Asa William French was a funny, charming, and well-liked young man who died April 14. He was 30 years old, and was born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard. Asa was an accomplished stonemason and a fine golfer.

He had deep roots in the Island community and his death was met with numerous expressions of sorrow, as well as much love and support for his family.

Instead of a traditional obituary, his family has asked newspapers to publish the following post that appeared in social media shortly after his death:

“The Island has lost a good boy . . . . a boy who grew up like so many of our kids, playing hockey, playing baseball, shooting hoops, playing golf . . . . from a nice family . . . . supportive, loving parents and a brother who loved him . . . . and so many of our kids that were proud to call him a friend . . . . his group of buddies are all good kids and their hearts are heavy. So many tried to help . . . . unfortunately addiction took over his life and although many tried, no one could lift him out of it. I will miss his smile, I will miss his visits to my work to get a frappe and give a hug, I will miss hearing about the adventures he had with my boys . . . . we all knew he was struggling but hoped and prayed this day would never come. So, Asa, your struggle is over . . . . you have left behind many broken hearts. Lew, Patty, Truman . . . . your Island is grieving with you and we are wrapping our arms around you to comfort and love you through these tough days . . . . rest in peace Asa, we will miss you.”

Asa is survived by his father Lew French and his wife Claudia Macedo of Edgartown; his mother Patty French and her partner Mark Jenkins of Oak Bluffs; a brother Truman French of Edgartown; and grandmother Audrey Quast of Zumbrota, Minn. He was predeceased by his loving grandparents, William and Doris French and John Quast of Zumbrota, Minn. Asa’s death is also mourned by his Aunts Lisa and Kathy, and he leaves behind many cousins in Minnesota.

A simple memorial will be held with the time and date to be posted in Island media.

Asa loved the many pets he and his family had throughout his life, and donations in his memory can be made to Second Chance Animal Rescue Inc., 25 June Avenue, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1829, Edgartown, MA 02539. You may also choose Vineyard House, which offers sober housing for Islanders in early recovery from substance abuse, whose address is P.O. Box 4599, Vineyard Haven MA 02568.