James F. Duarte died on Dec. 22, 2022.

He was the son of Manuel Duarte of Vineyard Haven and the brother of David, Paula and Helen.

He was tall, dark and handsome. He graduated from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in 1966. He entered the Marine Corps and was honorably furloughed because of a heart murmur. He returned home and married his high school sweetheart, Abby Downes of Vineyard Haven.

He went on to become a professional photographer and gun dealer in Maine for 30 years. He was popular wherever he lived and was a sweet and honest man.

After an amicable divorce, he moved to New Haven, Conn., where his second wife, Wendy Hamilton, ran for mayor in 2019. He became a bird watcher and a Civil War reenactor late in life.

He is survived by his children Noah and Megan, and his wife Wendy of New Haven, Conn.