Boyd Hand Cowper of East Chop died on March 24 after a short illness. He was 89 and a force to be reckoned with.

Boyd and his wife, Jocelyn, married for 64 years, spent summers on East Chop since they first came here from Montreal, Quebec in the early 1960s.

His family remembers Boyd as someone who was restless. Until his last days, Boyd kept busy — with his real estate ventures, going to the beach, swimming, sailing, kayaking, and clamming. No matter how old, Boyd couldn’t miss out on the fun.

His family also remembers him for his stories. He loved to talk —if you knew him, you know this was true. He made you wish you were alive during the good old days, and if you were, you wished you had lived them out like he did.

In his youth in Canada, he played water polo and was a top downhill ski racer. Throughout his life, he was a great swimmer and loved to sail. Four years ago, he lost a kayak race in Sengekontacket and won a prize for being the oldest contestant.

He was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren, as they are of him. He is survived by his wife, Jocelyn; his children, Bruce and his wife, Josette Biagini, of Montreal, Quebec, Rusty of Fredericksburg, Va., and Corey of Sarasota, Fla., and his six grandchildren: Alexandre, Ariane, Fay, Peter, Lily, and Nevin.

East Chop will remember Boyd’s vibrant presence, his entrepreneurial spirit, his great conversation, and his love of the ocean, and he will be missed dearly.