Douglas Dunkirk Sr. of Southampton Dies February 28

Douglas Dunkirk Sr. of Southampton died on February 28 at home in Southampton, surrounded by his family. He was 78.

Dunkirk was born in Southampton to Alexander and Katherine Dunkirk on June 3, 1943. He went to Southampton High School and graduated in 1961. After high school, he joined the United States Army and served in Vietnam from 1965-1967.

Upon return from Vietnam, he was involved in many occupations, including a taxi business, where he met the love of his life, Peggy, in 1971. They were married on June 16, 1973. Shortly after, they started their family along with a new locksmith business, East End Locksmith, where he worked for 42 years.

Dunkirk joined the North Sea Fire Department in 1980, and went up the ranks, being chief from 1992-1995. He was a proud member of the fire department for 41 years. In addition, he was president of the Southampton Town Chiefs Association and a former Suffolk County Fire Coordinator. He was also an active member of the Southampton Elks Lodge.

He enjoyed coaching the fire department softball team, spinning the wheel in the “Big 6” booth at the NSFD carnival, and has been known to throw a real good horseshoe while playing horseshoes with his boys. While always being a hard worker, Dunkirk cherished the times he spent with his family and his friends.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy, of 48 years; his children, Douglas (Jenette) Dunkirk Jr., Diana (Tristan) Glanz, Michael Dunkirk, Kevin (Sarah) Dunkirk, and Tracey (Joe) Lesnick; his brother John (Michele) Dunkirk; his 17 grandchildren, Gianna, Douglas III, Isabella, and Francesca Dunkirk, Anthony, Maggie, and Trevor Glanz, Michael Jr., Thomas, Wesley, Brooklyn, and Harry Dunkirk, Alexander and Emmett Dunkirk, and Joseph Jr., Ian, and Winter Lesnick. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and three brothers, Malcolm, Kenneth and Alan Dunkirk.

Visitation will be held at Brockett Funeral Home on Thursday, March 3, from 4-8 p.m. with a Firematic Service at 7 p.m. Funeral services will also be held at Brockett Funeral Home on Friday, March 4, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Southampton Cemetery. Following interment, there will be a gathering at the North Sea Firehouse.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to North Sea Fire Department (nsfd.org) or East End Hospice (eeh.org).