Jeffrey Drinkwine, 84, Was Veteran, Master Welder

Jeffrey L. Drinkwine, a longtime resident of West Tisbury, died at his home on Friday, July 21, after a long illness. He was 84.

Jeff was born in Fitchburg in 1922, the son of Jeffrey J. Drinkwine of Fitchburg and Constance Lawrence Drinkwine of Sackville, New Brunswick and Fitchburg. He attended the Fitchburg public schools and Worcester Trade School. A master welder, he worked for almost all of his professional life at Crocker Burbank Company, Weyerhauser and the Dillon Company, all of Fitchburg. He supervised and trained other welders at these companies. While he was with Dillon he directed specialized welding projects throughout the United States and particularly in New England.

Jeff was an Army combat engineer who landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day as part of the largest American invasion force of World War II. He was a member of the 82nd Combat Engineers Battalion who fought from the Normandy beaches to the Elbe River when they crossed into Germany in May 1945.

After returning home from the war, he married Joan Hills Murphy of Fitchburg. Every summer the couple spent time on the Vineyard visiting Joan's relatives, who had owned a cottage in Oak Bluffs since the 1870s. They had one daughter.

Jeff retired to the Vineyard and built a house in West Tisbury in 1982. He was an avid fisherman, shellfisherman and boater who was renowned among his friends for his quahaug chowder.

In addition to his former wife, Joan, he is survived by his daughter, Jill Bouck of West Tisbury; his son in law, W. Lynn Bouck, and two grandchildren, Elizabeth and David Bouck, all of West Tisbury. Two siblings, Beryl Cadwell of Arizona and Robert Drinkwine of Ashburnham, predeceased him.

The family has asked that donations in Jeff's name be made to Martha's Vineyard Hospice. A celebration of his life will be held at his home for family and friends at a future date.