Warren Richmond Hartwell of Newport, R.I., Tiverton, R.I. and Vineyard Haven died peacefully on April 24 after a brief illness. He was 78.

He was married to his beloved wife Nancy Hartwell for nearly 30 years.

He was born August 7, 1944 in Providence, R.I. and was raised in both Rhode Island and Martha’s Vineyard. He attended Providence Country Day School, East Providence High School and Boston College, where he ran the classical radio station WCRB. While at college, he was known to be the only one to volunteer to climb Mount Washington in the dead of winter to erect radio towers.

A legend in audio/visual broadcasting in the 1960s, Warren was part owner of the Mooncusser Café in Oak Bluffs, which hosted many aspiring and well-known celebrities at the time. He was an accomplished pilot and owner of a Mooney aircraft and would fly passengers back and forth from Boston to Martha’s Vineyard.

He was a well-known waterskiing instructor on Martha’s Vineyard in his early 20s, teaching Leonard Bernstein to ski while showing off and skiing around the entire Island without falling once. He also instructed Jackie Kennedy and her entourage of Secret Service agents.

He was the president and owner of WRH Industries, Ltd., a plastics designer and manufacturer, in Fall River, for more than 50 years, and was a past board member of the Food Processing Suppliers Association. Throughout his tenure, he invented and developed many products that revolutionized the candy-making, chocolate, pharmaceutical, food service, food processing and airline industries for clients around the world.

He was a past commodore of the Rhode Island Yacht Club in Cranston, R.I., and a past treasurer of the Newport Yacht Club. He was a member of the Scottish Society of Martha’s Vineyard and chairman of the New England Steamship Foundation. He was also a member of the United Methodist Church of Oak Bluffs, where he designed the commercial kitchen for the church’s annex.

Warren was an avid sailor who owned several sail and power boats over his lifetime, and sailed to many destinations, both domestic and international. He invented his own signature cocktail, the Grouse drink, that he served exclusively on his boat, Grouse III. His passion was collecting and driving vintage diesel Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Warren is survived by his wife Nancy; sons Ward and Paul and his wife Stephanie; and grandchildren Zachary, Zoey and Lina, who lovingly called him Captain.

He was predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Dora Hartwell.

There will be two celebrations of life. The first will take place on May 21 at the Newport Yacht Club from 4 to 6 p.m. The second will take place on June 4 at the Rhode Island Yacht Club from 4 to 6 p.m. A memorial service on Martha’s Vineyard will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be sent to Newport Yacht Club youth sailing program in Newport, R.I.; the Chewonki Foundation in Wiscasset, Me.; or the Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Boston.

For online condolences and more information, please visit chapmanfuneral.com.