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Anyone who knew Capt. William Cody knows how proud he was of his Irish heritage. He loved that he could trace his family's roots in Stamford to the first small group of West Side inhabitants. The Stamford native died Nov. 22 and a Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Nov. 27. Cody was 57.
He was born April 15, 1953. He was a student at St. John's Parochial School and Stamford High School, where he excelled in track and football. Cody was an Eagle Scout and received a Congressional appointment to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. There, he played football under coach George Paterno. Cody was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve and a third mate in the U.S. Merchant Marine. He sailed all over the world. Cody also earned an MBA from UConn.
He was qualified to captain any size ship after earning in 1987 a U.S. Coast Guard license as a master, unlimited tonnage. Cody and wife Felicitas lived in Palos Verdes, Calif., where he was a ship manager at the Port of Long Beach/Los Angeles.
Upon the couple's return to Stamford, Cody was a ship manager for several maritime companies. He achieved the status of fourth-degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus Lodge of New Canaan. He also was a former president of the Ancient Order of Hibernian's General Philip Sheridan Division, located in Stamford.
Cody enjoyed skiing and bicycling and always supported his favorite teams, the Giants and Yankees. Given his love of history and travel, Cody explored his roots in his ancestral country, which he visited with his wife, a native of Ireland.
He is survived by his wife; mother, Ann; son Stephen and wife Kelly of Walden, N.Y.; sisters Erin Cody of Hull, Mass., and Beth Ann and husband Michael Rieck of Stamford; brother John Cody of Venice, Calif.; and two grandchildren, a niece, a nephew and many friends.
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