Regina ‘Bean’ Cunniff Humanitzki of Sag Harbor Dies April 6 - 27 East

Sag Harbor Express

Regina ‘Bean’ Cunniff Humanitzki of Sag Harbor Dies April 6

icon 1 Photo
Regina ‘Bean’ Cunniff Humanitzki

Regina ‘Bean’ Cunniff Humanitzki

authorStaff Writer on Apr 16, 2024

Regina Cunniff Humanitzki, a/k/a Bean, died on April 6 at her home in Sag Harbor, surrounded by her family, after a battle with cancer. She was 82.

She was born to the late Howard and Ann Cunniff on December 8, 1941, in Brooklyn. She graduated from West Babylon High School in 1960, and received a Bachelor of Art degree in interior architectural designs from New York Institute of Technology.

She was married to Stephen “Steve” Humanitzki for 63 years. In their early marriage, they lived in West Babylon, then onto Dix Hills for 20 years, before settling in their beloved Sag Harbor for over 30 years.

She was a business owner for 20 years of Leisure Crafts, while raising her four children. Her next endeavor was as a volunteer at the Museum for African Art in New York City. Her volunteer job was then changed to an employee/manger of all the volunteers and store for the museum. After she retired from the museum, she and her husband ran their bed and breakfast, “Lighthouse on the Bay” for 18 years in Sag Harbor.

She was a former North Haven Village Trustee and member of the Architectural Review Board.

She was a volunteer for over 20 years at the Sag Harbor Community Food Pantry, and a volunteer for Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor.

Besides her great sense of humor to the end, unforgettable laugh and love of conversation, her family said, she was an avid player of Bridge, Rummy Cube and Sudoku, and a collector of African Art.

She was also an enthusiastic gardener and member of the Horticultural Alliance of the Hamptons and Bridge Gardens (Peconic Land Trust).

She traveled to most countries of all continents. Some of her favorite trips were to the Galapagos Islands, England, France, Italy, Portugal, river cruises of Europe, sailing in the Caribbean and the United States, from coast to coast, with her grandson for his fencing tournaments.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by their children and spouses, Stephen and Gillian Humanitzki, Wayne and Margarita Humanitzki, Renee and Martin Rangel and Marc Humanitzki; her grandchildren, Ryan, Leah, Eric, Stephen and Maxx; step-grandchildren, Nadia and Diego; her sister, Ann Marie Reynolds; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Sag Harbor Community Food Pantry (sagharborfoodpantry.org), the Horticultural Alliance of the Hamptons (hahgarden.org), or Bridge Gardens (peconiclandtrust.org/our-work/projects/bridge-gardens) would be appreciated by the family.

A celebration of life and service will be announced at a future date.

You May Also Like:

Southampton July 4th Parade Delights Crowd

The Southampton July Fourth parade was held on Friday morning and did not disappoint with ... 7 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

Come and Tell Us

When Tim Bishop was our congressman, he held numerous town hall meetings with his constituents. They were raucous affairs. Those were the days of the Tea Party, and its members were outraged that the federal government was expanding health care insurance to millions of Americans. And they let Congressman Bishop know it. Usually loudly and sometimes rudely. They seemed unmoved that thousands of their fellow Americans were being driven to bankruptcy by medical debt. They were unconcerned that thousands were dying prematurely due to their lack of access to affordable health care. Many I spoke to seemed more worried that ... by Staff Writer

A Shared Past

American history is beneath your feet, in archaeological sites of all sizes across Long Island. Such sites represent a cultural snapshot, an opportunity to stop for a moment and contemplate the generations that stood on that same ground, leaving not only their material footprint behind but also the convictions that affect our culture today. These places hold, within their parameters, a moment in time. Few of us, in Sag Harbor now, experience a shared past, having come from all parts of the world, traditions and societies; yet, choosing to be here, we now share a culture. Sag Harbor embodies a ... by Staff Writer

Car Found

I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the police department of Sag Harbor and the traffic control officers. I needed to get to the post office and had forgotten my own golden rule to never leave home during peak summer months. The traffic was so intense, in fact, like midtown Manhattan, and it took 45 minutes of searching to even find a parking spot. I rejoiced to find any space at all — but after my errands couldn’t remember where that spot was. It was the worst day to be stranded in the 95-plus-degree heat wave, ... by Staff Writer

SAT Prep Course Offered by Child Care Center

The Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center is offering an SAT prep course ahead of the August 23 test date. Classes will be held Mondays in July and August, with an additional session on Wednesday, August 13, from 6 to 9 p.m.
The cost is $40 and includes a workbook; scholarships are available. To register, email Camryn@bhccrc.org or call 631-537-0616. The center is located at 551 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike.
“SAT Prep can be an important part of that journey,” said executive director Bonnie Michelle Cannon. by Staff Writer

Jazz Mass In Bridgehampton On Sunday

St Ann’s Episcopal Church on Main Street in Bridgehampton will host its annual Jazz Mass on Sunday, July 13, at 10 a.m. All are welcome. The band will include Ada Rovatti and Eric Schugren on saxophone; Mike Gari, guitar; John Mele, drums; and Steve Shaughnessy, bass. The choir will sing Bob Chilcott’s “Little Jazz Mass,” and all are encouraged to join in singing the hymns. A hospitality hour for all follows the service. by Staff Writer

VIEWPOINT: The Accidental Shutterbug

I never considered myself much of a photographer. That was far more my dad’s thing. ... by Steven Stolman

Community News, July 10

YOUTH CORNER Read and Play The John Jermain Memorial Library, 201 Main Street in Sag ... by Staff Writer

'Peter and the Wolf' Peformances at LTV and CMEE

The Hampton Ballet Theatre School will present Peter and the Wolf on Sunday, July 27, at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at LTV Studios in Wainscott, and again on Thursday, July 31, at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of the East End in Bridgehampton. The production features students of HBTS, choreography by director Sara Jo Strickland, costumes by Yuka Silvera and Kate McManus, and live music by the Hampton Festival Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Andrew Perea. Josh Gladstone will narrate the family-friendly ballet. Tickets are available at ltveh.org and cmee.org. by Staff Writer

Beachcomber, July 10

It’s wonderful to be back in Southampton! I never thought I was going to get ... by Alex Littlefield