Vincent Maher of Manhattan and Springs, a surfer and fisherman who worked for many years as a mate on Montauk sportfishing boats, died on Feb. 13 in Manhattan. He was 78 and had been ill with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for five years.
Mr. Maher, who was known as Butch, developed his love of surfing at Ditch Plain in Montauk, and the hamlet eventually became his home.
After serving a tour in Vietnam with the Army in 1967 and ‘68, he attended the State University at Binghamton, where he majored in history, expecting to become a teacher. “Instead, he chose the life he really wanted and returned to Montauk and surfing and fishing,” his family said. He worked for many years as a mate on the Lazybones and spent his winters surfing in Rincon, Puerto Rico, sailing as a mate in the Caribbean, or working in construction in Montauk, where he lived for decades.
Mr. Maher enjoyed dancing, could identify just about any musician, and seemed to have seen every famous band at the Fillmore East on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. He knew Montauk’s hiking trails well and used them regularly for running, hiking, and cross-country skiing. He was also known to hit the golf links from time to time.
He was remembered as “a kind, considerate, and gentle man who would talk to anyone, get everyone up to dance, and respected every human being.”
Vincent Hugh Maher was born in the Bronx on Sept. 11, 1946, to Hugh Maher and the former Marge Luby. He grew up in Port Washington, where he graduated from Paul D. Schreiber High School, and went on to Nassau Community College.
He is survived by his partner of 23 years, Gale Fieldman. He was like a third grandfather to her seven grandchildren, who enjoyed fishing and kayaking with him during many summer vacations at their house in Springs, and was welcomed into the family by her children, Eric Fieldman of Brooklyn, Liz Fieldman of Edinburgh, and Jon Fieldman of Manhattan.
He also leaves several cousins, including Tom Moldenauer of Minneapolis, Robert Luby of Magnolia, Tex., James Meyer of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Wayne Luby of Port Washington. A sister, Nancy Petersen, died before him.
A Mass will be said in his memory on May 4 at 8:30 a.m. at St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church in Montauk.
