William H. Stiles

Longtime Cutchogue resident William H. Stiles died Nov. 23 at the age of 87. 

Bill was born June 27, 1927, in Brooklyn Heights to William H. and Martha (Spiers) Stiles. Bill was a graduate of Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn and Dennison College Granville Ohio. He served his country as a member of the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Bill was a former sales manager of Friden and for 33 years, owned Stiles Business Products in Hawthorne, N.Y.

Like many of his North Fork neighbors from Brooklyn, Bill’s father, William H. Stiles Sr., selected the shores of the Peconic Bay for his summer home. In 1907 he purchased “Shawandasse” (Native American for “Southwind”).

In 1940 after sailing at Old Cove Yacht Club, Bill met the love of his life and future mother of their three children, Joan Rowe of Nassau Point and Manhasset. After marrying in 1952, Bill and Joan raised their children in Chappaqua, N.Y., however Cutchogue was always home. The blue hull of Waterwheels I, II and III became a familiar site on Peconic Bay, where Bill loved spending time with his family and friends. He also loved spending time gardening and clamming.

An avid golfer, Bill was a lifelong member of North Fork Country Club, former member of Mount Kisco Country Club in Westchester and Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart, Fla. In later years as NFCC “Old Duffers,” both he and Joan each achieved two “holes-in-one” at NFCC and Mariner Sands.

Bill was a loving, kind man who always put family first. Bill and Joan were longtime members of Mattituck Presbyterian Church, which helped provide the foundation for their strong sense of family values. Always a gentleman, Bill Stiles’ smiles will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joan Rowe Stiles of Cutchogue; and his three children, Karin E. Stiles of New Suffolk, William H. Stiles Jr. of Brookfield, Conn., and Thomas R. Stiles of Manhattan Beach, Calif. Bill was also blessed with seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service to celebrate Bill’s life will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. at Mattituck Presbyterian Church.

Memorial donations may be made to Mattituck Presbyterian Church or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Arrangements were entrusted to Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue.

This is a paid notice.