Philip T. Hughes Jr., of Oak Bluffs, died on July 11 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, after celebrating his 84th birthday on the Fourth of July, his oft-stated personal goal.

He was born in Hartford, Conn. and grew up in Wethersfield, Conn.

He moved his young family to the Island in 1969 to start his contracting business, which was the second love of his life after his family. One of his customers spoke in awe, that few men were so totally defined by what they did.

Active in the community, serving on many Oak Bluffs town boards, his enthusiasms were contagious. A longtime member of the Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club, he took up skeet shooting with the same passion.

His Sunday morning ritual, no matter the weather, was to take his wife for a drive ‘to inspect my job-sites’, proudly reviewing ‘his houses.’

Sunday afternoons were reserved for skeet. Then back to work.

He is survived his wife, Joan L. Hughes; his children Philip T. Hughes III (Jill Solloway), Kelley Hughes-Liao (David Liao) and Dana Hughes; his stepson Nathaniel Lanza (Laura Valentine); his grandchildren Morgan Hughes, Philip T. Hughes IV, Iris Liao, Ray Valentine Lanza and Aleks Valentine Lanza. He is also survived by his first wife, Patricia Hughes of Oak Bluffs and his brother Robert Hughes (Christine Hughes.)

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, August 10 at 2 p.m., at the Sailing Camp Park in Oak Bluffs. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Island ASPCA , or an Island organization of your choice.