Martha’s Vineyard marks its first COVID-19 death of the pandemic

OAK BLUFFS, Mass. — A first for the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Health officials say they have recorded the first on island death from COVID-19.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Martha’s Vineyard Hospital reported the death of Albert Hutchinson, 78, from Chilmark. Hutchinson died on Tuesday.

“He is the Island’s first death related to COVID-19.  Our thoughts are with Mr. Hutchinson’s family,” said hospital spokesperson Marissa Lefebvre

“The COVID virus has afflicted so much pain and suffering on so many lives in such unbearable ways. Our staff and our community have worked tirelessly to fight this epic pandemic and while it is one death, it is one death too many. In this time of sorrow, we offer our condolences to Mr. Hutchinson’s family.” said Martha’s Vineyard Hospital President and CEO, Denise Schepici.

“Any loss of life is unfortunate. Our thoughts go out to his family,” said Edgartown Health Agent Matt Poole. “It’s just an unfortunate reminder we need to keep taking preventative measures - getting vaccinated, getting your booster, and making good choices about socializing and symptom recognition as early as possible and seeking treatment. It’s just a reminder if you need to seek treatment, then please seek treatment.”

Hutchinson’s niece, Rebecca Walsh, spoke with The Martha’s Vineyard Times.

“He was just wonderful, he was a musician, he was a carpenter, he was a chef, he had an enormous personality. He was a larger than life figure,” Walsh told the Martha’s Vineyard Times.

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