Captain William "Bill" Vazquez

Captain William "Bill" Vazquez, 95, of North Hutchinson Island/Fort Pierce, Florida, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2025, at Treasure Coast Hospice in Fort Pierce.

Bill was predeceased by his sons, William Mark Vazquez, Esq., and Jeffrey Peter Vazquez, and by his wife of 28 years, Gail Arlene Vazquez (née Gagstetter).

He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Elizabeth Pozniak (née Baglio), his devoted daughter Dr. Andrea Lauren Vazquez (Gilberto Rivera Jr.) and his cherished sisters, Adela Andonopoulis (Philip) and Ramona Frano (Martin). He will be dearly missed by the extended Baglio/Pozniak and Gagstetter/Ippolito families.

Through his marriage to Barbara, Bill's family grew to include his beloved stepchildren: Capt. Adam Christian Pozniak (Bobby Plasencia), Mary Lynn Ninesling (Shawn), and RJ Pozniak (Elizabeth Smith).

Bill was a proud grandfather to Dr. Christopher Hauser, William Matthew Vazquez, Christian Martin, Raúl Pozniak, Ana Berrio, Tre Pozniak, William Ninesling, and Mary Taylor Ninesling; and a great-grandfather to Hayden Moore, Callum Hauser, and Isabella Vazquez.

Born in East New York, Brooklyn, to Pedro and Concetta Vazquez (née Ippolito), Bill attended George Westinghouse Vocational High School, where he developed trade skills and learned to play the saxophone-an instrument that remained close to his heart throughout his life.

A proud U.S. Air Force Veteran, Bill served as a "Radio Frequency Transmission Systems Specialist" in the Arctic on Frobisher Bay (Baffin Island, Northwest Territories), during the Korean War. His duties were a vital part of the North American Cold War defensive perimeter, contributing to surveillance and communications in the Arctic, a role separate from the direct combat communications in Korea. During his time in the Arctic, he was also inducted into "The Royal Order of the Blue Nose."

Following his honorable discharge, he worked as a TV repairman and soon had his own shop. He then worked as a door-to-door salesman which led to a successful career in insurance. Known for his charm and wit-"he could sell ice to an Eskimo"-Bill became a principal partner at Associated Business Coverage (ABC Insurance) in Valley Stream, New York.

He raised his sons in Babylon and Freeport, New York, and lived for many years in Island Park before retiring to Jupiter, Florida.

Bill was a natural entertainer with a lifelong love of music, magic and laughter. Outgoing and endlessly curious, he spoke English, Spanish, Italian, and some Yiddish, and enjoyed exploring new cultures and cuisines. His travels took him across Europe, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Asia, and beyond. In the early 2000's, Bill traveled abroad with Andrea to Alicante for several months to study Spanish language and culture. He also accompanied her to attend a conference on psychoanalysis in China. Bill and Barbara explored many destinations via cruise ship and were always up to an adventure. Their trips to Sicily allowed them to reconnect with beloved family and learn more about their roots.

An avid fisherman and licensed boat Captain, Bill loved spending time on the water aboard his boats "Choo-Chee," "My Lady," and "Polisea" (the Hatteras he was so proud of). In later years, he downsized to a pontoon boat ("Jolly Roger"), which allowed Bill and Barbara to continue to enjoy light fishing and explore the local waterways together with friends and family.

A true tinkerer and inventor, Bill could fix almost anything at his workbench, proudly declaring, "The difficult I make look easy… the impossible just takes a little longer."

Later in life, Bill embraced the Roman Catholic faith, inspired by Barbara's devotion and peace of spirit. Together, they prayed the Rosary and attended virtual Mass daily, as well as regularly at St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Fort Pierce.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Fort Pierce on Tuesday, November 4th, at 10:00 a.m.

Live Stream of the Mass will be accessible via: https://stanastasiachurch.org/church

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Bill's memory to your favorite charity, Treasure Coast Hospice, or St. Anastasia Catholic Church.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.