William N. (“Bink”) deBettencourt Jr. died on Thursday, January 13, with his family at his side. He was 72.
Known as Bink, he is survived by his wife of 50 years, Carol S. (Merry) deBettencourt; their children, Nora Jardin and her husband, Gary, Louise Dahill and her husband, Ray, Will III and his wife, Susan, and Todd and his girlfriend, Melissa Haak, as well as his grandchildren Heidi (Jardin) Tirro, Brittany Jardin, Bethany and Will IV deBettencourt, and Kayla deBettencourt.
Bink was born on August 30, 1938, in Oak Bluffs to William N. and Mary (Connor) deBettencourt. His large family includes his brothers Tom and Jack and his sisters Rosemary, Teresa, Eileen, Maureen, and Katie. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Jerry and sister Anne.
For many years he worked for Renear Ford in Vineyard Haven before starting his own successful business in 1971, Bink’s Auto on Winthrop Avenue in Oak Bluffs.
Bink served the Town of Oak Bluffs with pride for decades as a part-time policeman, volunteer fireman, tree warden and head of the Forestry Department. Many of the maple trees growing in Oak Bluffs parks and along roadways were planted by him as well as the beautiful Bradford pear trees on Circuit Avenue.
He was a life-long member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church (Good Shepherd Parish).
His funeral service was held at Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home on Saturday, January 15, with burial following in Oak Grove Cemetery on Pacific Avenue in Oak Bluffs. A gathering for family and friends followed at the P-A Club.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to Windemere Nursing & Rehabilitation (WNR Inc.) Unit 4, P.O. Box 1747, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.
Bink’s family would like to express a sincere thank-you to the staff in Unit 4 at Windemere for the care and kindness given him over the past six years. Additionally, thanks to the staff at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital in the acute care unit for their professionalism and kindness during his time there.
