William Patrick Stubelek of Hampton Bays and Southampton Dies May 7

Surrounded by family and a few close friends, William Patrick Stubelek of Hampton Bays and Southampton died on May 7 at the East End Hospice Kanas Center for Hospice Care on Quiogue. He was 83.

He was born in Southampton on July 9, 1940. He was the first born child of Zygment and Christina (Gallagher) Stubelek. He attended Sacred Hearts Elementary School and Southampton High School, graduating in 1958. He then went on to Farmingdale Agricultural and Technical Institute, graduating in 1960 with an associate’s degree in mechanical engineering. Directly after completing his education, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served both on active duty and in the reserves, in the 1960s.

From his early years, he worked with his father at Eastern Welding Inc. in Riverhead. After his father died, he and his brother Brian continued the partnership at Eastern Welding Inc., a manufacturing company of custom steel products, special use truck bodies, notably the “Ziggy” Potato Body developed when harvesting potatoes went from hand picking to mechanization in the 1950s. The “Ziggy” bodies were sold to potato farmers from Canada to Florida.

Later, he would add a line of marine products servicing the fishing industry. They also built five commercial steel fishing boats. Later, they added a line of rental storage containers, known as RSSI (Riverhead Storage Systems Inc.).

In the winters, he was also an avid duck hunter in Southampton.

In the early 1960s, he purchased land in Hampton Bays, and from the ground up built Ponquogue Marine Basin. The brothers built the dredge to dig the basin, the crane barge and the hydraulic road crane and all the machinery required to do a professional job as seen by the finished product. They built one of the first hydraulic trailers to handle the boats for storage. Later on, they designed and built the dock system and the buildings that are still in place today. Ponquogue Marina, as it is generally known, continues his legacy.

The marina was a mainstay for he and his wife and their children growing up, imprinting a distinct respect and love of the sea, nature and family. He was a devoted father and grandfather and just loved to come home to his “little ones,” his family said.

He was well regarded in the Hampton Bays community, as well as on the East End in general. He was seen as a gentle soul with a very warm and open smile, and will be remembered for his blue eyes, which lit up with his smile. If he could help another, he would, despite being a “very busy man.”

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Jean (Alexander); and their six children, Christopher (Blythe Payne), Christina (Felipe Mas de Melo Sobrinho), Helena (Dr. Matthew Wagner), William (Leslie Kappel), Ania (Joshua Marino) and John Stubelek; seven grandchildren Paige, Faryn, Lara, Alexi, William G, Zachary and Aria; his brothers, Brian and Joseph; sisters Christina (John Kupidloski) and Mary; and Jesse Gettling, who was like another son to him.

Visitation was held in May at the RJ O’Shea Funeral Home in Hampton Bays. A Mass was held at St. Rosalie’s Church in Hampton Bays, followed by a graveside service at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Cemetery in Southampton.