OBITUARIES

William Tayloe Becker

After a lifetime of seafaring, Bill Becker’s watch ended on June 21, 2018. He was 58.

His experience on boats was vast and broad. He was shipkeeper of <Wavertree>, the 1885 iron-hulled cargo ship at South Street Seaport; spent a year in the Mediterranean as captain of the 1926 NY4O <Marilee>; ran Bevin Copel’s <Congere> and Ogden Reid’s <Flyway’s>; and raced 6 Metres with Binky Hoffman.

Many of his racing miles were sailed along with his brothers, Peter and Carter, and many miles were spent cruising on <Duckling> with his brothers, his sister Courtenay, and their parents Richard and Beverley.

He was a true Corinthian, old school yacht captain, and all-around salt. 

When he wasn’t on the water, Bill was reading. His knowledge of maritime history and the Clipper Ship Era was endless, as was his interest in world events and just about everything else under the sun. Though he was a quiet soul, once engaged, the conversation was always enlightening and the generosity of spirit boundless. 

Rye was Bill’s home port, and his presence here and afar will be sorely missed. May his new watch bring him fair winds and following seas.