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Robert A. Schunk
Robert A. Schunk, a lifelong resident of Westhampton Beach, died on Wednesday, April 3, at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. He was 74.
Mr. Schunk was born on September 12, 1938, to Thomas and Margery Schunk, both of whom predeceased him. He attended Westhampton Beach High School and was active in many sports, as well as being an avid bayman, hunter and nature enthusiast.
After graduating high school, he served in the U.S. Army as an intelligence officer, stationed at a remote base in the Aleutian Islands called Shemya, where he intercepted and decoded Russian military communications. While stationed there, the Great Alaskan Earthquake of 1964 occurred—an experience he said he would not want to repeat.
After his discharge from the Army, Mr. Schunk worked at Raynor and Mitchell Marina repairing boats and motors. Several years later, he worked as a civilian mechanic in the motor pool of the Westhampton Air Force Base until it closed. He also joined the Westhampton Beach Fire Department, serving as chief from 1973 to 1974.
Mr. Schunk owned a business called Fire Equipment Repairs and worked from his home repairing fire apparatus. He soon moved his business to a new shop on Quiogue and also began building specialized fire trucks to fight fires in the woods. He built almost 50 of these brush trucks over the span of almost 30 years, which in turn earned him respect in the fire service for his knowledge and ability to repair and fabricate almost anything.
Mr. Schunk had many hobbies, including riding and racing motorcycles, obtaining his private pilot’s license and flying his plane.
Mr. Schunk is survived by his wife of 45 years, Cynthia; two sons, Darryl and wife Tonya, and Allan; a brother, William and wife Rose; and two nephews, Del and Ian.
The family received friends at Follett and Werner Funeral Home, where firematic services were conducted by the Westhampton Beach Fire Department.
Memorial donations may be made to the Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighters Burn Center Fund Inc., P.O. Box 765, Smithtown, NY 11787.
on Apr 8, 2013