Roland Francis Moonamun James of Chatham, MA, passed away on December 4th, 2020, following a month-long effort to treat his advanced lung cancer.
Roland had been living in recent years in the Cambridge/Boston area; he entered the VA hospital in West Roxbury. MA in late October. He briefly spent time in a palliative care facility in Brockton, MA, before developing an infection which required readmission to the VA hospital.
Roland was the oldest of three children born to Priscilla and Frank James. He was preceded in death by both his mother and father. Roland is survived by his younger sisters, Sharon Ryone of Brewster, MA, and Donna Sacher of Denver, CO, as well as by his eldest son, Benjamin James of Tewksbury, MA, and twins Womsikuk James and Kimimilasha James, of Watertown, MA.
Roland attended elementary and middle school in Chatham, MA, and then was awarded a full music scholarship to the New York Military Academy in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, where he graduated high school.
Roland had a long career in music, learning the clarinet at an early age, under the tutelage of his father, a music teacher at Nauset Regional High School. Roland continued to pursue the clarinet, and also the flute, while serving in the US Navy. He was stationed in Newport, RI, where he played in a German-style band, The Dukes of Rhineland, during some of his off-duty time. Other prominent Navy assignments took Roland to Japan, and towards the end of his time in the service, to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, near Zion, IL. Later, Roland taught music at the New York Military Academy, where he had once been a student.
Roland’s father, known by his Native American name, Wamsutta, was a leader in the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, with its origins on Martha’s Vineyard. Roland followed in his father’s footsteps, participating in the very first National Day of Mourning, held in Plymouth, MA, in 1970. Through the years, Roland was actively involved in many Native American causes, and frequently acted as a spokesperson for the tribe.
Roland always had a sparkle in his eyes, and a smile which often lit up a room. And he had a zest for life – and a love for the people in it – which never wavered until the very end. Everyone who met him, knew this to be true.
"May the long-time sun shine upon you, may all love surround you, and may the pure light within you, guide you on your way"
A memorial service will be held at the Bourne National Cemetery on Monday, December 14th at 1:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Roland's name to Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), 20 Black Brook Road, Aquinnah, MA 02535.
Roland had been living in recent years in the Cambridge/Boston area; he entered the VA hospital in West Roxbury. MA in late October. He briefly spent time in a palliative care facility in Brockton, MA, before developing an infection which required readmission to the VA hospital.
Roland was the oldest of three children born to Priscilla and Frank James. He was preceded in death by both his mother and father. Roland is survived by his younger sisters, Sharon Ryone of Brewster, MA, and Donna Sacher of Denver, CO, as well as by his eldest son, Benjamin James of Tewksbury, MA, and twins Womsikuk James and Kimimilasha James, of Watertown, MA.
Roland attended elementary and middle school in Chatham, MA, and then was awarded a full music scholarship to the New York Military Academy in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, where he graduated high school.
Roland had a long career in music, learning the clarinet at an early age, under the tutelage of his father, a music teacher at Nauset Regional High School. Roland continued to pursue the clarinet, and also the flute, while serving in the US Navy. He was stationed in Newport, RI, where he played in a German-style band, The Dukes of Rhineland, during some of his off-duty time. Other prominent Navy assignments took Roland to Japan, and towards the end of his time in the service, to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, near Zion, IL. Later, Roland taught music at the New York Military Academy, where he had once been a student.
Roland’s father, known by his Native American name, Wamsutta, was a leader in the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, with its origins on Martha’s Vineyard. Roland followed in his father’s footsteps, participating in the very first National Day of Mourning, held in Plymouth, MA, in 1970. Through the years, Roland was actively involved in many Native American causes, and frequently acted as a spokesperson for the tribe.
Roland always had a sparkle in his eyes, and a smile which often lit up a room. And he had a zest for life – and a love for the people in it – which never wavered until the very end. Everyone who met him, knew this to be true.
"May the long-time sun shine upon you, may all love surround you, and may the pure light within you, guide you on your way"
A memorial service will be held at the Bourne National Cemetery on Monday, December 14th at 1:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Roland's name to Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), 20 Black Brook Road, Aquinnah, MA 02535.
