Michael Stearn Underwood died peacefully on Thursday, August 24. He was 75.

Born May 23, 1942 in Boston, he was the son of the late Charles W. and Marion Ball Underwood.

Michael attended Boston public schools, including Roxbury Memorial and Jamaica Plain High School, and attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. His career accomplishments included 37 years with the Xerox Corporation in Boston, from which he retired in 2007. After retirement, he resided on Martha’s Vineyard, where he was a very active member of the community.

He loved his life on the Island. He was a regular at cocktail parties, attended community meetings, and frequently hosted people in his home. He was known for his kindness, loyal friendship, sense of humor, and devotion to his loved ones. He was truly one of a kind and he will be missed dearly.

He is survived by daughters Gretchen Mercer and her husband, Parker Bowman, Mariana Ali and her husband, Hayden Ali, and Michelle Underwood; three grandsons, Jason Mercer, Brandon Mercer, and Jalen Ali; granddaughter Jasmine Ali; step-grandson Cameron Ali; brother David Underwood and his wife, Dorothy; sister Laura Horne and her husband, Emanuel; sister in law Claudette Underwood and brother in law Kenneth Roberts; former wives Gretchen Underwood, Celia Mercer, and Nilva Underwood; and many, many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

He was preceded in death by parents Charles Wheeler and Marion (Ball) Underwood; grandson Tristan Mercer; and siblings Edna Underwood, Gladys Mercadel, Charles Underwood, Muriel Dymond, Henry Underwood, Victoria Roberts, John Underwood, Helen Johnson and Sylvia Langley.

Family and friends will celebrate his life on Sunday, Oct. 8 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Portuguese-American Club, 137 Vineyard avenue in Oak Bluffs. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Greater New England, 101A First Ave., Waltham, MA 02451.