Capt. William Butler

Capt. William Butler, whose career included operating a popular Montauk party boat called Lazy Bones and teaching English at East Hampton High School, died of complications of pneumonia on Oct. 31 at Martin Memorial hospital in Jensen Beach, Fla., where he had lived since 1985. He was 81.

Captain Butler got his start in boating piloting for the Davis Park Ferry Company to and from Fire Island. At the time, he also taught English at Patchogue High School.

 He was born in Patchogue on Oct. 23, 1936, the only child of the former Gertrude Combs and William Butler. He attended Brown University and graduated with a degree in English from Hofstra University.

In June 1957, he married the former Lynn Schmidt. They and three of their children moved to Montauk in 1963. In addition to teaching English, he coached basketball at East Hampton High School. He also had served as an East Hampton Town trustee.

His widow survives him, as do his children, Rhett Butler of Parker, Colo., Nathaniel Butler of Westfield, N.J., Jennifer Lyman of Newark, Del., and Alisa Sanabria of East Hampton. Thirteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren also survive. 

Captain Butler was cremated, with a private memorial to be held in the future.