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Obituaries / Southampton Press / 2324529

Harold ‘Duke’ King Jr. of Water Mill Dies December 16

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Harold ‘Duke’ King Jr.

Harold ‘Duke’ King Jr.

authorStaff Writer on Dec 26, 2024

Harold “Duke” King Jr. of Water Mill died on December 16. He was 74

He grew up in Seaford, New York, attending St. William the Abbot with his siblings. His family moved to Brightwaters, and as a teenager he attended Chaminade High School. He learned to golf at Southward Ho Country Club in Bay Shore, and forged life-long friendships with many who came from Bay Shore.

He graduated from Chaminade High School, and went on to study at Villanova University, and the Harvard Business School.

His successful Wall Street career opened many doors for him and his family. His vast background in finances created many opportunities and new avenues of interest, such as horse racing, and horse breeding. As this new chapter unfolded for him and his young family, he settled back home in the Hamptons. His properties for the purpose of horse breeding, included Meadow View Farm in Water Mill, and an old legacy property in Lexington, Kentucky.

He had a passion for life, he enjoyed music, playing keyboards, and guitar. He formed several bands and enjoyed performing. He enjoyed literature and the theater. He enjoyed a good round of golf as much as a day at the beach.

In recent years, he was writing most days, and had just completed a novel, “Barefoot Chess.”

He lived in Canada for a time, and lived out the later part of his life in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, where he wrote and lived on a farm with his partner Suki.

He was predeceased by his parents, Margaret Pettigrew and Harold T. King. He is survived by his son Lex (HTKIII); four siblings, Deborah, Denise, Dwight, Margaret, (Thomas Day); nieces and nephews, Camden, Taylor (Nalla ) Genevieve (Stephen) and Courtney (Matthew); Lisbeth DeForest, his former wife; five great-nieces and two great-nephews.

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