NORTH BRANFORD - William C. Brockett, 67, of North Branford, beloved father and friend to many, peacefully passed the final bar to Fiddler's Green on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at Yale New Haven Hospital, surrounded by his loving family and friends. Bill was born on February 18, 1945, in New Haven, CT, to the late Herbert W. and Lucy (Peters) Brockett. He will be deeply missed by his son, Matthew and daughter-in-law, Bethanny of Berlin, VT; his sister, Barbara of Felton, DE; and countless friends and shipmates in every corner of the world. A loving and dedicated father, Bill was a man who truly loved and appreciated every friend he ever had. When you were Bill's friend, you were his family, and that family includes a cast of characters so unique and varied that it rivaled his incredibly diverse taste in books and films. A lifelong Merchant Marine, he served for nearly 40 legendary years at sea, a world citizen in the truest sense. A brilliant, self-educated man and a voracious and insatiable reader, Bill loved Thompson to Tolstoy, and everything in between. Bill's time at sea helped shape his life in so many ways, from his unwavering belief in the lifesaving necessity of a good knife, to his masterful and expressive practice of the dying art of fancy marine knot work, such as the monkey's fist. Even when he wasn't at sea, Bill still loved to be on the water in his beloved Malpa Mala, fishing the days and nights away with family and friends both young and old, taking sheer delight as so many people caught their first fish. Bill will be remembered for so many wonderful things, most of all his signature sense of humor and wry, witty, truthful, and hilarious observations on the ironies of life and the world around us. His creative correspondence will be saved and treasured by many for years to come, as will his photographic antics. The dogs in Bill's neighborhood will miss the "Milkbone Man" they've known for over 25 years, always waiting anxiously for their treats whenever they walked by his house or saw his car coming up the road. His son, Matthew, will dutifully carry on the illustrious traditions of the Dull Men's Club his beloved father established so many years ago, and members are encouraged to contact him for further instructions. Relatives and friends may call on Saturday, July 28, 2012 from 10 AM - 1 PM at the B. C. Bailey Funeral Home, 273 S. Elm Street, Wallingford. A memorial service to celebrate his fascinating life will follow at 1 PM at the same location. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718; American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial Committee, P.O. Box 1659, Wilmington,CA 90748-1659; or your local "No-Kill" Animal Shelter.