Thomas Henry Gervais, a longtime West Tisbury resident, died peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 12 at his home in Tubac, Ariz. He was 92.

Born on April 3, 1931 in Troy, N.Y., he was the son of the late Joseph and Helen McDonough Gervais. He was raised in Rochester, N.Y.

He received a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Windsor in Ontario. He served his country as a U.S. Navy electronics specialist on a minesweeper during the Korean War.

Tom spent the next few years traveling and working in Europe and in management positions at IBM, Sybron Corporation and the American Machinery and Foundry corporation. He founded an international brokerage firm for drilling equipment and the Batavia, N.Y. company Genesee Pump, where he developed an early computerized program for water well suppliers.

When he moved to Martha’s Vineyard in 1980, he established Gervais Drilling. In his 20-year ownership of the firm, he provided more than 700 water wells to Vineyard homes and businesses.

During the winter months, Tom explored the Caribbean on his 38-foot ketch, O-Well. He also loved to restore classic cars, the most recent being a 1930 Model A Ford.

Adventurous and inventive, he kayaked more than 1,200 miles on the Yukon, explored America extensively, restored several 19th-century houses, designed an integrated domestic solar heating and hot water system for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and was always on the lookout for a challenging project.

He loved his family and friends and will be remembered for his generous heart, can-do spirit and enthusiastic warmth.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 20 years, Nancy Fitzpatrick, a former member of the Vineyard Gazette staff. The couple moved off-Island in 2004, first settling in Washington County, N.Y. and later in the historic town of Tubac, Ariz.

He is also survived by four children from a previous marriage to Velma McEvoy Lindberg of Fayetteville, N.Y.: Joseph Gervais of West Tisbury; Michael of Buffalo, N.Y.; Timothy of Ruby, Alaska, and Mary Helen Gervais and her husband Visael Rodriguez of Loveland, Ohio. He also leaves behind four grandchildren: Sabrina and Cristian Rodriguez Gervais, Rubis Maida Gervais and Margaret Iliamna Gervais; two step daughters, Anne and Lisa Fitzpatrick of Seattle and Anne’s husband, Christian Pittack; two cousins, Lorraine Bailey of Troy, N.Y., and Helen Iacoponi of Green Valley, Ariz.; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his three dear sisters, Margaret Gervais Rowe, Celanire Morgan and Joanne Christner.

A celebration of his life will take place at a future date.

Memorial donations can be made to the Tubac Rotary Club Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 33, Tumacacori, AZ 85640-0033.