cornelia Hurley McPeek, Donald Hurley Jr. and Rosamond P.H. (Page) Shugrue.

He was a graduate of The Cambridge School of Weston and Amherst College. He then graduated with honors from Harvard Business School. He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Stephen and his family began summering in Chilmark in the late 1940s. In 1954, the Hurley family built a home, Quitsa Mooring, on Nashaquitsa Pond. The property features a landmark flagpole that still flies the American flag when any of the Hurley family is in residence.

In the year 1954, Hurricane Carol pounded the Island and destroyed the Harris Creek bridge, near the unfinished Hurley house. For several weeks, Stephen and his older brother Don provided a ferry service in their rowboat to stranded up-Islanders until the Army Corps of Engineers could replace the bridge.

During his early Vineyard summers, he worked at Beetlebung Farm and sparked his passion for fishing on Nashaquitsa Pond. It was during these years that he recalled an early morning row on his dinghy somewhere between the waters of Lobsterville Beach and Menemsha harbor. As he paddled back home his boat was struck suddenly from beneath by something larger than a wave. He looked to the side of his boat and there emerged the dorsal fin of a large shark. He was nearly certain it was a great white.

Stephen loved trees and had a talent for financial markets. He was an investor in the global forest products industry for more than 30 years and was founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Xylem Investments, Inc., an international forest products investment firm based in Boston. He played a pivotal role in the Fletcher Challenge Forests/South East Asia Wood deal. His advocacy for New Zealand’s forests was recognized in Xylem’s partnership with the World Wildlife Fund.

Earlier in his career, Stephen held fund management positions at Resource Investments/UBS Brinson, Fidelity Investments, J.P. Morgan and State Street Research.

Stephen leaves his four children, Kimberly Hurley Birmingham, Nash Else Hurley (from his first marriage to Diane Silvester Hurley), Patricia Rockefeller Hurley and William Pumroy Hurley (from his second marriage to Phyliss Pumroy Meaders, known as Lisa). He also leaves four grandchildren, Oscar and Ainsley Birmingham, and Alder and Holden Hurley. He was predeceased by his brother Donald Hurley Jr.

Known for his intellect, love of tennis and unmistakable laugh, Stephen was happiest fishing on the waters near Chilmark. His captaining of small craft will be missed.

A private memorial will be held with close family.

Memorial donations can be made to Sherrill House, 135 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130 or 617-731-2400 ext. 3052.