Michael Vincent Buddy, a lifelong summer resident of Martha’s Vineyard, died at Greenwich Hospital on April 3. He was 76.

Michael was born in New York city on April 21, 1940 to the late Edward Carr and Juliette Adams Buddy. He was raised in Westport, Conn. He joined the Marine Corps in 1957 and was honorably discharged in 1960. In 1962, he began his career in television in the mail room at CBS News and from there rose through the ranks to become associate director of the Evening News with Walter Cronkite. In 1978, he began a 20-year career at ABC News, first as director of the Evening News and later as director of This Week with David Brinkley, 20/20 and Good Morning America. In 1992, he won an Emmy Award for outstanding instant coverage of a single breaking news story for Desert Storm, Days 1, 2 and 3.

A devoted Francophile, Michael, along with Betsey, spent winters in Paris, soaking up French culture and indulging in fine cuisine. Summers were spent with friends and family on Martha’s Vineyard, where he loved fishing, clamming, tide-riding and collecting sea glass with his grandchildren.

He previously served on the vestry of Christ Church Greenwich and was a former board member of the Episcopal Camp and Conference Center in Ivoryton, Conn.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Betsey; his sons: Noah and his wife Ferris, Seth and his wife Brooks, and Christopher and his wife Michelle; six devoted grandchildren; his siblings, Julie de Wolff, Mason Buddy, Nancy Gaffney, and Kate Thornton; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Michael also leaves behind an extended family of cherished friends spanning multiple generations and several continents.

All who knew Michael Buddy would agree that he lived life to the fullest and with great gusto to the very end. A memorial service will be held on April 22 at 11:30 a.m. at Christ Church in Greenwich, Conn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Neighbor-to-Neighbor, ntngreenwich.org/how-you-can-help/donate/.