Bios

Dick Knight
Dick Knight’s family traces their ties to Chappaquiddick back to the 1920’s when his grandparents first came as summer residents. His family spent every summer on the island’s island – establishing the foundation of three life-long loves: fine carpentry, sailing and a commitment to community.

Dick met Daryl, his wife-to-be, when they both worked on a 52’ Alden ketch in the Bahamas. They sailed the Bahamas and later helped finish a 48’ yawl and sailed her to the Virgin Islands where Dick worked as a ship’s carpenter. Dick and Daryl moved to Chappy year-round in 1972 and Dick started his own construction business 4 years later, forming a partnership with Mike Zadeh in the late 90’s.

Dick has been an active member of the Chappaquiddick and Edgartown community. He was a founding member and the contractor for the Chappaquiddick Community Center and is currently on the Chappy Open Space Committee. Dick was the elected Edgartown commissioner on the MV Land Bank for 10 years and has been a member of the Edgartown Zoning Board of Appeals for more than 30 years. He brings the skills he has honed as part of the MV Mediation program to all aspects of his life. He is currently on the Edgartown Library Building committee.

Dick has benefited from and been deeply influenced by the many relationships he has forged in his different roles over the years, both through his civic work and on the job site with clients and co-workers.

Mike Zadeh

Mike’s family started spending summers  in Oak Bluff’s shortly after he was born. After high school, his mom purchased a Victorian gingerbread house there where she continues to live at the center of her family.

At a young age, Mike found a sense of accomplishment while working alongside his dad on projects around the house and developed a love of wood. During college, he joined a carpentry crew and realized he felt at home there. He experienced a deep sense of satisfaction in taking his skills to the next level and decided to make fine woodworking his career.

Mike met his future wife, Marie, on the Vineyard. They traveled together to California where Mike pursued an opportunity to build Cape style houses. But as with so many who have lived on the Vineyard and experienced its special draw, both Mike and Marie felt the strong pull of the island along with the special ties to family and friends living here. They returned to the island to settle and marry in 1989. Mike started his own construction company at that time and in the late 90’s he and Dick formed a partnership.

Mike snowboards and plays ice hockey but his greatest passion is kite- boarding. He applies his woodworking skills to building his own boards. On windy days, you will find him out on the Vineyard waters riding and jumping with friends.