Jonathan Bernstein died on Friday, Oct. 20 at his home on the Vineyard, surrounded by his loving family. He was 77.

He was a film producer, business owner and real estate agent. A man of warmth, gentle nature, passion and wisdom and an engaging conversationalist, he brought enthusiasm to everyone around him and to his greater Island community.

He loved storytelling, music, filmmaking, Broadway and simple pleasures such as enjoying the Vineyard’s pastoral charms and swimming in Seth’s Pond.

Jonathan played many roles in his community. He was a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center, where he served as treasurer for five years. He was a valued Island guide and friend.

He co-founded Our Island Club, known as Buy Local MV, a membership card service for year-round Vineyard residents that offers meaningful discounts to help make the local cost of living more affordable. Charitable donations were made yearly to Island organizations and scholarship funds on behalf of the club. Since 2005, he managed Our Island Club along with his family and business partner.

Jonathan also served the Island community through his work with the Food Pantry and MVTV. He was a real estate agent, initially at Tea Lane Associates and most recently as an agent with Kendall & Kendall Real Estate. He founded a banking program at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School to encourage financial literacy and planning for students.

Before moving to Martha’s Vineyard, he enjoyed a 30-year-long career as a filmmaker and producer.

He was born Jan. 30, 1946 in Manhattan. He grew up in Westchester, where he became an avid moviegoer and television viewer. He began working in the film industry in New York and was accepted into the first class of the Directors Guild of America Training Program. His first assignment as a DGA trainee was on the production of A Separate Peace, based on the novel by John Knowles.

He went on to work as an associate producer, production manager and producer on many television projects and films in New York and Los Angeles. Notably, he was executive producer of The Chosen, a film based on the novel by Chaim Potok and which won Best Picture at the World Film Festival; associate producer of Hop scotch; and producer of the Academy Award-nominated film Testament.

While in Los Angeles, Jonathan held the position of senior vice president of production at Fox Night at the Movies and then senior vice president of special projects and research at Fox, Inc.

From 1996 to 2002, he was chairman of the board of CyberSchool, Inc., an online education platform for students with learning disabilities and special needs. He was a late-diagnosed dyslexic and overcame his own challenges with the education system to forge his own career success.

Jonathan met his wife Jill while producing the miniseries Roses Are For the Rich. They married in Miami in 1991. After many years in Los Angeles, they moved to Martha’s Vineyard in 2000 with their children. They lived in Menemsha before moving to their current home in West Tisbury. He loved living on Martha’s Vineyard.

Jonathan is survived by his devoted wife Jill and their three children, Jenna, Joshua and Julian, as well as his sister Susan Bernstein and her husband Daniel Kleinman, and many adoring nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents Barbara Melman Bernstein and Sidney Bernstein.

A beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend, Jonathan was dearly loved and will be missed by all who knew him.

A celebration of life and memorial service will take place at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center in Vineyard Haven on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m.