Krupnik, Bernard "Duke" Bernard John Krupnik of Wilton, CT formerly of Riverside, CT, passed away on Tuesday, June 2nd with his loving wife of 66 years, Ann, by his side. Known to family and friends as "Duke", he was a resident of Riverside for 48 years, and was born on October 5, 1924 in Stamford, CT, the son of Michael John and Anna Kotula Krupnik. After graduating from Stamford High School in 1942, he served in the United States Navy during WWII from 1943 to 1946 in the Pacific Theater on the USS Boston, a heavy cruiser. He fought in some of the epic battles in the Pacific: The Marshall Islands, Eniwetok, Palua, Guam, Invasion of Saipan, Truk, Guinea, the Marianas, the Battle of the Philippine Sea where his ship historically towed the torpedoed USS Houston while under heavy fire from the air and sea, and the bombardment and invasion of Japan. His war stories are legendary and he was proud of his service in the Navy. As the son of Polish immigrants to the US, he loved his country with a fervor that can only be matched by fellow members of the Greatest Generation. He retired as the Purchasing Officer of the Putnam Trust Company Bank of Greenwich, where he was employed for 13 years. Before joining Putnam Trust, he worked in sales for 27 years at Remington Rand in Stamford. He is survived by his wife, Ann Vagedes Krupnik, and their two sons and daughter-in-law, Michael and Patti Krupnik of Wilton and Stephen Krupnik of Annapolis, MD, three daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and Lex Zaharoff of Weston, Judy and Socrates Verses of Great Falls, VA and Wendy and Andrew Melnick of Westport. He also leaves behind nine grandchildren, Alison and Michael Krupnik, Brandon, Alexander and Victoria Zaharoff, Zac and Alexa Verses and Madeline and Jake Melnick as well as his sisters Katherine Riska, Bertha Tomczyk and Joan Sienkiewicz and many nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his brothers John, Stanley and Alexander Krupnik and sister, Julia Koules and his brother-in-law and best friend, Nick Koules. An avid fan of the New York Giants, he had season tickets for over 30 years, - a passion he passed down to his sons and grandsons. He loved golf and was a regular at the Hubbard Heights Golf Course in Stamford for decades. He also was a life long gardener and in his later years spent sunny afternoons with friends at Todd's Point beach in Old Greenwich. But his greatest joy in life was his children and grandchildren and especially his wife Ann. Together they created a lasting legacy of love and dedication to family. A special thank you to the staff at The Greens in Wilton, CT and the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Service of Fairfield County. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday June 6th at 9:00 am at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 229 Danbury Road, Wilton. Interment will follow at St. John's Cemetery, Darien. Relatives and friends may call at the Hoyt Cognetta Funeral Home, 5 East Wall Street, Norwalk on Friday June 5th from 4:00 to 8:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or Our Lady of Fatima Church, 229 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897.
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