William Louis Fibkins of Peconic died at his home on Nov. 10, 2017. He was 83 years old.
He was born in Enfield, Connecticut to William and Jean Fibkins and raised in Nantasket Beach, Massachusetts. He spent his summers working at Paragon Park, either cooking lobsters or running the roller coaster.
He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in education and earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in psychology and counseling from Syracuse University. He spent his life improving how schools, teachers and students interacted. He founded the first teacher center where teachers could learn from and share with their peers. He spent the rest of his time working with sutdents by creating groups for them to share. After retirement, he published more than 14 books to help educators become better related to their students and peers.
He was an athlete all his life. He was a runner and then moved on to the gym every day. He biked two or three times a day until illness stopped him.
His family said as much as he loved his work, his main love was family. He and his wife Kathy were married 38 years and raised five sons together. They were grandparents to eight grandchildren.
Predeceased by his brother Bob, he is survived by his wife Kathy, his sons William and Brand of Edwards, Colorado, Brian of Mastic, Shawn of Pompano Beach, Florida and Dan of Hampstead, North Carolinas, his grandchildren Kaitlin and Kristina of East Moriches, Sophia of Edwards, Colorado, twins Jack and Andrew of Pompano Beach, Florida and Harry, George and Teddy of Hampstead, North Carolina, his brother Paul of Paramus, New Jersey and his sister Kathy Jacobs of Hull, Massachusetts.
The family will receive friends Friday, Nov. 17 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Nov. 18 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s R.C. Church in Southold with Rev. John Barrett officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, New York 11978. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