Roland Francis Moonamun James of Chatham, MA, passed away on December 4th, 2020, following a month-long effort to treat his advanced lung cancer.
Roland had been living in recent years in the Cambridge/Boston area; he entered the VA hospital in West Roxbury. MA in late October. He briefly spent time in a palliative care facility in Brockton, MA, before developing an infection which required readmission to the VA hospital.
Roland was the oldest of three children born to Priscilla and Frank James. He was preceded in death by both his mother and father. Roland is survived by his younger sisters, Sharon Ryone of Brewster, MA, and Donna Sacher of Denver, CO, as well as by his eldest son, Benjamin James of Tewksbury, MA, and twins Womsikuk James and Kimimilasha James, of Watertown, MA.
Roland attended elementary and middle school in Chatham, MA, and then was awarded a full music scholarship to the New York Military Academy in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, where he graduated high school.
Roland had a long career in music, learning the clarinet at an early age, under the tutelage of his father, a music teacher at Nauset Regional High School. Roland continued to pursue the clarinet, and also the flute, while serving in the US Navy. He was stationed in Newport, RI, where he played in a German-style band, The Dukes of Rhineland, during some of his off-duty time. Other prominent Navy assignments took Roland to Japan, and towards the end of his time in the service, to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, near Zion, IL. Later, Roland taught music at the New York Military Academy, where he had once been a student.
Roland’s father, known by his Native American name, Wamsutta, was a leader in the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, with its origins on Martha’s Vineyard. Roland followed in his father’s footsteps, participating in the very first National Day of Mourning, held in Plymouth, MA, in 1970. Through the years, Roland was actively involved in many Native American causes, and frequently acted as a spokesperson for the tribe.
Roland always had a sparkle in his eyes, and a smile which often lit up a room. And he had a zest for life – and a love for the people in it – which never wavered until the very end. Everyone who met him, knew this to be true.
"May the long-time sun shine upon you, may all love surround you, and may the pure light within you, guide you on your way"
A memorial service will be held at the Bourne National Cemetery on Monday, December 14th at 1:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Roland's name to Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), 20 Black Brook Road, Aquinnah, MA 02535.
Roland had been living in recent years in the Cambridge/Boston area; he entered the VA hospital in West Roxbury. MA in late October. He briefly spent time in a palliative care facility in Brockton, MA, before developing an infection which required readmission to the VA hospital.
Roland was the oldest of three children born to Priscilla and Frank James. He was preceded in death by both his mother and father. Roland is survived by his younger sisters, Sharon Ryone of Brewster, MA, and Donna Sacher of Denver, CO, as well as by his eldest son, Benjamin James of Tewksbury, MA, and twins Womsikuk James and Kimimilasha James, of Watertown, MA.
Roland attended elementary and middle school in Chatham, MA, and then was awarded a full music scholarship to the New York Military Academy in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, where he graduated high school.
Roland had a long career in music, learning the clarinet at an early age, under the tutelage of his father, a music teacher at Nauset Regional High School. Roland continued to pursue the clarinet, and also the flute, while serving in the US Navy. He was stationed in Newport, RI, where he played in a German-style band, The Dukes of Rhineland, during some of his off-duty time. Other prominent Navy assignments took Roland to Japan, and towards the end of his time in the service, to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, near Zion, IL. Later, Roland taught music at the New York Military Academy, where he had once been a student.
Roland’s father, known by his Native American name, Wamsutta, was a leader in the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, with its origins on Martha’s Vineyard. Roland followed in his father’s footsteps, participating in the very first National Day of Mourning, held in Plymouth, MA, in 1970. Through the years, Roland was actively involved in many Native American causes, and frequently acted as a spokesperson for the tribe.
Roland always had a sparkle in his eyes, and a smile which often lit up a room. And he had a zest for life – and a love for the people in it – which never wavered until the very end. Everyone who met him, knew this to be true.
"May the long-time sun shine upon you, may all love surround you, and may the pure light within you, guide you on your way"
A memorial service will be held at the Bourne National Cemetery on Monday, December 14th at 1:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Roland's name to Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), 20 Black Brook Road, Aquinnah, MA 02535.
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