Robert Michael Kruckel Jr. of Southampton died on May 12, surrounded by his family. He was 64.
Born February 26, 1952, he was the son of the late Robert Michael Kruckel Sr. and Gloria C. Messina Kruckel, who brought up their six children in Ronkonkoma, where they raised their two quarterhorses. They spent many summers on the East End, and eventually opened a gourmet delicatessen in Water Mill called Edelweiss.
He married Elizabeth Obolensky, daughter of the late Prince Ivan Peter Obolensky and Barbara Cecile Hoge Obolensky.
Mr. Kruckel graduated from Paul Smith College in the Adirondacks earning a degree in forestry and conservation. He dedicated his life to the outdoors, landscaping, swimming, hunting and fishing. As a teenager, he spent his summers as a lifeguard on Lake Ronkonkoma and beaches on Long Island. Survivors said he had a natural gift for storytelling.
He is survived by a brother, Kenneth Kruckel; and sisters, Susan Howard, Barbara J. Kruckel, Patricia Senese and Geraldine Albano; and three children, Alexander Michael Obolensky Kruckel, David Robert Kruckel and Katarina Elizabeth Obolensky Kruckel; as well as his wife, Elizabeth Obolensky Kruckel.
Visitation was held on May 17 at the O’Connell Funeral Home in Southampton. A funeral Mass was held on May 18 at the Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts Roman Catholic Church in Southampton. Cremation followed.