To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides; Sheriff Christopher Look both absorbed the sun’s warmth and shared it generously. On Feb. 22, in Hollywood, Fla., the sun set for Christopher Stetson Look Jr. when he died peacefully with his beloved wife Marjorie at his side.

Sheriff Look was born the second of six children to C. Stetson Look and Agatha Worden Look in Oak Bluffs on April 22, 1928. He attended Edgartown School and was on their championship basketball team. His fun-loving spirit earned him the nickname “Huck,” which stuck, as familiar as his title of Sheriff.

At age 17, Huck joined the Merchant Marine. From 1951 to 1953, he served in the U.S. Army 7th Infantry Division and returned home from Korea a decorated war veteran.

On Feb. 27, 1954, Huck married Marjorie Searle. Together they raised five children. During these early years, he delivered oil for Wells Oil Co. during the day and, in the evenings, worked as a night watchman for the Edgartown Yacht Club and was also the custodian for the Dukes County Courthouse. In 1963, he purchased Wells Oil, as well as Dietz & Meekins Garage, which later became Look’s Texaco.

Sheriff Look began his public service career as a young deputy under Sheriff David McBride. However, at age 14 Huck jumped into the ocean to save the life of a seven-year-old boy, foreshadowing a lifetime of commitment to others. After Sheriff McBride’s death in 1961, Huck was reappointed by Sheriff John Palmeira. Deputy Look gained prominence for his role as a witness in the Edward Kennedy trial involving the death of Mary Jo Kopenchne in 1969.

In June 1971, Gov. Francis W. Sargent appointed Deputy Look as sheriff for Dukes County over 13 other candidates to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff Palmeira. In 1974, he won his first election to the office of sheriff and was reelected three times, retiring in January 1999.

As sheriff, he faced a community in the midst of tremendous growth, with rapidly increasing crime rates and a jail facility over 100 years old. He confronted those challenges with determination, dedication and foresight. He saw that the Vineyard was one of the first communities in the Commonwealth provided with 911 emergency services. He was a founding member of the Martha’s Vineyard Chiefs of Police Association. In 1988 he instituted the D.A.R.E. program in the Island elementary schools. Around the same time, he implemented the pilot program for the newly developed Designated Driver Program. Sheriff Look also believed in the need for treatment and rehabilitation for those with substance abuse issues; he was a founding member of the Eastern Massachusetts Alcohol Treatment Center, one of the first regional centers of its kind. This center was born from the Massachusetts Sheriff’s Association, of which Look was also a founding member. In 1991, this association awarded Look with the prestigious Edward Henneberry Award for exceptional leadership.

He was a communicant of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church and served as a lay reader. He was on the boards of Edgartown finance committee, fire engineers and Boys’ and Girls’ Club and was the chairman of the County Airport Commission. He was also a member of the VFW, the American Legion, NAACP, MV Agricultural Society and the National Sheriff’s Association. He attained the status of 32 Degree Mason of the Oriental Lodge.

Huck was also on the board of directors of the Martha’s Vineyard Cooperative Bank, helping to create the Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank. Until his death he was on the board member and the security committee.

He loved his God, his country, his Island, his family, his friends and his life. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Christopher Look was predeceased by his sons, William Leland Look and David Russell Look; his sister, Nancy Look McCormack; and his brother-in-law, Ken Lee. Survivors are his devoted and beloved wife, Marjorie Searle Look; his daughter, Diana Look Butynski, her husband, John, and their children, Lucas John and Amanda Hollyfield, Seth Andrew and Kaitlyn Hope; his son, Christopher Look 3rd, his wife, Leslie Hanson, and their children, Cassidy Morgan and Christopher 4th; his daughter, Joyce Leigh Look, Kevin Kane, and her son, Jacob Look Murphy; his son William’s children, Nathan Costa and Matthew Stetson Look; and William’s fiancé, Amy Downes; his sister, Barbara Look Lee; his sister, Estey Teller, and husband, Thomas; his sister, Leslie Carroll, and her husband, William; his brother, Peter Look, and Phyllis Brown; and his brother-in-law, Andrew McCormack. Look is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Donations may be made in Christopher Look’s name to Hospice Martha’s Vineyard, Martha’s Vineyard Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Dukes County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, or to an Island charity of your choice.