John C. Dodge John C. Dodge IV, 29, died unexpectedly Thursday at his home in Swansea. Born in Taklima, Ore., a son of Laura Lee (Elbert-Beal) Dodge of Warren and John C. Dodge III of Alaska, he had lived in Warren for most of his life. He moved to Swansea two years ago. He was a 1992 graduate of School One in Providence. He attended kindergarten on Block Island. Mr. Dodge was co-proprietor of the family business, Pets First of Swansea. He and his mother started the pet store and aquarium five years ago. Mr. Dodge enjoyed working with animals, and had worked at other aquariums before starting Pets First. He was very knowledgeable about the world?s oceans. His greatest adventure had been scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, off the Australian coast. "He loved animals, that?s why he had the pet store," said his maternal grandmother, Dalice (Taylor) Beal of South Kingstown, and also formerly of Block Island. He was a descendant of one of the 16 founding families of Block Island, the last person to have a direct lineage to Trustrum Dodge, who settled here in 1661, Beal said. His paternal grandparents were Weldon (Weldon?s Way) and Beatrice Ball Dodge, now deceased. Beatrice was a librarian and kindergarten teacher on Block Island and a great friend to animals, especially cats. Weldon was a building contractor. Mr. Dodge was also predeceased by his paternal grandfather, Blaine Beal, of New York, to whom he was very close; and an aunt, Kathleen Beal Carpenter, and her son, Travis Carpenter, of Denver. When he was young, Mr. Dodge lived at Chapel Cottage, a family house here, before moving to Wakefield so that his mother could attend college at the University of Rhode Island. After moving, he frequently visited, coming every summer, reading all the island history books he could, and becoming knowledgeable about the island and his family roots here. Beatrice Beal said he was at his happiest on Block Island. His link to the island was nurtured by his close relationship with his grandmother, Beal said. He was close to all his grandparents, and was described as a best friend and great joy. "I never saw John angry," Beal said. "He will be a great loss." Besides his parents and grandmother Dalice Beal, he leaves an aunt, Julie (Beal) Dudow, of Littleton, Colo., her husband Richard and their daughters, Anna and Kailey; an uncle, Donald Carpenter, of Denver, and his son, Wes Carpenter. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Block Island Volunteers for Animals, P.O. Box 402, BI, RI, 02807. Michael Nassef comes home The family of the late Michael Nassef traveled to Block Island Saturday, Oct. 11, for a brief ceremony at the Mohegan Bluffs. Following the final wishes of Nassef, his family scattered his ashes into the sea breezes from the top of the bluffs. Present were Michael Nassef?s two sons, Michael Jr., and Andy Nassef; daughter, Michel Brogno; son-in-law, Bill Brogno; daughter-in-law, Catherine Ann Nassef; and wife, Jacqueline Sarandrea, with second husband, Joseph Sarandrea. During the informal ceremony of reminiscence, Andy Nassef read two poems, "Requiem," by Robert Louis Stevenson, and "Lake Isle of Innisfree," by William Butler Yeats. Both poems were selected by the family to portray Michael Nassef?s abiding love for Block Island. Michael Nassef passed away on Valentine?s Day at age 63. He spent 34 years living and working on Block Island, first during summers and then year-round. His jobs included cooking at The Oar, maintenance and groundskeeping at the Empire Theatre and King?s Spa during the 1970s for King Odell, and driving taxi for Marilyn Wolfe during the 1980s and ?90s. For the last few years of his life, Nassef resided in Westerly.