Earl Stypulkowski, Was Longtime Shellfisherman

Earl Stypulkowski, a resident of the Vineyard for more than 30 years, died Jan. 28 after a year-long bout with cancer.

He was born on March 22, 1946 in Southbridge, the son of Louise and Anthony Stypulkowski.

He graduated from Southbridge High School in 1964 and attended New England Accounting in Worcester. After college, he joined the Air Force Reserve and went to meetings at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee. Regulations required a short haircut, but it was the "hippie era," and Earl had long hair, so he bought a short-haired wig, tucked his hair up under it, and reported for duty. The officers knew, but could do nothing because there was no rule about wearing a wig. There is one now.

Earl married Christine Templeton and they came to the Vineyard in 1971. He tended bar at the Boat House Bar at the Harborside in Edgartown, and summer days he could be found at South Beach with friends and his dog, Tolkein.

Earl served at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone in northern Maine for 18 months from 1973 to 1975, working as a medic in the emergency room.

Returning to the Island, the marriage over, he took up scalloping down harbor in Edgartown. In those days the daily limit was five bushels, 10 if you took someone with you. The scallop drags were hauled by hand. Starting out early in the morning you had your limit in an hour or so, had them shucked by early afternoon, and at $5 a pound, 80 pounds of scallops brought in $400. It was hard work but a good living. In the summer he quahoged in Katama Bay, Cape Pogue and Eel Pond. Nicknamed Duke at the Harborside, he worked there until 1980. Earl was captain of the fishing charter boat Slapshot 2 with Eddie Mahoney as mate, in 1985-87.

He rented a house on Morse street from Rosalie Bassett for 14 years and painted her houses and many others on the Vineyard. He fished the derby for years and continued shellfishing until 1998. An outspoken man with strong political convictions, he had a great sense of humor and a very big heart.

Survivors include a sister, Judith Ferron of Southbridge; a nephew, Todd Ferron of Melbourne, Fla.; two aunts, Clara Cournoyer and Emily Forand, and cousins Phillip, Michael and Andrew Cournoyer, all of Southbridge. In recent years he resided off Lambert’s Cove Road with long-time girlfriend Virginia Iverson and their dog, Montana.

Friends, relatives and hospice nurses all helped to care for Earl at home until he died. Friends are invited to a gathering at noon on March 22, Earl’s birthday, at the Edgartown lighthouse to remember him. Some of his ashes will be scattered over a favorite scallop tow on the outer harbor.