Marc E. Widdiss, 54, Was Leader of Town, Tribe

Marc Edward Widdiss of Aquinnah died Monday evening, June 17, with his wife at his bedside, at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston after a three-year battle with leukemia. He was 54.

Marc was born Jan. 7, 1948 in Boston, the son of Gladys Malonson of Aquinnah and the late Leonard D. Widdiss. He was raised in Wayland and was graduated from the Wayland High School and shortly thereafter moved to the Vineyard, where he has resided since.

Marc was a carpenter for John Early Construction for many years. Marc was a former Aquinnah selectman, held various other positions on town boards and was a member of the Massachusetts State Democratic Committee. A Native American of the Wampanoag Indian Tribe, he served on the tribal council. He was a volunteer fireman for the Gay Head Fire Department and a member of the Martha's Vineyard Commission.

Marc was a devoted motorcyclist and belonged to the Martha's Vineyard Harley Riders. He enjoyed fishing and was a remarkable bowler at the former Spinnaker Bowling Lanes. He was also an avid race car fan and enjoyed watching NASCAR and Formula One racing events with his friend, Steve Schwab, even if they were held at two o'clock in the morning. Marc was noted for his collection of golf balls he kept in his basement that number into the thousands, and with all those golf balls, he never achieved the scores that he longed for.

He is survived by his wife of seven years, Beverly Laincz of Aquinnah; his mother; a sister, Dawn Lopes, and her husband, Dr. Joel Lopes of Natick; two brothers, Donald Widdiss of Chilmark and Carl Widdiss of Aquinnah; two uncles, Chief of the Wampanoag Tribe, Donald Malonson of Aquinnah and Henry Widdiss of Milton, and two nephews, Jason and Heath Widdiss.

A graveside service will be held in the Gay Head Cemetery on June 29 at 2 p.m. officiated by the Rev. Roger Spinney. There will be a gathering after at the Gay Head Cliffs. Donations may be made in his memory to the Visiting Nurse Asociation, P.O. Box 2568, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 or to the Gay Head Community Baptist Church, Church Street, Aquinnah 02535. Arrangements are by the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.