Hearts Broken Over Loss Of Beloved Couple In Hamptons Plane Crash

AMAGANSETT, NY — The enormous outpouring of heartbreak and sorrow after a plane crash off Amagansett Saturday is testament to the Ben and Bonnie Krupinski — a rich legacy of lives spent helping others, to open hearts that spent decades sharing with the beautiful East Hampton community they loved so much.

From the first, when the seemingly impossible word spread that the Krupinskis, as well as their grandson and pilot, had been on the plane that went down in the midst of Saturday's suddenly violent storm, hearts were ripped open wide with grief.

"Into the deep blue. Into the deep blue our friends have gone."

From A list celebrities to servers at the restaurants they owned, from elected officials to lifelong friends, the East End was left bereft at the gaping loss, as a search and rescue effort turns into a recovery mission.

"Into the blue. Into the deep blue our friends have gone. We thank you for so many acts of kindness," wrote Mary Bromley on Facebook.

Bromley thanked Krupinski for building The Retreat, a facility that offers services to victims of domestic violence in East Hampton. "Thank you, Bonnie, for your commitment to affordable housing and thanks to both of you for countless other acts of generosity towards our town. There are truly no words, except the many thanks that will pile in as the days go on. Into the blue, our friends have gone, surrounded by the land, the sea, the people they loved and helped."

Martha Stewart also spoke about her grief on social media: “I am devastated by the news of the untimely passing of my dear friends, Ben and Bonnie Krupinski and their grandson William Maerov. Ben and Bonnie were my friends from the moment I met them in the early 1990s," she said. "I was fortunate to work with 'Builder Ben,' as I always called him on the renovation of my 1878 home in East Hampton. I loved his ability to problem solve and build a beautiful homes. Together they were generous philanthropists and supporters of East End businesses.

"Bonnie became my dear friend and always exuded charm and practical good sense. When they began raising their grandchildren they did so with gusto, intelligence and a sense of wonder and love," she added.

"Will, their grandson was an outstanding young man — very curious, well educated, well-traveled and a delight to be with. I spent a lot of time with Will, advising him on business plans and together we planned his grandparents 70th birthday party last summer. His potential was lost in this very unexpected way. I will miss each of them so very, very much," she wrote.

"Ben and Bonnie Krupinski who passed away yesterday were two of the greatest silent contributors to our community. Every repair or construction job was attended to by BKBuilder as a contribution to Guild Hall. Thank you, Ben and Bonnie for all you did to make us thrive," Guild Hall wrote in a statement on social media.

Added East Hampton's Greg Mansley: "When I heard the news, I just stopped cold. A great family that has done so much for the people of the community. When I told him the food pantry was running short he took care of it right away. He has helped St. Luke's and many others — always quietly — the mark of a true gentleman."

"I'm devastated," Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said. "This is a devastating loss for the East End." Schneiderman said he has been friends with the Krupinskis for more than 20 years. "I'm speechless," he said. "They were so incredibly generous."

East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc expressed grief. "I am in shock and filled with great sadness at the loss of Ben and Bonnie Krupinski, their grandson William Maerov, and pilot Jon Dollard in yesterday's tragic accident," he said. "Ben and Bonnie's influence and generosity reached every corner of our community. They were fully committed to East Hampton and they will be sorely missed. Our thought and prayers are with them, their friends, and family."

Krupinski was well-known for his beautiful work as a builder for high-profile celebrities including Billy Joel and Jerry Della Femina.

The couple's legacy of philanthropy is deeply rooted on the East End: In May, 2017, Ben and Bonnie Krupinski were honored as East Hampton Lions Club Citizens of the Yearfor their generosity to the East End community.

As word spread of Krupinski's death, friends were blindsided by the unthinkable. "I am devastated," said longtime friend and former East Hampton Town board member Diana Weir. "They are an integral part of the East Hampton community — one of the most distinguished local families. I am crushed. They were very good to me and all local charities."

The Krupinskis, she said, are an "amazing family. Generous benefactors to so many local charities in their hometown. An East Hampton local successful family whose heart and soul cared about their hometown."

Remembering Krupinski, she said his death is "a tremendous loss for East Hampton. They never wanted credit or publicity for their amazing generosity. When a local prom lost their venue, Ben picked up the tab and made that prom happen. There are too many stories about things he did like that, without any press."

His wife Bonnie has spent a lifetime dedicated to giving back to her town with her "tremendous business acumen serving on various boards. I am heartbroken," Weir said. "I loved them."

Weir said the couple and she have remained friends since she served on the town board. "They're a wonderful family."

Social media was filled with heartbroken posts from friends Saturday night, with some say the loss was "gutting."

According to Maerov's Facebook page, he had just started a new job in New York City with Chandelier Creative.

Krupinski was long known for his work ethic and philanthropic spirit. A 1992 article in the New York Times said Krupinski, an"ace East Hampton pilot and contractor to the stars" was "modest and caring in the manner of a doctor making house calls."

Krupinski, the NYT article said, was "known as an industrious young man who has sweated for his airplane, his house in Palm Beach and his 42-foot fishing boat, the Bonnie K, named for his wife Bonnie Bistrian Krupinski."

The East Hampton Ladies Village Improvement Society told the NYT that he was always giving back and always a hard worker. Even as a child, the NYT article said, "He typically worked until 11 at night at his father's grocery store, 'because that's when we closed.'" The article also said that even as a child, "Benny built model airplanes, not the fancy kinds but the ones with 'the Queen Bee motors flown on a piece of string.'"

The couple's legacy of kindness echoed in the heartbroken words of all who remembered them Saturday.

The 1770 House Restaurant and Inn, one of the couple's East End businesses, posted on Facebook about the overwhelmingly tragic loss: "We are heartbroken to announce the tragic loss of Ben and Bonnie, their grandson Will, and our colleague Jon, on June 2, 2018. The Krupinski, Bistrian, Maerov and Dollard families are grateful for the sincere outpouring of support from so many who knew and loved them. We extend our deep appreciation to the U.S. Coast Guard and other emergency responders on land, sea and air including the East Hampton Town Police Department and scores of others."

A memorial service will be announced in coming weeks, the post said.

"In honor of Ben and Bonnie, with whom we have been fortunate to work as members of their extended family, we continue their commitment to delivering excellence in service to all of you in the community," the post said.

The beloved couple's endeavors also included Cittanuova, East Hampton Point and East Hampton Golf Club, as well as Ben Krupinski Builders, the post said

Rep. Lee Zeldin also expressed his sorrow. "They were a larger than life couple everyone knew, loved and respected," he said. "They will be dearly missed by their family, friends, employees and neighbor who adored them, their vision, love of flying, entrepreneurship, and devotion to the East End of Long Island."

Another Tweet summed up the heavy blanket of grief that enveloped the East End after the tragedy: "Rest in Peace . . . You will be missed and loved forever."

Rest In Peace Ben, Bonnie and Will Krupinski. You will be missed and loved forever. #amaghansett
— bkaes1981 (@BKaes) June" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/BKaes/stat... 3, 2018

Photo by Richard Lewin Professional Photography, soniboy@aol.com.