William Abbott Butler
William Abbott Butler
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William Butler Obituary
Bill was born in Havana, Cuba to Harold and Ofelia Butler. He fell in love with the sea at the ripe old age of 9. At age 14 he skippered his first blue water voyage from Havana to Varadero on his 15 ft Snipe. Bill went on to skipper countless voyages including treasure hunting, fishing, three transatlantic voyages, rounding Cape Horn, and an attempted circumnavigation which ended when his sailboat Siboney was sunk by whales. Over the course of Bill's sailing years, he logged over 74,000 nautical miles at sea with his children, grandchildren, and numerous crewmembers aboard his two mistresses of the sea, Siboney and New Chance.
Those of us who crewed with the Skip, regardless of when or where, are forever bonded by our unforgettable experiences. The placard in the Siboney's galley summed it up: "It's a swell ship for the skipper but a hell ship for the crew." Ready or not, when the time came to depart, the ship would cast off her shorelines. The Skipper's reply to any pending repairs or upgrades was, "We'll fix it at sea.", and off to sea we would go. Regardless of the adventures and mishaps bestowed upon the valiant crews of the Siboney and New Chance, the Skip always brought us back to port safely.
The Skip survived three shipwrecks, including a Typhoon in the Philippines and sinking by whales deep in the Pacific, surviving 66 days in a life raft. He recorded the latter in his book "66 Days Adrift". Everyone who met Bill, without exception, admired his spirit for life, adventure, perseverance, and ingenuity.
Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He is predeceased by his wife Elsie, mother to his five children, son Bill Jr, and wife Lirio Del Valle. He is survived by his children Sue, Jim, Sally, and Joe, 9 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren.
We love you Dad, Fair Winds Skipper!
Funeral Service:
Family and Friends welcome.
Date: June 29, 2024
Time: 1:30PM
Where: St. Louis Catholic Church
7270 SW 120th St
Pinecrest, FL 33156
Reception to follow: Friendship Room St. Louis Catholic Church
Burial at Sea:
Skip's ashes will be committed to the sea.
Date: TBD
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Marilyn Norton Orr
June 24, 2024
Condolences to the Butler family, especially Joe, Jewels, and Joe's girls. Bill and our dad, Ty Norton, were friends for 50 years since meeting in Manila, PI, in the 1960s. They both loved to sail. Dad sailed with Bill 3 times across the Atlantic; and he cherished his memories of those sailing adventures until the day he died. Dad especially enjoyed getting to know Joe when they sailed across with Bill in 1992. Ty & Bill are sailing again on the high seas with fair winds, following seas, and cold San Miguel's.
-Marilyn, Abi, & Beverley Norton -
Mario Cerpa
June 21, 2024
Querido Hermano Bill Butler aka Cubiche, extrañaré mucho nuestros esporádicos mensajes respecto a la vida, la amistad, el mar...fuiste grande, lleno de paz y bondad, que tengas un buen viaje a la Eternidad...
Un abrazo fraterno
Tiburón Blanco Cerpa aka TBC
CELIA C SUAREZ
June 20, 2024
I will miss Bill Butler in the November 2024 Ruston Reunion, and I won't be the only one. He was well-loved by his Ruston family. I couldn't believe the stories about his shipwrecks during our time together in the Centennial Reunion in 2021...his Ruston education I know contributed to his wonderful and challenging life...my condolences to the family.
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Barbara
June 19, 2024
Our condolences go out to all of the Bill Butler family. A donation was made to the St Louis Catholic Church, 7270 SW 120th ST. Pinecrest, FL 33156, in honor of BilI. Also, a mass will be offered on December 22, 2024, at the 11 AM mass.
I cherish a moment in the Virgin Islands watching Skipper sail away with three grandchildren, 14 and under, aboard his sailboat without refrigeration, no working motor at the time. He blew his conch shell horn as he sailed into the sunset.
You made your last sail to your heavenly home. We await to see you on the other side. We remember so many precious memories on land and sea. The conch horn blows for thee.
Love,
Reiner and Barbara
Bill
June 18, 2024
Condolences to the Butler Family. I was friends with Jim and Sally back in the day in Caracas, Venezuela.
Bill Tiernay
Kimberly
June 12, 2024
I love you Grandpa and will miss you forever.
Reiner Schwebel
June 7, 2024
Bill and I spent many miles together sailing. I fondly remember going through the Panama Canal, down the east and west coasts of South America, on the rivers of Europe from Amsterdam to Budapest. I miss him. We became very close friends. He meant a lot to me.
