On October 3, during a beautiful sunrise, N. Neil Kunycky, 87, of Simsbury, went peacefully into his new life after living courageously with Alzheimer’s disease. A true Renaissance man, Neil found pleasure in many hobbies and interests, which he shared generously with his family and friends.

With his wife Mary by his side, Neil planned self-guided driving trips throughout the US and Europe. During the break-up of the USSR, they traveled to Ukraine to visit their parents’ birthplaces and meet their extended families. He loved spending time outdoors, passing his enjoyment of flying, camping, skiing, and visiting national parks on to his children and grandchildren. He was passionate about WWII history, and about collecting and listening to opera, classical music, bluegrass, and traditional Christmas carols. Most of all, he found great joy in spending time with his family and friends, and contentment in his surroundings, whether he was riding his bike on Simsbury’s bike trails, skiing slowly down a mountain so he could enjoy the scenery, or drinking his morning coffee on the back porch.

Neil grew up in Manhattan’s East Village. He graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School and The Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, and earned his M.B.A. from New York University. Neil served in the US Navy and Naval Reserve from 1946 to 1953; one of his most unique assignments was to maintain the lighthouse beacon on Virginia’s Assateague Island.

Neil began his distinguished business career as a management consultant for Touche Niven Bailey & Smart (now Deloitte). Moving with his family to Simsbury in 1966, he served as a senior executive at Royal Typewriter. and Heublein Inc., and as President of Webcor Electronics and U.S. Industries. Later, with Arthur Heublein and Jack Larrabee, Neil and Mary founded Meditel, Inc., a firm providing paramedical insurance examinations for many prominent companies in the Northeast.

Neil was the beloved husband of Mary (Peretiatko) Kunycky for 63 years; the devoted father and father-in-law of Gregory Kennan and Jane Materazzo, Matthew Kennan and Beth Coleman, Neil and Mary Jane Kunycky, Audrey Kunycky, Amy Kunycky, and Laura and Robert Schmoll; and a wonderful, fun-loving grandfather for Christina, Brianna, Alexander, Aubrey, Mara, Daniel, Timothy, Tyler, Jeffrey and David. He also leaves his cherished sister, Anna Switnicki, his sister-in-law Elaine Kunycky, and many nieces, nephews and friends. Neil was predeceased by his parents, William and Theresa, his infant son Robert, his sister Kathryn, his brother Jerome, and his brothers-in-law Stephan Peretiatko and Peter Switnicki. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Parish, Simsbury.

Friends may call at The Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury on Thursday, October 6th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM on Friday, October 7th,at St. Mary’s Church, 940 Hopmeadow Street. Neil will be laid to rest in Simsbury Cemetery at a later time.

His family appreciates the care and comfort that Neil received from the Cherry Brook Health Care Center in Canton and McLean Hospice. They are also deeply grateful to all who work to ease the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease, and would welcome memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org). Vichnaya Pamyat.