Obituary of William Henry Pascoe

Bill Pascoe passed away peacefully at home in Santa Cruz, aged 97, on April 10, 2013. A native of England, Bill travelled the world in the British merchant navy. During retirement he lived in Australia as well as California, with his wife Pat (deceased). He is survived by his step-daughter Moira Cairns, son Captain John Pascoe, daughter Jackie Pascoe, nieces Jackie Pascoe-Smith and Joan White, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was an enthusiastic motor-bike racer as a young man, and a competition ballroom dancer. He also enjoyed a lifelong passion for photography and electronics. Bill's brother John (deceased) was also a captain in the merchant navy, and their father was Captain John Pascoe, OBE, decorated for his bravery in the PQ17 convoy to Russia in WWII. Bill's son, also Captain John Pascoe, carries on the tradition. Bill was commended for his calm handling of a shipwreck off the coast of Chile in the mid 1960s, during which a butane tanker caught fire, and also for bravery during World War II, for removing an incendiary device from a neighbor's home. He will be remembered for his infectious laugh and for telling wonderful stories of his life at sea. We have posted an album of photos of Bill's life here: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjEL1Fzd