Good-bye my friend,
Reiner
Caprice Cugini Cardinal
June 6, 2024
So many years I have known this man. My father's closest friend. Always looking out for the best for us. Wow, the memories just come flooding back. Playa Grande, Siboney, Polaris, sailing. The friendship that he showed my dad when my brother died still brings tears to my eyes. Racing his car up the winding roads of El Penon with my dad in his own car. Yeah, I watched those two from the house balcony. Always having fun. They must have been in their 40's then. After a few cocktails I'm sure. I can remember when he was lost at sea. We all knew something was terribly wrong. I never saw my Dad cry, but he did then. What a life he led. Full of love, adventure, heartache, all the things that make us human. He sure had a big heart though. When my stepmom passed away and left her little dog, Pico, Bill wanted the dog. Lirio was not amused. She had never had a pet. Said she lived on the 12th floor, ect. Bill was, don't you worry Capricita, Pico will be fine. He was right. Lirio fell in love with that little dog. God Bless him. I will miss him terribly. I love you Bill.
Jonathan Adams
June 6, 2024
1992 America 500
Kim Cugini
June 6, 2024
Skip, don´t know where to start. You´ve part of my life for more than 50 years. I grew up with all your children, who I still stay in touch with. Let´s not forget all those memories on board the Siboney. A wet one she was. All those trips to "Los Rogues". Our membership in Playa Grande. So many wonderful memories. My father, Siro Cugini passed 14 years ago and you two were inseparable, best of friends for over 60 years. We will miss you with all our heart. At least the two of you will be together again. We love you Skip. "Fair Winds And Following Seas.
Charles Adams
June 6, 2024
I am proud and Happy to have had the pleasure of sailing with Skippee for several thousands of miles around South America, Cape Horn (almost) and San Juan to Amsterdam via the Azores and England.
Bill was a master of "jury rigged" repairs. Skippee, Mountain Mike, and Matey spent most of the days between San Juan and the Azores repairing leaking fuel tanks, wind generators and more.
After Mike got off, Skippee and I weathered 3 gales in the Atlantic before finally reaching Weymouth England.
Bill was truly a Man's Man.
May he have following winds on his next journey
Matey Chuck Adams
Lina Salazar
June 6, 2024
Had the pleasure to meet Bill and Lirio years back when Lirio came for treatment to Houston Medical Center. My husband, Bill's cousin, Bill, and Lirio had a wonderful lunch which allowed us to chat about our lives in Cuba and our families. We enjoyed talking to Bill by phone or by Skype at least once every two months. Always invited us to go sailing with him. I regret that I never did! May You Have a Final Beautiful Sailing to Heaven!
Donna Cugini
June 6, 2024
Donna Cugini
June 6, 2024
Donna Cugini
June 6, 2024
Donna Cugini
June 6, 2024
Memories fade at times. So glad to look back and remembering the good times Puerto Rico was a wonderful place to visit. Bill was a pleasure to be around. Warm hearts full of their stories to share. Kim and Donna
Jose Aurelio Salas Salas
June 6, 2024
Muchos recuerdo llegan de mi infancia, oficina, mar y cariño, un abrazo muy grande a a toda la familia Butler
Charles Adams
June 6, 2024
I had the pleasure of sailing many thousands of miles with Skippee. He was a master of jury rigging. We spent some 60 days sailing from San Juan to the Azores and then to Amsterdam. Most days were spent fixing leaky fuel tanks, leaky rudder posts, broken wind generator, ,,,,,always cheerful and with healthy doses of Roncitos, Pisco's New Chance, and Bull shots. By the time we reached England after battling 3 Gales, we had consumed the entire supply of alcohol except for a bottle of Havana Club dark rum which Skippee would not share and a bottle of Gold Schnapps which he assigned to me.
I am honored to have known Bill Butler and to call him my friend.
Chuck "Matey" Adams
Mary Jones Mills
June 6, 2024
Such an amazing Man that never road of course with his passion for the sea. I know he will be missed greatly! His life stories are like a movie...I still have and treasure his book. I can see in my mind the Matheson Hammock bon voyage as he sailed off on the Siboney to see the world...
I send my deepest sympathy for your loss and pray that you all will only be surrounded with the fondest of memories. With love Mary Jones Mills
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10545 South Dixie Hwy., Miami, FL 33156
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