Owen C. Smith, a longtime Edgartown summer resident, died peacefully at first light on Feb. 5 at his home in Big Pine Key, Fla., surrounded by his wife of 50 years, Chris, and three children, Phil, Andy and Sally. After battling and beating a rare form of cancer for over five years, he died of an equally rare neurological disorder, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. He was 75.

Owen’s love for Martha’s Vineyard started at an early age. As a child he summered with his parents and two brothers on Lake Tashmoo and played tennis at the East Chop Tennis Club. In the 1980s he began coming to Edgartown every summer with his wife and three children, where they learned to sail and play tennis at the Edgartown Yacht Club.He was a lifetime member of the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society. His Island-grown blueberries, cultivated in his backyard in Edgartown, garnered him blue ribbons at the Agricultural Fair year after year. His brace of beagles, while not as successful as the blueberries, brought home the occasional ribbon as well. Owen was a frequent competitor in the Chilmark Road Race, happy to finish regardless of place. An avid sportsman, he was a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club. He was also a member of the Chappaquiddick Beach Club, the Edgartown Reading Room, and the congregation at St. Andrew’s Church, where six of his grandchildren were baptized.

Owen was vigorously involved in the Edgartown Yacht Club, which he served in various capacities, eventually becoming Commodore and helping establish the club’s Sailing Center. He raced his Herreshoff 12 ½ Bonnes Mares, his Sabre 38 Upbeat, his J42 of the same name, and his J28 Resurgo with great distinction. The Upbeat Cup is now awarded to the first place non-spinnaker finisher in the ‘Round the Island Race, named after Owen’s yacht which he sailed around the Island more times than any other boat in that class. He could be seen on a typical weekend inspecting visiting yachts in the harbor and watching the races in the outer harbor in his distinctive navy blue motor boat Doubletime. He was also a member of American Yacht Club, the Cruising Club of America, and the New York Yacht Club. He cruised in the Virgin Islands, Grenadines and Hebrides, and competed in six Newport to Bermuda Races, among other offshore adventures. He also completed a Trans-Atlantic passage to Kinsale, Ireland on Upbeat, departing from Edgartown harbor on a blustery June day and passing the Chappy Ferry under full sail with a spinnaker flying.

Owen attended the Lawrenceville School class of ‘59 and graduated from Princeton University in 1963. At Princeton Owen was president of his eating club (Cloister Inn), and was stroke on the national championship lightweight freshman crew. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1966 and had a successful career as an international lawyer.

He served in the U.S. Army in Viet Nam as captain in the 23rd Medical Battalion, for which he received two Bronze Stars, Combat and Expert Field Medical Badges, and numerous other decorations. His military service continued throughout his life as a captain in the Army Reserve, Judge Advocate for the New York Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars, and, most recently, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Owen’s tenacious devotion to duty, extraordinary personal drive, wit, humor and charm were felt by all who encountered him. As much as he gave to others, he gave most to his family. He is survived by his wife, Christine M. Smith, of Big Pine Key, Fla.; his three children: Philip C. Smith 2nd and his wife, Chloe, of Winterport, Maine; Andrew C. von S. Smith and his wife, Shannon, of New Canaan, Conn.; and Sarah S. Betz and her husband, Billy, of Darien, Conn.; his two brothers: Lawther O. Smith and his wife, Linda, of Doylestown, Pa. and Richard C. Smith and his wife, Connie, of Pinellas Park, Fla.; and his seven grandchildren, Charles and Hazel, Adeline and Andrew Jr. , and Oliver, Margaret and Louisa.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 11 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan, Conn., followed by a reception at the Country Club of New Canaan.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Owen’s honor to The Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of the Florida Keys, Inc.; VNAHospiceKeys.org.