James Gollin died on April 13 in New York City, where he had lived much of his life. He was 91.

He was a longtime summer resident of Chilmark.

Jim was born in St. Louis, Mo. to Joshua A. Gollin and Cecelia Millstone Gollin. At the age of five, he moved with his parents to Scarsdale, N.Y., where he attended the Scarsdale public schools. At Yale, he studied English literature and received both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.

Three days after his undergraduate graduation in 1953, he met his wife, Jane, whom he married in 1957 and who survives him.

In 1969, after a decade as summer visitors, Jane and Jim purchased their house on Peaked Hill where Jim, as a freelance writer, was able to work long summers from home for the next 50-plus years. He could be found daily on the beach at Squibnocket.

For many of the earlier years, he also enjoyed Sunday baseball games and riding horses at Misty Meadows. He always enjoyed reading and, when the Chilmark Free Public Library was open only three days a week, he was there every day that it was open.

In later years, as his mobility decreased, he enjoyed sitting on his deck and watching birds and stars. He continued spending long afternoons at the beach, even when he was unable to manage in the water.

Jim was a consummate wordsmith and amateur musician, sweet, quick, generous with time and energy, curious, direct, prescient, master storyteller, omnivorous reader and fastidious editor. He died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease but never lost the ability to recognize his family or to recite poetry.

In addition to his wife Jane, Jim is survived by their sons Tim and Doug, daughters in law Donatella Mestriner and Cheryl Doss, five grandchildren, and a great-grandson. He is also survived by the books he wrote, four fiction and six non-fiction.