logo logo logo logo

Obituaries / Southampton Press / 1547761

William Mutzek Of Southampton Dies October 8

icon 1 Photo
William Mutzek

William Mutzek

authorStaff Writer on Oct 14, 2019

William Mutzek

William “Willi” Mutzek died on October 8, 2019, surrounded by loved ones, at home in Southampton. He was 97.

Born on August 12, 1922, on a farm in eastern Germany, he was drafted into the German Army during World War II while studying engineering in college. He didn’t serve long before he was shot in the chest and taken prisoner in France. While in the camp, he was recruited for the dangerous job of detonating mines. Though the position was supposed to be temporary, the job went on for three years, until the end of the war.

After the war, Mr. Mutzek emigrated to the United States with the help of two of his aunts. He traveled to New York on the RMS Mauretania and within three days of arriving, he got a job as an engineer. He eventually owned his own business, Spiral Tool, that produced products for Grumman Aerospace Corporation. Twenty-five of the pieces he built for Grumman were used for the exploration of the moon’s surface. He was also commissioned to build the mine cutter for the U.S. Navy.

In February 1956, Mr. Mutzek married his first wife, Jutta. The couple had two sons, Fred and Paul, and they resided in Glendale. His first wife died after a tragic accident in 1977.

In 1986, he married Suzanne Wood in Roslyn. They resided in Forest Hills Gardens, and eventually moved to share time between Windham, New York, and Fort Meyers, Florida, before settling in Southampton in 2013.

Mr. Mutzek had a lifelong love for downhill skiing and motorcycles, and is fondly remembered by his family, friends, and loved ones for his warm smile, sense of humor, and strong work ethic.

Mr. Mutzek is survived by his wife of 32 years, Suzanne Mutzek; sons, Fred (Jean) and Paul (Carina Szafranski); stepsons, Robert (Robin) Jett, Michael (Laura) Jett, Joseph (Elizabeth) Jett, Andrew (Angela) Jett; stepdaughters, Cathleen (Mark) Donovan, Lisa (Ellen Markowitz) Jett, Suzanne (John) Parry, Elizabeth (Stephen) Thomas; as well as 18 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation was at Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton on October 10. A funeral service took place at the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton on October 11, followed by a burial in Windham on October 14.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton.

You May Also Like:

Southampton Police Reports for the Week of December 4

SOUTHAMPTON VILLAGE — Matthew Kopoulos, 34, of East Hampton was arrested by Village Police on December 2 and charged with petit larceny and unlawfully fleeing an officer, both misdemeanors, stemming from a September 25 incident in which police say Kopoulos stole items from the 7-Eleven on North Sea Road and then fled the scene on an e-bike. When a Village Police officer attempted to stop him he sped away and drove onto the Shinnecock Territory. A village officer recognized Kopoulos walking on the side of Tuckahoe Road this week and placed him under arrest. He was arraigned in Village Justice ... 4 Dec 2025 by Staff Writer

Love in Action

On behalf of the Hamptons United Methodist Church, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the generous donors and dedicated volunteers who made this year’s free community Thanksgiving dinner a remarkable success. Because of your kindness, we were able to serve nearly 500 of our neighbors — families, seniors, workers and individuals from all walks of life — by providing a holiday meal for their table. For the sixth year in a row, we are also deeply indebted to our fearless leader, Denise Smith-Meacham. To our volunteers: You peeled and chopped and cooked, packaged and delivered meals, washed ... by Staff Writer

A Day of Quiet

November 27, Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. Morning: I hear the screech owl, the great-horned owl, the Cooper’s hawk, Carolina wren, white-throated sparrow, chirps of the cardinal, red-breasted nuthatch, the cooo of the mourning dove; songs of rooster, flicker, dark-eyed junco. Titmouse, blue jay. Wind, barely a breeze, whispers haaaaaaaa in wind language, lovingly. Tranquility. Peace. I’m alive — ping of chill in the air, my skin zings. This sacred silence is why I moved here 40 years ago. But it’s completely gone now. And why? Was our designation of “green community” just a photo-op? A lie? Words co-opted like the phrase ... by Staff Writer

White House Confidential

There has been some consternation expressed about changes that the Trump administration is making to the White House, including the East Wing demolition, paving over the Rose Garden, and plans for a grand ballroom. Let’s put some historical perspective on this: The first president to occupy the White House, John Adams, did so 225 years ago last month, and the building and grounds have been undergoing change ever since. Construction of the White House had begun during George Washington’s first term — specifically, at noon on October 13, 1792, with the laying of the cornerstone. The main residence and foundations ... by Tom Clavin

The Nitrogen Threat

“Restore Our Waters” was the title of the invitation. Its subtitle: “Learn How To Switch Out Your Septic To Remove The No. 1 Threat to Groundwater, Nitrogen, From Our Septic Systems With Tax-Free Grant Funds.” Some 100 people packed into the auditorium of the Southampton Cultural Center two weeks ago for a “public education event” to learn about an issue that has deeply impacted Suffolk County: the migration of nitrogen from cesspools into groundwater, the sole source of potable water in Suffolk. The nitrogen also goes into surface waters, including lakes, ponds and bays. Spotlighted at the event was the ... by Karl Grossman

Vigor and Decay

Brown is the color of the days. We, at such an angle to the sun, give up our growing season and must tilt toward the melancholy color of mud. While finger-painting, brown might be the first color you make by mistake. In your enthusiasm, you blended all the colors on the pallet and ended up with nothing remarkable. In fact, it looks like excrement. Brown may not be a vibrant color, but it is generally a warm one. All living things are, at some point, brown. The goldfinch, as if reduced to rags, just dingy fluff where brightness had been. ... by Marilee Foster

Community News, December 4

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS Santa on the Farm Weekend The Long Island Game Farm invites families to ... by Staff Writer

The Start of a New Era at The Express News Group, With a New Website and Focus on Digital Media, and Leadership Changes

The end of the year will be the start of a new era at The ... 3 Dec 2025 by Cailin Riley

American Legion To Host Pearl Harbor Remembrance

The Hand-Aldrich Post 924 Hampton Bays American Legion will host a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony on Sunday, December 7, at 11 a.m. at the Shinnecock Inlet at the end of Dune Road in Hampton Bays. The public is invited and all are invited back to the American Legion hall for food and beverage after the ceremony. by Staff Writer

Southampton Town Makes Bid To Purchase Two Waterfront Properties in North Sea

Southampton Town plans to purchase two waterfront properties in North Sea — on West Shore ... by Michael Wright