Martha Stewart delivered the eulogy Friday at the funeral of millionaire mansion builder Ben Krupinski and his wife Bonnie, both 70, who died last week in a private plane crash.
On the funeral program for the couple was a photo of their grandson Will Maerov, 22, who was also on board and died when their plane crashed off the coast of East Hampton, Long Island, New York, on Saturday.
The pilot flying the aircraft, Jon Kenneth Dollard, age 47, was a commercial flyer and also tragically died in the crash.
Hundreds packed the First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton Friday morning to remember the popular couple, who were known for building and renovating homes for the likes of Stewart, whom they met in the early 1990s.
Martha Stewart delivered the eulogy at millionaire mansion builder, Ben Krupinski’s funeral Friday
The funeral for millionaire mansion builder Ben Krupinskis and his wife Bonnie was held at the First Presbyterian church in East Hampton, NY
An attendee is pictured hugging Martha Stewart at Friday’s service for the Krupinskis
Martha Stewart is pictured (center) with Ben Krupinski (left) and his wife Bonnie (right) and their grandson Will Maerov (second from left)
On the funeral program for the couple was a photo of their grandson Will Maerov, 22, who also died when the plane crashed off the coast of East Hampton, Long Island, Saturday
More than 100 mourners came to celebrate the life of Ben and Bonnie (pictured)
Stewart spoke of her friendship with Ben at the two-hour service and how it stemmed from the businesswoman looking for her dream home in the 1990s.
She said she eventually set her eyes on an older home that Ben had worked on for years, according to a guest leaving the service.
The crowd for the Krupinski family was so large that some mourners were directed next door where they watched the service on TV screens.
‘Devout patriotism and exemplary citizenship were trademark characteristics of the Krupinskis and Willie,’ the program read.
Ben’s child, Laura Krupinski, once accused her father of having an affair with Stewart
Back in 2013, Ben’s daughter Laura, a New York socialite, told the New York Post her father cut her off after she found out about an affair he was having with Stewart.
The Piper PA31 Navajo aircraft was about one mile away from the airport when it lost contact with the East Hampton Tower, the East Hampton Police Department said on Saturday, June 2.
The Coast Guard found two bodies and called off the search Monday for the two others who were missing in the surrounding water.
A New York Times article from 1992 called the Hamptons area ‘Krupinskiland,’ and described it as containing ‘sprawling houses with attitude that look as if they are sprawled out on lounge chairs with a masseuse and a pina colada.’
In the article, Martha Stewart is mentioned twice, first for having Krupinski on a job at that time, and secondly in a quote calling the builder, ‘Extraordinary!’ in reference to his sense of perfection while renovating Stewart’s 24-room home.
In the same write-up, advertising executive and client-turned-friend Jerry Della Femina says, ‘In East Hampton, Ben’s the star.’
The aircraft went down about one mile off the shore of Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett
Members of the New York State park police are seen here near the scene of the plane crash in the ocean off Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett, New York on Saturday
Ben Krupinski (right) renovated Martha Stewart’s (left) home in The Hamptons. She called the builder ‘extraordinary’ in a New York Times article in 1992
He added: ‘You walk into a restaurant and everyone’s looking up and saying, ‘It’s Ben! It’s Ben Krupinski!’
While building homes for the rich and famous, Krupinski became a central figure in the Hamptons.
‘I’m devastated,’ Schneiderman said, of the loss of his friend of more than 20 years. ‘This is a devastating loss for the East End.’
In addition to Krupinski’s building business, the family owns dozens of commercial real estate properties in both East Hampton and Southampton.
Their three restaurants in East Hampton include the 1770 House on Main Street, Cittanuova on Newtown Lane, and the restaurant, hotel, marina complex East Hampton Point on Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Road.
Krupinski’s family, the Bistrians (who are one of the largest landowners in East Hampton Town, co-own the exclusive East Hampton Gold Club with Ben and Bonnie.
The couple were also known to be very philanthropic in the Hamptons.
Krupinski had often anonymously supported local charities throughout East Hampton Town, and had on several occassions volunteered his work force for pro bono construction. Two instances of which included the historic restoration of Scoville Hall in Amagansett and the Amagansett Life-Saving Station.
The couple’s good works earned them the title of East Hampton Lions Club Citizens of the Year in May 2017, an honor bestowed upon them by the East End community.
‘I’m speechless,’ Schneiderman said. ‘They were so incredibly generous.’
Former East Hampton Town board member Diana Weir said: ‘They are an integral part of the East Hampton community — one of the most distinguished local families.’
The long-time friend of the couple added: ‘I am crushed. They were very good to me and all local charities.’
Of Bonnie, specifically, Weir recalled how she dedicated her to life to giving back to the community with her ‘tremendous business acumen serving on various boards. I am heartbroken.’
Ben Krupinski made a name for himself building and renovating homes for A-listers
‘We are stricken by this loss,’ Captain Kevin Reed, a commander at Sector Long Island Sound, said in a press release. ‘Our deepest sympathies go out to the families and loved ones of the two recovered individuals.’
The crash occurred at around 2.50pm Eastern on Saturday.
Crews aboard two commercial fishing boats in the area were asked to join in the search by authorities, according to Newsday.
The cause of the crash has yet to be determined, but O’Hare noted that the plane went down around the same time that thunderstorms entered the area.
Bonnie Brady, the wife of Dave Aripotch, the owner of a commercial 63-foot fishing trawler, who has been searching for the remaining passengers, also said her husband called her after a ‘torrential downpour’ hit the area where he had been fishing.
Aripotch was four miles away from the crash site when he received a pan-pan emergency signal from the US Coast Guard, which alerted him that an aircraft had come down in the area.
He immediately began aiding in the search near Indian Wells Beach, his wife said.
This three-story retreat is one of the many homes that Krupinski worked on in East Hampton