Roger Neuhoff, a longtime broadcast executive, loving husband and father who had summered in Edgartown for more than five decades, died peacefully Oct. 28 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was 87.

Born Feb. 16, 1928, in New York city to Jerome and Betty Green Neuhoff, Roger spent his childhood in Kings Point, Long Island, with his older brother John. The two brothers were inseparable in their formative years. Roger followed John to Phillips Academy in Andover, where he became a champion hammer thrower and track star. He later attended Amherst College right behind John, graduating in 1950. From there, Roger was one of the earliest recruits to the Central Intelligence Agency, and was deployed behind enemy lines in North Korea to rescue downed American reconnaissance pilots.

With a keen intellect and boundless ambition, Roger’s meteoric career in media began as a salesman at WTOP AM in Washington D.C. In 1955 he and his wife Louise began building Eastern Broadcasting with the acquisition of their first radio station, in Charlottesville, Va. From there, Roger and his business partner Bob Zimmerman grew the company, adding another 11 markets of television and radio. In 1989, Eastern was sold to Tele Media in one of the largest transactions of its kind at the time. During the same period, Roger and Louise moved to North Palm Beach, Fla., and joined the Lost Tree Club, their permanent home. In 2003, Roger and Louise began building another broadcast company, Neuhoff Communications, which still operates in six Midwest markets.

Though always clearly focused on his work, his happiest times were spent with Louise, family and friends in Edgartown, where he was able to relax and enjoy life. The Neuhoff family has summered on Martha’s Vineyard since 1956. In October 1959 Roger and Louise bought the Tower cottage at Starbuck’s Neck in Edgartown. The name came from the fact that part of the house was originally a water tower for the summer homes developed at Starbuck’s Neck in the late 1800s and early 1900s, before Edgartown had a public water system. The Tower house remains the Neuhoff family home today.

Roger was a member of the Edgartown Yacht Club, a founder of the Chappaquiddick Beach Club and a member of the Edgartown Reading Room, where he was renowned for his backgammon skills. He also belonged to the Washington University Club and the Chevy Chase Club.

A longtime cancer survivor, Roger was perhaps best known to those closest to him for his ability to always remain positive in the face of adversity. He used humor to deflect and disarm those around him and always found a kind word to lift the spirits of others.

He was predeceased by his parents, his brother John and his son Geoffrey. He is survived by his wife Louise; his daughter Marion Hickman and her husband Simon of West Tisbury; his sons Eric and Alexander and his daughter in law Beth. Additionally, he leaves 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a niece, four nephews and Felix the cat. His beautiful smile always warmed our hearts.

A private family service will be held on the Vineyard.

Memorial donations may be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, mvpreservation.org.