Robert I. (Bob) Boak of Oak Bluffs died at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on Oct. 5 after a brief illness. He was 102.

Bob was the second of three sons born to Joseph and Jessie Richardson Boak. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on March 13, 1919 and was raised in Summit, N.J. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was stationed in Africa, France, New Guinea and the Philippines. He was discharged as a technical sergeant.

In 1948 he married Patricia Scarry, also of Summit. They built a house and moved to Basking Ridge, N.J., where they raised their family. Fifty-five years later, they moved to Hackettstown, N.J.

He founded and was president of the Arbee Company, Inc., where he developed and perfected a lamination process for the preservation of books, maps and other archives. He also patented the laminating machine that was used for the process and eventually sold these machines to the archive departments in Ottawa, Canada, Madrid, Spain, Lagos, Nigeria and the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Other machines went to several state capitals around the country.

Bob was a tinkerer. He loved fixing things; the more challenging the project, the better. He had a tool for almost every need; if there was one that he didn’t have, he would create a suitable substitute. He was also skilled at needlepoint and made beautiful handcrafted jewelry, which he loved giving away to his visitors and as Christmas presents to his family.

He was an active member of Bishop Janes United Methodist Church, in Basking Ridge. He was involved in the church’s annual Christmas tree sale, with the ROMEOs, a retired men’s breakfast group. For 25 years, he managed the church’s Evergreen Cemetery.

He was predeceased by Patsy, his beloved wife of 65 years. After her death, Bob moved to the Vineyard as a full-time resident. Prior to that, he had summered every year at the family’s cottage on Lagoon Heights, known as Boak’s Bluff, with the exception of his four and a half years in the army.

He is survived by his sons, Robert Jr. of High Bridge, N.J. and Peter of Oak Bluffs; and three generations of nephews and nieces.

A graveside service will be held at a later date in New Jersey. Donations can be made to the Abiding Memorial Fund, Bishop Janes UMC, 22 S. Finley ave., Basking Ridge, N.J. 07920, or to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.