HYANNIS — Benjamin Muse Jr., 85, book dealer, passed away in the early hours of July 15, 2012, surrounded by his family. Born in Paris, France, in 1927, Ben Muse was the son of Benjamin Muse, a diplomat from Virginia, and Beatriz de Regil Muse from Merida in Yucatan, Mexico. He was the devoted husband of Ruth MacEachern Muse (deceased). He leaves behind him Ben and Cathy Muse III, Mary B. Muse and Kevin Coughlin, Sarah J. and Robert Romano, Charles F. and Ellen Muse, Joanne K. and Ray Shaak, William C. and Margaret Muse, Eben J. and Eirian Muse, Rebecca and Joseph McGovern, and 32 grandchildren.Ben and his family arrived in America and settled at Petersburg, Virginia, in 1934. He attended Linton Hall School in Bristow, Virginia, Portsmouth Priory in Portsmouth Rhode Island and St. Joseph's High School in Petersburg. Ben began roller-skating while in Portsmouth Priory, and this was a passion of his throughout his life. He was a bronze medal skater and member of the Silver and Silverside Roller Clubs in 1945.At sixteen he joined the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service and remains a member of its lifeguard hall of fame. He joined the Navy in 1944 as a signalman and was assigned to LST 122 and later to LST 1060, delivering supplies up the Yangtse River.He entered Columbia University in 1949, where he met his wife and began his career as a book dealer. He and Ruth MacEachern were married in March 1950 and remained together until her death in 2006.While at Columbia, Ben scouted books for the Columbia University and other libraries. Ben and Ruth lived in Levittown from 1954 to 1957, then moved to South Dennis and established Parnassus Book Service. He established Parnassus Imprints to re-publish out-of-print books of local interest.He joined the United States Coast Guard reserves in 1958 and served for 23 years, rising to the rank of Lt. Commander in the Hyannis Unit. He was the Chair of the Dennis Library Board in 1996 and was instrumental in the re-organisation and modernization of the Dennis library system.During the last years of his life, Ben was a resident of the Mayflower Residential Home in Hyannis.Ben Muse was a character. He was known for his humour and his decency. He was proud to have been once jokingly described in a Cape travel guide as "one of the three grumpy old men of Yarmouthport," and they still talk of his pie-eating competition at Jacks Outback. He was proud of the Yucatecan heritage he inherited from his mother; he enjoyed any opportunity to speak Spanish and returned often to his beloved Merida.His knowledge of books was tremendous, his love for his family immense, and his generosity of spirit unbounded. He leaves Cape Cod, his friends and his family richer for his acquaintance.Visiting hours will be held at the Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home, 729 Rt. 134, South Dennis on July 18th from 4-7. The funeral will be held at St. Pius X Church in South Yarmouth at 10 a.m. on July 19th.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the South Dennis Free Public Library, PO Box 304, South Dennis, MA 02660.For online condolences and directions please visit www.doanebealames.com.Doane, Beal & Ames 508-385-7116