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William Henry Yale Stevens was born on March 12, 1919, in Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania, his father, Yale, was 28 and his mother, Rosa, was 24. He married Mary Belknap Miller and they had six children together. He died on June 22, 2006, in Dunnellon, Florida, at the age of 87. In Rye his family lived on Thistle Lane. William served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
 William Henry Yale Stevens
He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II, first teaching in a U. S. Naval Reserve Midshipman School before going into sea duty in both ocean theatres. He captained subchasers and patrolcraft, and when the European war ended he was part of the flotilla that accepted the surrender of the German Navy in the English Channel Islands.
He retired as a lieutenant commander with five years service.
William Stevens, 87, Was Math Teacher and Coach
William Henry Yale Stevens, formerly of Oak Bluffs, died Thursday, June 22, at his home in Dunnellon, Fla., under the loving care of his family and Hospice of Citrus County. He was 87.
William was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., the son of Yale and Rosa Sharpe Stevens. He grew up in Loudon Woods, Rye, N.Y., and was graduated from Phillips Academy-Andover in 1937.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, first teaching in a U.S. Naval Reserve Midshipman School before going into sea duty in both ocean theatres. He captained subchasers and patrolcraft, and when the European war ended he was part of the flotilla that accepted the surrender of the German Navy in the English Channel Islands.
He retired as a lieutenant commander with five years' service.
William was graduated from Yale College in 1941 with a bachelor's degree. He went on to teach mathematics at both the middle and high school levels, working in Connecticut, Missouri and Massachusetts. He also supervised and coached many youth activities, including theatre, Boy Scouts, sailing and youth soccer.
William himself was an avid soccer player from high school on and loved sailing. He was a world traveler and enjoyed traveling with groups, friends, work and family.
In 1949 he built his home on the Vineyard, where he summered during his career and eventually retired until moving to Florida in October 2000. During his later years he served as harbor master at Harthaven Harbor. He was past member of the conservation commission of Oak Bluffs.
He also facilitated and assisted in establishing a system of walking trails throughout the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts.
 Throughout his life on the Vineyard he carried on his mother's tradition of serving rich and beautiful waffles on Sunday mornings - it was a standing, open invitation to all his family and friends. The tradition is still being carried on today.
He was his own free spirit.
He was predeceased by his loving wife, Mary Stevens, on Jan. 25, 2003.
He is survived by four sons, William H.Y. Stevens Jr. of Front Royal, Va., Robert J. Stevens of Auburndale, Johnathan P. Stevens of Seattle, Wash., and Peter D. Stevens of Methuen; two daughters, Marylyn M. Stevens-Bugbee of Crystal River, Fla., and Sharon R. Stevens Grunden of Oak Bluffs; a sister, Margaret Sharpe Clark of Andover, and 12 grandchildren.
Served in the US Navy during WWII rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander as a volunteer. Commanded sub-chaser and destroyer escort . Was part of the US fleet present at the surrender of the German Navy. Taught on the Prairie State training ship moored in the Hudson River prior to his command assignment.
After the war, he taught at the Suffield Academy, Suffield CT, The Thomas Jefferson School in Sappington, MO, Phillips Academy, Andover MA, and the Pike school Andover MA.
Married Mary Belknap Miller of Bronxville NY. They had six children, 4 grand children, and 10 great grandchildren.
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