Eugene A. Goleski of Southampton Dies October 12

Eugene A. Goleski of Southampton died on October 12 from early onset Alzheimer’s disease. He was 67.

He was an avid skier, talented engineer and dedicated father who was loved by all, his family said.

Goleski was a proud alumnus of Tuckahoe, just like his own father. He grew up clamming, snapper fishing, golfing, and playing sports in the neighborhood with his brothers and the Gosiewski family.

He graduated from Southampton High School at the top of his class in math and science, and earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and a master’s degree in civil engineering from Brooklyn Polytechnic.

He went on to have a successful career as an aerospace engineer, who worked on planes and helicopters at Sikorsky and Northrop Grumman. He took his work seriously, his family said, but his biggest impact was the impression he made on his loved ones.

At RPI, he joined Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, where he made many meaningful friendships and was first introduced to his lifelong passion, skiing. As a steward of the sport, he taught many people how to ski and transformed the lives of others — some of his pupils even moved out west to live out a ski-centered lifestyle. He skied all over the world, including the steep headwall of Tuckerman’s Ravine and even began skiing competitively in his 40s.

He shares three daughters with his former wife, Lynn Goleski (Frankenbach) and brought the same energy to raising a family. Whether he was nerding out on a math concept or the water temperature of the ocean, he made learning and adventuring fun for the girls. Always goofy and quick to laugh, he passed along his values with ease. They all adopted his caring nature, sense of duty and his value of education.

Throughout his life, he continued to enjoy the East End’s golf courses and ocean beaches. His favorite way to relax was at the ocean — he brought everyone he knew down to the drive on beach whenever he got a chance. He took the tradition of driving on from both of his parents and made it his own, by always grilling clams for all to enjoy and jumping in the ocean between grill sessions.

He was predeceased by his mother, Majorie Goleski (Wetmore); and father, John Goleski. He is survived by his children, Kerry Goleski (Jacob Presky), Jessica Goleski Feldman (Matthew Feldman), and Megan Goleski; his brothers, Robert Goleski and John Gary Goleski; and a grandson who is on the way.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 14, from 3-7 p.m. at O’Connell-Rothwell Funeral Home, located at 30 Little Plains Road, Southampton, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, October 15, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Poland Church in Southampton. Interment will follow at Sacred Hearts R.C. Cemetery in Southampton.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Cure’s Alzheimer’s Fund (curealz.org) or Peconic Baykeeper (peconicbaykeeper.org) would be appreciated by the family.