Raymond A. Dahill Jr. died peacefully at Mass General Hospital on May 22. He was 74.

Tony, as he was affectionately known by family and longtime friends, was born on Sept. 28, 1941 to Raymond and Frances (Daley) Dahill and moved to the Vineyard as a young boy.

At the age of 16, he became the youngest student pilot to solo out of Katama Airfield.

He graduated from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in 1960 and went on to pursue his interest of marine life, earning his Bachelor of Science degree from New England College and Master of Science in zoology from the University of New Hampshire. He started his own marine life business selling specimens to multiple colleges and universities around the country. He could often be found in the waters around the Island with his trusty sidekicks, Dino and Libra, patiently watching.

Later Ray went on to be a driver, then manager, at Averill Distributors, where he met his wife Louise. They were married in 1987.

After he retired Ray enjoyed taking extensive cross-country road trips and spending time with his family, in particular his many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. He is survived by his wife Louise, his sister Joan and her husband Ray Saint, his sister Barbara and her husband Dan Harnen and his brother Ronald Dahill and his fiancé Diane Ward, as well as Louise’s deBettencourt and Merry families.

A memorial visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 31 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. followed by a 7 p.m. service in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.

In lieu of flowers donations in Ray’s memory may be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group, P.O. Box 1551, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 or to an Island charity of one’s choice.