Albert Bunce, 83
Albert Bunce, who lived on Cosdrew Lane in East Hampton for 40 years, died on Sept. 17 in Lady Lake, Fla., from complications of surgery. He was 83.
Mr. Bunce and his wife, Patricia, were very much a part of the East Hampton community. He coached his sons on the Schwenk’s Dairy Little League Team for 16 years and she worked in the East Hampton Schools for over 13 years.
Mr. Bunce was known to pile as many kids in his car as possible for games and always made sure his players laughed, had fun, and learned sportsmanship above all else, his family said. His favorite rivalry back then was the Pantigo team, coached by his longtime friend Fred Bock. He also served in the East Hampton Fire Department for 32 years as a member of Company No. 6, and was a brother in the Star of the East Lodge for 30 years.
Born Albert Joseph Bunce on June 8, 1932, in Ozone Park, Mr. Bunce was the eldest of five children born to the former Catherine Jean Zawadski and Albert Ray Bunce.
He married Patricia Needham on Aug. 9, 1952, after he met her on a blind date. They were together for 61 years until her death in 2013. The couple had five children, four of whom survive: Robin Shepherd of Wake Forest, N.C., Michael Bunce Sr. of Lady Lake, Fla., Kevin Bunce Sr. of East Hampton, and Keith Bunce of Benson, N.C. A son, Bruce Brunce, died in 2013. Mr. Bunce is also survived by a sister, Penny Defraia of Albequrque, as well as eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
In 1967, after living in Patchogue, Mr. Bunce moved his family to East Hampton, where they lived first on Osborne Lane and then Cosdrew Lane, where the door was always open for friends and family.
Mr. Bunce’s work was in the Middle East for a time. From 1973 through 1978 he worked in Saudi Arabia as a logistics construction supervisor, and traveled back and forth to East Hampton to be with his family during those years. In the late 1970s, he started his own steel building company, which soon became Al Bunce and Sons Construction Co. In early 1990, he partnered in the family business of Long Island Coffee Company and Vermont Pure Bottled Water.
In 2006, the business was sold and he and his wife retired to the Villages in Lady Lake to enjoy the warmer weather. “There they met new friends instantly to add to their treasured friends in East Hampton,” his family wrote.
He was always positive, steady, and loyal, his family said. He and his wife traveled many miles over the years to visit their children and to see their grandchildren participate in school sports. The proud grandfather was known to be quite enthusiastic during wrestling matches — all contests for that matter. One of his favorite trips recently was to see his grandson Michael Bunce Jr. play for Team USA in the 21 and under World Rugby Championship in Guyana.
Mr. Bunce loved the beaches of East Hampton, particularly Wiborg’s Beach, where he spent much time with his family when his children were young. He was in East Hampton last year to attend one of his grandson’s weddings and a football game of another grandson. “It was what he lived for and always looked forward to. It was a very happy time for him, the perfect vacation,” his family said.
He was “a father who was always happy, upbeat, and ready for anything and enjoyed everyone in his life and was loyal to his friends,” Kevin Bunce Sr. said. “He was just always there for us.”
His family held a private service in Lady Lake on Oct. 3. A family friend, the Rev. Charlie Rumpel, officiated. Mr. Bunce was cremated and his ashes will be spread off Wiborg’s Beach during a memorial service next year.
Donations in his memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis 38105.