William Cass III, 82, of Salem, passed away unexpectedly on October 8, 2024. Bill was the loving husband of Sallie Cass, with whom he shared 57 years of marriage. Together, they had 2 children, William (Billy) Cass of Dublin, CA, and Sallie Pottle of Hamilton. Bill was born in Worcester to the late William F. and Janet M. Cass. A lifelong, avid boatsman, Bill went on to attend Mass Maritime Academy, graduating in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation. Bill was a resident of Salem for the past 60 years.

As a Merchant Mariner holding a U.S. Coast Guard Master License and a Naval Reserve Officer, Bill traveled the world, later taking a shore job following the birth of his 2nd child. Working in the private industry, Bill provided consulting services for oil and hazardous materials' spill prevention, clean up, and chemical safety issues. Experience in the environmental field led him to various senior management positions through the years within the Massachusetts Dept of Environmental Protection (MADEP), where he served in the following capacities through 1991: Dir of Metro Boston Air Quality Control District ('70 –'75); Deputy Dir Division of Air & Hazardous Materials ('75-'77); Asst Commissioner of MADEP ('77-'79); and the Dir of the Division of Hazardous Waste ('79-'91). Bill retired from MADEP in 1991 to become the Exec Dir of the Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association (NEWMOA), a non-profit established by New England Governors to coordinate on waste issues & train state staff in the New England states, NY & NJ. Following his retirement from NEWMOA, Bill devoted his days full-time to his true passion as a boat builder.

Bill believed wholeheartedly in the Wind in the Willows quote, "There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." Bill's wife, Sallie, often joked that she kept track of their years of marriage through their various boats. His children recall fondly their summers spent as a family on Bill's Crocker sailboat, Seafire. They sailed the Cape and surrounding islands, fishing, diving for quahogs and going ashore for excursions. Bill's engineering and artistic talents extended well beyond ships and tinkering with boats and carpentry. He was an accomplished artist and while sketches of family and friends' homes were done as gifts throughout the years, he mostly enjoyed painting boats with watercolors. He designed and built his family home, with the comradery and heavy lifting support of close friends and neighbors. These same friends gathered round to celebrate the launch of his first boat build, the S.S. Surprise, a 34ft Crocker designed ketch; 2nd boat, a 38ft 1930s cruising yacht named Satin Doll, a sailing dinghy he built for his Grandchildren, named The Pearl, and finally a 26ft pocket Downeast cruiser named Juniper. Bill's builds won various awards through the years at the Boston Antique & Classic Boat Festival, and he always beamed with pride out on the water when mariners would applaud and sound their horns in recognition of his latest build as we passed. Bill was also a former President and current member of the Salem Marine Society.

Affectionately known by his close maritime friends as Captain Bill, he was known for his boisterous and abrupt common-sense comments but was always a deeply devoted and caring husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Bill is survived by his wife, Sallie, son William (Billy) and his wife Que of Dublin, CA, his daughter Sallie Pottle and husband Greg of Hamilton, sister Janet Bucossi and husband Bill of Sebastian, FL, brother Robert Cass and his wife Susan, of Sturbridge, sister-in-law Bettye Cass of Sebastian, FL, his Grandchildren Carson, Libby, and Liam, and many nieces and nephews. Bill was also the older brother to the late Edward Cass of Apalachicola, FL.

Above all, Bill loved his many boat-loving friends and his lifelong friendships within the extended Salem Willows community, great neighbors, and family. A Celebration of Life reception will be held Saturday, November 23rd from 11-2 in the Essex Rm of the Hawthorne Hotel.

Fair winds and following seas, Sir. We have the watch.