Babylon born Hilbert Vincent Kiesel turned his love of the sea into a booming shrimp business with boats and offices in Fort Myers, Florida; Biloxi, Mississippi and Aransas Pass, Texas. The loving family man and successful businessman died October 21, 2007 at the age of 90.

The son of Charles and Lillian, he was raised in Babylon and moved to Fort Myers, Florida in 1950. He served during World War II in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Benjamin Franklin which was bombed, split in half and towed to shore.

After his retirement from the shrimping business, which he ran with family members, he delighted in traveling and throwing the annual "Kiesel Shack Party" with his wife Dorothy. He was a longtime member of both the VFW and the American Legion and was a founding member of St. Cecilia's Church in Fort Myers. A 50- year and lifetime honorary member of the Knights of Columbus, he was also an avid sportsman and hunter.

Mr. Kiesel, who belonged to the South Shore Marlin & Tuna Club and the Babylon Tuna Club, was a world class record holder in fishing who taught his sons and grandchildren all over the country, including the Bahamian and Pacific waters. For many years he acted as Fleet Captain for the Royal Palm Yacht Club.

His children said that a fitting epitaph of their father would be "A Parable to Immortality by Henry VanDyke. "I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sail to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other," it reads in part.

Mr. Kiesel leaves behind his children: Dorothy Lillian Kiesel Poll and her husband George of Fort Myers Florida and Franklin, North Carolina, Hilbert D. and his wife Alene of Franklin, North Carolina and Thomas F. and his wife Ruth of Fort Myers, Florida; his grandchildren: Kristen O'Halloran and her husband Sean, Jarrett and his wife Kim, Conrad F., Hillary and Shannon Dorsey and her husband David; his great grandchildren: Katelyn O'Halloran, Caroline O'Halloran, Cameron O'Halloran, Connor Ryan, Vincent Rohl and Brooks Hilbert Dorsey; his siblings: Charles "Scoop" and his wife Lenora and Lillian Wang; his sisters in law: Joan, Cecilia, Linn Rohl, Ann Rohl; his longtime friends and caregivers, Julia Woolbright and Kashima Alexander; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Dorothy; his brothers: George and Donald; and his brothers in law: Theodore Wang, Henry Rohl and Kenneth Rohl.

A private ceremony was arranged by the Harvey-Englehardt-Metz Funeral Home in Fort Myers, Florida.

Donations in Mr. Kiesel's name can be sent to Hope Hospice, 9470 Healthpark Circle, Fort Myers, FLA 33908.