Frank Bonitto, 96, of Cambridge and Vineyard Haven died Feb. 17 after a short illness.

Frank and his late wife Mae Buzzelle were longtime summer residents of the Island beginning in 1945. They enjoyed wonderful moments with family and friends at the Quonset hut on Greenwood avenue.

Frank’s vast interests included fishing, music, sports and art. An accomplished artist, he participated in the annual Oak Bluffs Art Show where he won first prize in acrylics for his rendering called Heavens to Heaven, a to-scale relief map of Cape Cod and the Islands.

Frank’s knowledge of jazz music was encyclopedic. His experiences with jazz were so comprehensive that he was asked to serve as a guest lecturer at Harvard and Howard universities. Frank enjoyed telling stories about his friendships with big band leaders Sy Oliver, Jimmy Lunceford, Johnny Hodges and Ben Webster, which led to opportunities to socialize with the Dorsey brothers on trips to New York city.

In between his love for music and sports, Frank found time to join the Screen Actors Guild, where he was selected to appear in numerous locally filmed movies. His favorite appearance was in the House Sitter with Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn, where Frank got to witness Steve Martin punch a waiter in a bar scene.

Although Frank had no children of his own, he was Uncle Frank or Unk to many nieces and nephews by blood, marriage and friendship. He spent a long life mentoring people who, to this day, credit Uncle Frank for their successes in life. He will be missed by all who benefited from his love, wisdom and guidance over many years.

A jazz memorial service will be held in Boston later this year. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in memory of Frank Bonitto and mailed to the Berklee College of Music for scholarship support, in care of Marjorie O’Malley, 1140 Boylston street, Boston MA 02215.