Peter Frank Lenkoski, a resident of West Tisbury and San Clemente, Calif., died on Oct. 24. He was 77.

Peter was born on June 11, 1946, the son of Frank Lenkowski and Dorothy Plona Lenkowski. He was a graduate of Holyoke High School, Holyoke Community College and the University of Massachusetts. He received a master of science in professional accountancy degree from the University of Hartford.

After college he became a field examiner in the Hartford office of the FDIC. While examining the Martha’s Vineyard Co-operative Bank for entrance to the FDIC, he began the search for a second home. The closing was held on July 1, 1986, the first day the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank surcharge went into effect. Peter was always interested in each new property acquired by the land bank.

After more than a decade with the FDIC, he wanted to spend more time with his children, Kate and Alex, and less time driving throughout New England to examine banks. He joined Society for Savings in Hartford, underwriting commercial, real estate and asset backed loans. In 1990 he joined Financing for Science International, Inc. in Farmington, Conn. where he was responsible for commercial leasing in emerging markets, especially electronics and biotechnology. Before retirement, he lived in Wethersfield, Conn. and worked with TD Bank North, responsible for commercial lending and equipment leasing.

Upon retirement in 2010, his dream to leave Wethersfield and move to Martha’s Vineyard was actualized — but he swore he would never spend cold months on the Island. Luckily his daughter and her family were in San Clemente, Calif., so it was easy decision to purchase a home in another beach community on another ocean.

He loved gardening and from May through October, he volunteered at Polly Hill Arboretum. One of the benefits was meeting a great volunteer landscaping crew. Any time they saw a small plant out of place they put it in a bucket for Peter. He was happy to adopt the plants, no matter how sickly or ugly. He swore that they thrived better because they were acclimated to the Island. He treasured his stewartias. Picking hops for Offshore Ale’s Hopps Farm Road pale ale ushered in the fall.

In California Peter was introduced to succulents as a Mission San Juan Capistrano “gardening angel.” He developed a particular interest in South African bulbs. It was such a delight to see them bloom.

He leaves behind his wife of 50 years, Maryann Majewski Lenkoski, their children of whom he was so proud, Dr. Catherine Lenkoski Vojus and Frank Alexender Lenkoski, PhD., and their spouses Martin Vojtus and Thordis Thorarinsdottir. He adored his grandchildren Marcus, Sasha and Simon Vojtus of San Clemente and Oskar Lenkoski of Baerums Verk, Norway.

He especially enjoyed his post-retirement career driving the Vojtus grandchildren to all of their activities and he was an enthusiastic spectator at their games. Oskar’s vacations on Martha’s Vineyard were a highpoint of his year, with many hours spent playing complex board games on the deck.

He had special memories of spending warm February vacations with his children in the U.S. Virgin Island and wished to have his ashes dispersed on Trunk Bay in St. John.