Walter Lowe has been a longtime lover of the Vineyard and at the age of 90 continues to enjoy a remarkable life. In recent months, however, he has mourned the passing of two dear friends, Ben Hubert (1920-1918) and Ted Stent (1924-1918) that have allowed him to reminisce about their connected lives here on the Island. Walter grew up in Manhattan and got to know Madelon Delaney whose family was also from that borough. As they grew up, Madelon began to date and eventually married Theodore Stent, a dashing physician. The three of them continued their close friendship over the years. After Walter’s father died he and his mother moved to Jamaica, Queens to live with relatives and Ben Hubert’s family lived across the street from him. As young buddies they became fast friends playing together almost daily. Ben’s father, James Henry Hubert, was the executive director of the New York Urban League and in 1914 took an unpaid assignment to teach English and serve as lay pastor of Indian Baptist Church to the Wampanaog residents of Aquinnah. Over the years, as Mr. Hubert spent summers on this assignment, he eventually took his son Ben and his playmate Walter to spend the summer on the Vineyard.

Walter speaks fondly first of Teddy then of Ben. “Teddy was simply brilliant not only as a nuclear radiologist but as a musician, songwriter and singer. He sang tenor at Talladega College and at Meharry Medical college and was the co-author of the Meharry theme song.” He also served on the faculty of Columbia University of Physicians and Surgeons for over 30 years. Ben was a special agent for the Internal Revenue Service and Walter said his nickname was two gun Ben. “He carried a 38 revolver in his shoulder holster and a second one in his ankle holster. When Ben came to pick you up you were going directly to prison.” The Hubert family was given land by the Wampanaogs in gratitude for their kindness and service that the family still owns today. The Stent family still has their cottage across from Niantic Park. Madelon and Ted had three children, prior to their divorce; Michelle, Nicole and Evan. Michelle and Nicole are still very active on the Island.

Walter, out on a stroll in Oak Bluffs the 1950s, saw a for sale sign on a cottage on Vineyard avenue. He was encouraged to make an offer which was accepted and he joined his friends in establishing permanent roots on the Island. This past February, Walter and his dear wife Cheryle celebrated his 90th birthday in Barbados. Cheers to Walter and his memories of his buddies Ben and Teddy.

Union Chapel trustees will carry on their tradition of sharing a large picnic table on the sprawling lawn of Kim and Perry Patterson in East Chop this Saturday as this week marks the opening of the chapel summer services.

Thelma Johnson, president of the Vineyard branch of Association for the Study of African American Life and History, invites all to the chapter meeting on June 27 at 2 p.m. over at the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging.

Paradise on earth is the Vineyard experience. Enjoy it as life is fleeting!

Oak Bluffs news can be sent to rtaylor@mvgazette.com.