Gerard J. Kucker, 57

Gerard J. Kucker, the owner of a tree removal and contracting company, died at his Sycamore Drive, Springs, home on Feb. 24. He was 57 years old and his family said he had a heart attack.

Mr. Kucker was born on Dec. 10, 1958, in Harlem. He came to East Hampton as a teenager with his mother, Dorothy Dext, for the wedding of a relative, and they decided to stay on after Ms. Dext found employment here. Mr. Kucker began working for Ralph Mayor, the owner of the Montauk Motel, who became his foster father.

Mr. Kucker attended East Hampton High School and received a general education diploma. In his 20s he worked for the Viking Fleet in Montauk, and later, for more than 22 years, he worked for Volk’s Montauk Disposal. More recently, for the last nine years, Mr. Kucker owned and operated his own company, East End Trees. 

He was married for about 10 years to Lee Cavioli; they were divorced in 1996. A motorcycle enthusiast, Mr. Kucker suffered a bad motorcycle accident in 2004 and worked extremely hard to regain the ability to walk, said one of his sons, Anthony Kucker of East Hampton.

Mr. Kucker had a favorite saying, “L.W.W.L.,” which stood for “look where we live.” It referred to his love of his surroundings on the East End, particularly the beach and the water.

In addition to his son Anthony, Mr. Kucker is survived by another son, Dominick Kucker, also of East Hampton. The family received visitors at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton Friday and Saturday­. Cremation followed.