September Community Updates

Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard

Community Updates

September 2026

LATE SUMMER ON THE ISLAND ● SUMMER ISN’T OVER YET

September brings some of our favorite opportunities to gather as an Island — to play, remember, give back and care for one another.

SEPTEMBER 27 ● SLOUGH FARM

A Day to Remember, Connect & Play

Camp by the Sea returns for a day of connection, play, and shared memory for Island families with a child in grades K to 8 who has experienced the death of someone close to them. Horseback riding, art, animals, and time together create space for children to simply be children, while knowing they are not alone.

It’s not too late to volunteer or attend.

Funding to support this year’s Camp by the Sea is generously provided by Slough Farm Foundation and Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation. The Couch Foundation has generously committed to fund CBTS next year.

LEARN ABOUT CAMP BY THE SEA

SEPTEMBER 20 ● MINK MEADOWS GOLF CLUB

One More Round of Summer

The 16th Annual Bud Lamoreaux Memorial Hospice Golf Classic returns to Mink Meadows for a full day on the course in support of hospice and palliative care on Martha’s Vineyard.

We’re grateful to Navigator Homes and ScottsMiracle-Gro, presenting sponsors of this year’s Golf Classic. Navigator Homes’ partnership with HPCMV reflects a shared commitment to compassionate care and community on the Island.

EXPLORE THE AUCTION

Parking Volunteers Needed, 9 AM – 12 PM at Mink Meadows! Sign Up →

GRIEF AWARENESS

Grief Doesn’t Follow a Calendar

August 30 marked National Grief Awareness Day — a reminder of something we see every day at HPCMV: grief is deeply personal, and no one should have to navigate it alone.

From Camp by the Sea to individual grief counseling and community gatherings, HPCMV creates spaces where community members can remember, connect and heal.

OCTOBER 3 ● 5:30 PM JOSEPH A. SYLVIA STATE PARK

Community Remembrance

Join us at Joseph A. Sylvia State Beach on Saturday, October 3, for a brief sunset gathering to remember those we’ve lost. As the sun sets over the water, our community will come together to hold space for grief, whatever that looks like for you. There’s no program to follow and nothing you need to do, simply be present in whatever way feels right.

Whether your loss is recent and still tender, or a memory you’ve carried for years, you’re welcome here exactly as you are. Stand at the edge of the group or sit quietly on your own, there’s no wrong way to be part of this. Our staff will be there to offer support, and you’re welcome to stay at the beach a little longer afterward if you’re not quite ready to go.

All are welcome, no matter your connection to hospice or Martha’s Vineyard.

LEARN MORE

For a child, grief can feel confusing, overwhelming, and even frightening. Children often experience and express grief differently from adults. They may have questions, changes in behavior, difficulty at school, or moments when they seem perfectly fine — only to become upset later. These are all normal parts of grieving.

At Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard, we believe children should not have to navigate grief alone. We have several offerings to support children experiencing grief.

IN MEMORIAM

Judy Williamson

October 22, 1942 – August 22, 2026

This month, we remember with gratitude our longtime friend, volunteer, and community member Judy Williamson. As chair of the Summer Soirée for years, Judy poured her heart into every detail, and as an artist, she took special pride in her silent auction signage, each piece a small work of art in its own right.

Judy’s connection to hospice was deeply personal, and she brought her whole family into that work alongside her. Beyond HPCMV, she was a lifelong Islander who loved the Christmas concert at Sacred Heart Church in Oak Bluffs and shared her time and talents widely throughout the community.

We are grateful for all she gave, and we hold her family and friends in our thoughts.

NEW STAFF ANNOUNCEMENT

HPCMV Welcomes Theresa Razmakhnin

Theresa has over 25 years of nursing experience, with the last 12 dedicated to hospice nursing. She had the distinct privilege of working at The Connecticut Hospice, Inc. in Branford, CT, the first hospice in the US, learning from staff who had been there since the beginning.

Theresa is a graduate of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and received several scholarships, including the MV Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby Scholarship, which allowed her to attend Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT, where she earned her BSN. Her career has spanned many fields of nursing, including med-surg, cardiology, and ICU.

Theresa felt called to hospice through a particularly challenging and life-changing patient and family care experience, and it’s been her passion ever since. She came to see that her whole career had prepared her to be a hospice nurse. She loves educating the community about the benefits of hospice and hopes to inspire the next generation of hospice nurses to carry the mission forward.

Returning to Martha’s Vineyard is a homecoming for Theresa, whose family has island roots going back generations on her mother’s side. She’s proud to join the compassionate team at Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard.

We’re so happy to have Theresa at HPCMV!

LOOKING AHEAD ● DECEMBER 12

Handmade from the Heart

Calling all Island makers, artists and artisans. We’re collecting gift-worthy handmade creations for a special holiday event at the Daniel Fisher House during Christmas in Edgartown.