Craig R. Browne died peacefully on Sept. 1 after a long illness. He was 70.

He lived a life filled with an abundance of love, laughter and entertaining.

He grew up in Huntington, N.Y. on Long Island and was the ultimate big brother to his younger sister Lenore. He excelled as a student athlete, playing varsity football and basketball.

His passion for music was born while playing saxophone and bass guitar in a local garage band that opened for a young, unknown Billy Joel — before he became known as Billy Joel. During the summers while attenging Washington College in Chestertown, Md., Craig worked at the Fillmore East concert hall in New York city.

His great love of sports and music was the perfect fit for practicing as a sports and entertainment attorney. After receiving his juris doctorate from Suffolk Law School in Boston, he was appointed an assistant attorney general under Frank X. Belotti. He worked in the state’s antitrust division. Wayne Budd and Flash Wiley — members of the African American law firm Budd, Riley, and Wiley — successfully recruited Craig to their firm, where he built an impressive sports, entertainment and insurance litigation practice. He later joined the firm of Goldstein and Manello and found a permanent home at Prince, Lobel and Tye.

Practicing law was Craig’s religion. Every morning at 6 a.m., he faithfully drove from Brookline to Beacon street while listening to sports radio. He was a member of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association and a former board member of the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association.

There was no place on earth Craig enjoyed more than Martha’s Vineyard and he was a longtime resident of West Tisbury. There he could indulge all his favorite pastimes — cooking, gardening and spending time with his adoring family and friends. They gathered around him while he cooked, often making feasts for 40 or more happy guests and culling recipes from his huge collection of cookbooks; listened to music from his vast, eclectic vinyl library that included artists ranging from the Allman Brothers to Miles Davis to Jay-Z; and watched the New England Patriots — his favorite sports team — on TV. He loved socializing on State Beach and dancing and dining at Lola’s restaurant and nightclub.

On the Vineyard he luxuriated in the company of his wife of nearly 30 years, Jacqueline (Chichi) Browne; his stepchildren Jason King (Myrialis) and Marianne Robinson Pingree (Albert); granddaughter Sophia Isabella Pingree; nephew Bryan Sheehan; and his beloved French bulldogs, Jack and Bella.

Craig will be remembered dearly by his loving family, devoted friends, colleagues and grateful clients. He was predeceased by his parents, Bernard and Enid Browne.

His memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Oct. 1 at the offices of Prince, Lobel and Tye in Boston.

Memorial donations can be made to Island Food Pantry at Island Grown Initiative, P.O. Box 622, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 or igimv.org