IN MEMORIAM: George W. Kukulech, 90;

Served Pittsfield As Councilman, Fireman

NEW BERLIN – George W. Kukulech, 90, of New Berlin, Town of Pittsfield highway superintendent for seven years and a town board member and firefighter, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, in Orlando, Fla.

George was born on March 1, 1929, in Passaic, N.J., the son of the late Michael and Anna (Cocundy) Kukulech.

He married the love of his life, Beatrice M. Ritrovato on July 2, 1950.

George attended the Ketchum one-room schoolhouse from 1935 to 1940.

For 13 years he worked for the Town of Pittsfield, including superintendent for seven years, driving snowplows and constructing roads.

In 1952, George bought 100 acres of land on Ramey Road, where he continued to farm until he retired in 2000. In 1960 he started working for the New Berlin Central School as a bus driver and mechanic.

George also served as Pittsfield Town Councilman for 25 years, volunteered with the Pittsfield Fire Department from 1974 to 1999 and drove their ambulance.

He was a member of Ketchum Church in Pittsfield and the First United Methodist Church in New Berlin.

George enjoyed traveling, history, movies, working on his puzzle books and socializing. He could talk for hours about life on the farm, the good ole days, watching football, whether it was his grandsons or great-grandsons playing, college or the NFL.

George was a loving, devoted husband and family man. He was predeceased by his wife, Bea in 2015; brother, William (Lenora) Kukulech of Edmeston; and sister, Jane (Jack) Knapp of West Laurens.

He is survived by his daughters; Debbie (Jim) Eccleston of New Berlin, Sue (Tim) Thompson of Orlando, Fla., Janice Coveny of New Berlin, Kathy (Dale) Ives, also of New Berlin; 10 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild on the way. He is also survived by his closest friend, Bunnie Fishick.

He had several nieces, nephews and extended family that fondly referred to him as Dad, Pa Kuku or Grandpa Kuku and he loved them all.

Family and friends are invited to calling hours from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, at the Dakin Funeral Home, LP, 17 North Main St., New Berlin. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at First United Methodist Church, 51 S. Main St., New Berlin, with Penny Harrington and the Rev. Richard Anderson officiating.

Burial will be held in Union Cemetery in Edmeston.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pittsfield Fire Department or First United Methodist Church in New Berlin.

Arrangements are by the Dakin Funeral Home, LP, New Berlin.

Condolences may be expressed to the family by going online at www.dakinfuneralhome.com.