Jeffrey Thomas Clements died August 4 while out on his boat off State Beach, doing what he loved. He was 67.

He was born on July 18, 1956 in Oak Bluffs, the son of Albert R. Clements and Lorraine E. DeMont Clements.

He grew up in Oak Bluffs and attended Oak Bluffs Elementary School. He was a true OB kid. Life was simpler then. Summers were spent on coin diving, fishing, horsing around and jumping off the drawbridge with his friends. Winters were spent playing pick-up hockey games on ice and sledding with his best friend Mark Landers on Sunset Hill.

He was always passionate about sports and had a reputation from grammar school through high school as “one of the best.” Throughout four years at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School he played multiple positions on the football team; was a starter on the basketball teams that played the Boston Garden in 1973 and 1974; and played baseball. He was proud of his athletic accomplishments and shared entertaining stories about those years. He loved to pass on sports knowledge to young people in his quiet way, out of the limelight.

He graduated from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in 1974.

Jeff was a hard worker, starting early with a paper route and moving on to mowing lawns. Throughout high school he worked as a landscaper with Ed Landers, where he gained knowledge about shrubs, trees and all facets of the trade. He loved tree work and eventually ran Vineyard Tree Service for his father, Al. His co-workers were impressed by the meticulous work he did while up in the bucket, trimming trees fearlessly and artistically.

He was a true outdoorsman called to be on the water. He was a commercial fisherman, scalloping and lobstering, working for himself or as crew for others if something good came along. During the late 1970s and early 1980s he crewed as first mate for Capt. Roy Scheffer on the swordfishing boat Tiki 12. He spoke fondly of those days fishing on the Grand Banks, traveling south in the winter to fish. He eventually traveled out to Hawaii in 1983 and 1984 on the Tucana.

Jeff moved back to the Vineyard and ran his father’s tree business, fished ponds and lobstered around the Island.

He was a kind man often referred to as a gentle giant. His nieces and nephews liked to call him Uncle Quahog. He was witty and had a great sense of humor.

He was a selfless man with a soft spot for children and adults with special needs. He could sense if someone needed extra help or attention and was always ready to give it, never expecting anything in return.

Jeff is survived by his sisters Deborah Suneson of Oak Bluffs, Jenifer Stockdale and her husband Larry of Brookfield, and Andrea Clements of Centerville; brothers Albert (Albie) and Joel of Oak Bluffs, Mark and his wife Sue of West Tisbury; sister in law Meg Clements of Edgartown and Barrington, R.I.; nieces and nephews Lindsay, Summer, Albert, Jordan, Marie, Mark, Pete, Caitlin, Erin, Andy, Chrissy, Tyler, Angie, Harrison and Emmarie; and great-nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins and many loving friends including the Baird family.

He was predeceased by his parents, brothers Gregory and Peter, sister Carolee, nephew Erick. His sister in law Vera Jean Clements died a few days after he did.

A celebration of his life will be held at Little Bridge in Oak Bluffs on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 11 a.m., followed by a reception at the P.A. Club from 12 to 3 p.m. A dish or dessert would be welcomed.

Memorial donations can be made to Friends of Oak Bluffs, P.O. Box 1281, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557. Please note that the donation is for a memorial bench for Jeffrey Clements.

In Jeff’s memory, please perform a little act of kindness for someone in need.