George R. (Bud) Knight Jr. died after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease on March 25, at Summit Commons in Providence, R.I. He was 84.

Bud was born in Brockton in 1925, the son of Elizabeth Vennerbeck and George R. Knight Sr., both summer residents of Oak Bluffs.

He attended Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., and Harvard University’s Accelerated Naval Officer’s Program, which he left as Lieutenant Second Grade. He was sent to North Africa, where, at the age of 19, he became commander of a Naval Crash Boat. He remained an avid boater all his life.

Bud was president and chairman of the former Sterndent Corporation headquartered in Old Greenwich, Conn. He later consulted for numerous companies and served as a board member for both jewelry and banking industries.

He was president and chairman of the 24K Club of New York, president of the Boston Jewelers Club and head of the Jewelry Institute.

Bud loved fishing and boating in the waters around Martha’s Vineyard and playing golf at the Edgartown Golf Club, where he had been the club champion. He also enjoyed flying as a private pilot.

He was the past president of the East Chop Beach Club, the East Chop Yacht Club and was a member of the Edgartown Yacht Club.

Bud was always proud to say that he had been on the Vineyard every year since he was born until 2008.

He is survived by his wife, Melinda, daughters Carla and Judy, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was the father of the late George R. Knight 3rd.

A memorial service will be held this summer on the Vineyard. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Vineyard Nursing Association, P.O. Box 399, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.