William Cuthbert of Hog Creek Road in Springs died on May 11 at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Jana Nishida, his partner of 21 years, at his bedside. The cause was metastatic bladder cancer. He was 64.
At the age of 5, Mr. Cuthbert experienced grave injuries that required surgery to remove a significant portion of his intestines. He was given last rites and spent two weeks in a coma, and consequently experienced lifelong urological difficulties, ultimately leading to bladder cancer.
Having survived a near-death experience at such a young age, he felt obligated to live a righteous, honest life, Ms. Nishida said, and was a sensitive, caring man of high principles.
William Cuthbert was born on Dec. 10, 1957, in Westhampton to Peter Cuthbert and the former Nancy Whaley. One of six children, he grew up in East Moriches. Despite his health challenges he was a strong athlete, winning multiple trophies in wrestling and basketball while in school.
As a child, he worked as an apprentice for a local contractor. While serving as an acolyte at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Westhampton Beach, he met and went to work for another contractor as a laborer and carpenter’s assistant. He left home at 16 and lived in abandoned buildings while supporting himself as a manager of a 7-Eleven store after school and on Sundays.
At 18, he obtained his commercial driver’s license and took advanced safety courses at the Department of Motor Vehicles, which qualified him to drive any six-wheel vehicle. He leased an ice cream truck and, as one of Hood’s top sellers in the country, drove to Texas, where he and other drivers established new routes for the company. At 19, he had two trucks and six employees.
In 1983, he bought a 24-foot refrigerated truck and started selling fish from the Fulton Fish Market to restaurants and grocery stores throughout New York State. After a year, he heard that the business was associated with organized crime and closed his company. He subsequently opened a construction company, work that he pursued successfully for the rest of his life.
A windsurfer, mountain biker, and snow skier, he particularly enjoyed skiing the trails at the Killington Mountain resort in Vermont, where he built two residences.
He was very curious about the world, Ms. Nishida said, and a devoted student of current events and history from ancient to modern times. The Civil War was of particular interest. He read extensively about science, physics, the universe, and cosmic phenomena. Despite ending his formal education just before completing high school, he was knowledgeable about a wide range of topics. His talents extended from intellectual pursuits to expert gardening.
He was also an excellent cook and an engrossing raconteur with a great sense of humor, Ms. Nishida said.
In addition to Ms. Nishida, Mr. Cuthbert is survived by his siblings, Peter Cuthbert of Aberdeen, Md., Jane Clifton of Brooklin, Me., Mary Cuthbert of Noank, Conn., and Lee Green of Dinwiddie, Va.
Mr. Cuthbert was cremated. A celebration of his life will be held at Lazy Point in Amagansett, where he loved to windsurf, at a future date.
