William Cathor, 63

    William Cathor of Montauk, a retired New York City police officer, died while enroute to Southampton Hospital on Dec. 17. He was 63 had lung cancer for three-and-a-half years.

    Mr. Cathor was an army veteran and served with the New York Police Department. for 20 years. He was born on May 14, 1949, in Queens. He grew up in Flushing, attended the St. Ann’s parochial school there, and graduated from Francis Lewis High School, also in Queens.

    His wife, MaryLou Cathor, whom he married in 1990, survives. For a number of years, the Cathors split their time between Queens and Amagansett, but in 2006 they moved to Laurel Drive in Montauk.

    Mr. Cathor’s family said he loved to gamble, playing the horses via Off Track Betting and buying lottery tickets. He regularly went to the business district in Montauk for coffee with friends and to the ocean beach at the White Sands Motel on Napeague, which was his favorite place to swim. He enjoyed landscaping the grounds of his various houses.

    Mr. Cathor is survived by his mother, Alice Cathor, who lives in Maryland, as does a brother, Robert Cathor. A son, Robert Vassil of Massapequa Park, a daughter, Danielle Fromm of Montauk, and three grandchildren survive as well.

    A funeral service was held at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Flushing on Dec. 21. Burial followed at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Queens. Memorial contributions were suggested for the emergency medical technicians of the Montauk Fire Department, South Edgemere Road, Montauk 11954.