Robert W. Newman of Oyster Pond died on Jan. 27 at his home in Longboat Key, Fla., after a long illness. He was 82. Bob honeymooned with his wife, Jane, on the Vineyard in 1956, docked his boat in Edgartown in the 1960s, and built homes first in Katama and then on Oyster Pond. Bob was never as happy and as content as he was when he was on the Island. Whether it was putting his kids and then his grandchildren on the Flying Horses, selling a truck over breakfast, clamming in Katama or fishing off Wasque, Bob was always devoted to the culture of the Island. Sometimes it seemed that his 50-year career as an automobile dealer in Connecticut was something he did just to keep busy, affording him the opportunity to make more friends on the Vineyard, and fly them off-Island to deliver the cars he sold to them. No matter where he was working, he was sure to find the most joy anticipating the return to local restaurants, lunch at the snack bar at the Edgartown Yacht Club or taking his boat for a serene ride to the beach on Oyster Pond.

Bob donated land in Katama for permanent conservation. He served for many years on the board of the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, including a term as president. Many of his acts of generosity were of a private and personal nature, but Bob reliably supported many local charities, among them the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, the Vineyard Nursing Association, and of course the preservation trust.

Beset by several health challenges in his final decade, Bob was advised not to leave his Florida oncology team in the summer of 2010. Yet he had never missed spending time on the Vineyard since the mid-1960s, and Bob was determined to be in residence no matter what.

He fought very hard for his life, with the determination everyone in his life would recognize, up to its last hours. He died overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, but his heart was always on the Island.

In addition to his wife, Jane, he leaves his children, Cathy, Bill and George and four grandchildren.

To honor his love of the Island and his dedication to the preservation trust, Bob’s family is planning to return him to the Island forever and place his ashes in a memorial garden to be established on the campus of the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown, near the Vincent House.

Memorial donations may be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, P.O. Box 5277, Edgartown, MA 02539.

The family would like to acknowledge its deep gratitude to Dr. Jeffrey Zack, whose especially compassionate care in Bob’s last years brought much comfort and peace.