Kaye Williams, the risk taker who turned a city-run dump of a boatyard into Captain’s Cove Seaport, one of the region’s premier tourist draws, with its scenic restaurant overlooking Black Rock Harbor, weekend parties, boardwalk, slips for boats from fishing skiffs to sailing yachts, passed away Saturday morning at 95.
(Calling hours will take place on Friday, Nov. 22 from 2 to 8 p.m. in the Lesko Funeral Home 1209 Post Road, Fairfield. Burial in Saint Thomas Cemetery will be private.)
Think of it in these terms. Imagine a neglected city-owned marina surrounded by a sewage treatment plant, municipal dump and troubled housing project. The mayor tells you okay, take this thing over, turn it around, but don’t expect any help from government. Good luck.
Kaye Williams looked at a problem and focused on the opportunity rather than obstacles. More than 40 years since that conversation with John Mandanici and every mayor that followed – Lenny Paoletta, Tom Bucci, Mary Moran, Joe Ganim, John Fabrizi, Bill Finch and Ganim again – Kaye continued to shine a jewel that thousands look forward to visiting during the warm weather months. The warm sun, cool breeze kissing your cocktail on the deck overlooking Black Rock Harbor at Captain’s Cove Seaport.
The boardwalks, shops, restaurant, bar, hospitality and yes, just a nice place to escape for an hour or two.
Even into his 80s he had a hammer in hand, getting things ready for a new season that launched in May. The thing about Kaye that made him such an intriguing personality was the way he looked at life. Most of us view life from the land out to the water. Kaye saw things from the perspective of water toward land.
I did not understand this until a conversation I had with Kaye regarding his vision for showcasing his project the HMS Rose, a replica of the Revolutionary War ship, around the world. It was the Rose, a British frigate, that forged creation of the U.S. Navy.
“The water that laps here also laps in Rotterdam,” he told me as a young scribe. This was Kaye’s way of envisioning a Rose tour of the world.
In recent years Kaye’s son Bruce and daughter Jill helped Kaye continue a family tradition that has attracted thousands to the Cove: hospitality, smiles and always stories that warm the soul of a sailor.
The Cove also hosts the annual Swim Across the Sound fundraising event to battle cancer, spawned by St. Vincent’s Medical Center.
Even in his last years Kaye was at it, with a tongue-in-cheek quest to open the first fish shack on Mars.
A few years ago OIB friend Bob Fredericks conducted this interview with Kaye.
Q. What is your first memory of Bridgeport?
A. My first memory is getting the “bean box” delivered to our house on Denver Avenue during the depression. The “bean box” was a surplus WWI rifle box full of food given to poor families during that time. The box contained beans and heavily salted ham (which had to be boiled over and over to get rid of the salt). It also contained dates which I had to eat but didn’t like. I hate dates until this time!
Q. What are your ties to Bridgeport?
A. I was born in the attic of my grandmother’s house on Denver Avenue in the West End during a snow storm. I grew up there and in a small cottage on Fayerweather island. I started a marine store business in Black Rock in the 1950s then went into commercial lobstering. In 1981, I founded Captain’s Cove Seaport with my late wife Vivian. One of our proudest achievements is our involvement with the “Swim Across the Sound.”
Q. What do you like best about Bridgeport?
A. Its people!
Q. What is your favorite spot in Bridgeport?
A. My favorite spot was always Pleasure Beach. I used to go dancing there at the Ballroom. About 1946, the famous swimmer Buster Crabbe held auditions at Pleasure Beach for his traveling show. I was a good swimmer at the time and was selected to be part of his troupe. Unfortunately for me my father John had other ideas. The morning I was about to leave with Crabbe, John dragged me out of bed and took me ironworking with him. That was the end of my swimming career!
Q. What is your favorite eatery in Bridgeport?
A. My favorite eatery when I was growing up was Central Lunch on Fairfield Avenue in the West End.
Q. Where do you see the city going?
A. I think the city is going in a good direction with all the development in Bridgeport Harbor. Our waterfront is our strength.
Q. If you had a magic wand and could make a miracle happen for the city, what would it be?
A. I would bring back jobs to the city. When I grew up there were tens of thousands of craftsmen, mechanics, tool and die makers and so on working in the city. It was so busy round the clock. I’d like to see that again!
Kaye truly loved Bpt,he never thought “ what can I get out of Bpt”,.he thought along the lines of “ what can I give to Bpt”.. Rare these days for sure.. RIP Mr Williams
That is a wonderful picture above, Lennie. Look at it again and observe the twinkle in his bright eyes and the set of his lips, ready to enjoy a story or joke. My neighbor, Kaye, was ever, an optimist, not crazy, with a larger vision than many, and the patience to put his tools and resources to work for the community benefit. And while life challenges came his way, he persevered with family and friends allowing each to pursue a forward path, but enough folks could see his vision, and planning become a reality for many to enjoy together. Time will tell, in evidence once again.
Never met or spoke with the man, but from all accounts he was the finest that we had to offer and lived his life as honorably and productively as anyone could, even as he found success and uplifted his fellow Bridgeporters. (I have a feeling that he was able to channel P. T. Barnum and shared a vision for Bridgeport with him!…) He probably would have made a terrific mayor if he would have had political ambitions — too bad that we never had the chance to vote for him.
RIP, Mr. Williams. Thanks for giving us the jewels of Captains Cove and the Rose — especially at a time when our fortunes were otherwise sinking…
Always the gentleman ,cKaye would often make introductions to a group of people, if he didn’t remember one the names he would say, “I’m sorry but I can’t remember your name,?” The person would respond with their first name. Kaye would reply back with, “Not your first name! Your last name!”
His other quip would be if you inquired how business was, particularly during a rainy season he would exclaim: “No Sunny, No Money!”
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Kaye Williams. I met Kaye when I was President of the City Council. Lenny Paoletta was Mayor together we along with the city council approved to turn captain Cover over to Kaye Williams back in the 80s. I have so many great memories on how Kaye turned that facility into a gem.kaye loved Bridgeport. RIP my friend you will be missed.