Eric Wesley Cottle of Chilmark died Friday, April 2, at the age of 92 after several years of deteriorating health but not of diminishing spirit.

One of Chilmark’s best loved fishermen, Eric was the friendliest fisherman to sail out of Menemsha Creek in quest of his livelihood in recent memory. A lobsterman in his later years, Eric was a swordfisherman, draggerman, handliner and shellfisherman. If it lived in saltwater, Eric was an expert in catching it. James D. Morgan, with whom Eric sailed for many years, attributes his own success to help received over the years from Eric Cottle. The truth is the two of them were an awesome team from which no fish stood a chance.

Eric was the last up-Islander who sailed on the swordfishing schooners out of Edgartown. That elite fraternity included Ben Mayhew, Stanley Poole, Frankie Manning and Donald Poole.

Before settling into lobstering full-time in the Hazel C., Eric sailed with several different vessels including the Priscilla, the Dorothy & Everett, the Margie O. and the Mary B.

Eric, though extremely good-natured, became frustrated when subjected to the Vineyard’s unforgiving spring weather. One year after a prolonged and fruitless wait for a decent day to paint his lobster boat, the Hazel C., he solved the problem by painting the hull with water-based latex paint. To everyone’s amazement it held up so well that he continued the practice year after year.

Like most men who spent their lives on the waterfront, Eric had his share of accidents. While driving dock spiles with George T. Silva he was knocked unconscious by an errant pile driver. When trying to free a huge boulder from his scallop dredge he was hauled underwater in 30-degree water in Menemsha Pond. One summer off Noman’s he was alone on the Hazel C. when the swordfish stand broke with him in the pulpit.

In later years when climbing in and out of the boat became too difficult, Eric made the rounds at the Basin checking in on all the business ventures, especially those which employed good-looking girls. No day was complete at the fish market unless Eric had been in to pep up the crew with a kindly word and a big grin.

Eric is survived by his wife Marguerite, with whom he celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Feb. 25; by his son Wesley and daughter Martha, both of Chilmark; his grandaughter Jennifer and her husband Adam Arms; and his two great-grandchildren, Kaitlynn and Jakob Arms. His son Jon and sister Natalie predeceased him.

A graveside service was held on Thursday, April 8 at Abel’s Hill Cemetery. It was a perfect fish day but no boats left Menemsha that day.

Donations in Eric’s memory may be made to the Menemsha Fisheries Development Fund, P.O. Box 96, Menemsha, MA 02552.