John Randolph Williams Jr. died at home on April 9. He was 82.

He was born Feb. 24, 1943 in Charleston, W.V. to parents John Randolph Williams Sr. and Frances Williams.

Known to close friends and colleagues as Randy, he graduated from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., and then went on to the University of the South where he spent a formative year in Aix-en-Provence absorbing a life-long interest in French culture, food and wine.

He enlisted in the Coast Guard serving as an officer with the rank of Lieutenant JG and later earned his MBA at George Washington University.

Moving to Philadelphia in 1971, he took a job with Philco Ford and a short while later went out on his own, starting a career in carpentry. He was one of the first to convert old warehouses in Old City into lofts in the early 1970s. In the mid-80s he became a successful options trader on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.

When their children were young, Randy and Nancy made Martha’s Vineyard their second home and spent the last 50 summers on the Island, creating a community of friends. They built a beautiful house overlooking Lake Tashmoo where Randy spent many hours on the deck admiring his gardens and the sunsets over the water.

He loved to play tennis and was a competitive player as a member of the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club tennis program. He regularly played in several tournaments throughout the summer, including those at Farm Neck Golf Club, and was always up for a match with friends.

Randy was a thoughtful and engaging friend to many. He enjoyed sharing stories and laughs along the way. He loved to entertain and cook meals for his guests, making sure to start planning early in the day for what would be a memorable dinner for all. He was happy to be in his garden, in his kitchen or on his deck, always playing classical music in the background. He knew who he was and he was always happy to see you.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy; brothers David and Daniel; son John (m. Michelle Miller), daughter Sara Tucker (m. Matthew Tucker); and grandchildren Louise and Alexander Tucker and Maxwell Williams.