Christopher A. Kulakoski Of Sag Harbor Dies May 12

Christopher Andrew Kulakoski, a longtime resident of Sag Harbor, died on May 12. He was 60.

Born in Mineola, he attended Pierson High School, graduating in the class of 1981.

Known for his impeccable work ethic and big heart, he landed his first job working in a fish market at the age of 12 and was never without a job throughout the rest of his life, from busing tables at Il Cappuccino with his friend Pat Witty to building his successful painting and carpentry business.

“Chris had a heart of gold and would bend over backwards to help anyone, especially those he knew and loved,” said his brother Jim.

He was devoted to his wife, Susana, and together they traveled the world, taking trips to her hometown of Quito, Ecuador, in addition to Paris, Barcelona and London, where they ran into a North Haven neighbor busking on the streets.

An avid and skilled story teller, Kulakoski loved to regale friends and neighbors with stories about growing up in Sag Harbor. He also loved to play golf with his brothers Frank and Jim, and his nephew Kevin Geddie, and he loved food and dining out at restaurants.

“Chris worked for my father Hobart Betts for years. They shared a standard of excellence in their work,” said Sag Harbor resident Kate Betts. “More than anything, my father appreciated Chris’s loyalty and kindness.”

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his siblings, Bonnie Clore, Linda Aurora, Stephen Kulakoski, James Kulakoski, Francis Kulakoski, Joanne Miller, and Jennifer Geddie; as well as 12 nieces and nephews.

He will be deeply missed by his siblings and their offspring, by his wife and her family, and by the many, many friends he has made over the years, his family said.