Joseph George Bunich

Joseph George Bunich (Joe) was born in Lackawanna, NY on December 31, 1955 to George and Emily Bunich. He was raised in a loving home with his sister Elena Pulvino (Peter) and brother Gregory Bunich (Mary). A talented trombone player, Joe received his undergraduate music degree at the University at Buffalo and attended the prestigious Manhattan School of Music for his graduate studies.

While working as an itinerant classical musician in NYC, he worked for Darton Records inside the famous Patelson’s Music House. While there, he helped various universities and colleges, as well as the Newport Jazz Festival build their recording libraries. He also assisted many well known classical and rock musicians select classical recordings for their collections. He then moved in a new direction and began a career in the outdoor industry, working at Eastern Mountain Sports and then The NorthFace for many years. The last seven years was spent working for the luxury men's clothier Zegna.

In 1983 he met the love of his life through a mutual friend. Joe and his beloved wife Susan Hugelmeyer were married on September 19, 1987. They spent many wonderful and exciting years living in Manhattan. Joe and Susan eventually relocated to Long Island where they raised their daughter, Emilia Bunich. He loved his wife and daughter beyond measure and always uplifted them in his gentle and subtle way.

Joe was a loving, kind, gentle, and very funny man. The expression “still waters run deep” perfectly described Joe. He was a man of many talents and deep intellect. He was an avid reader, birdwatcher, eclectic concert goer, camper and backpacker, deep sea fisherman and soup maker extraordinaire, trivia master just to name a few.

Joe is survived by his beloved wife Susan and daughter Emilia, his sister Elena and sister-in-law Mary, his niece Elizabeth and grand niece Valerie, along with his extended family, father-in-law Kurt Hugelmeyer, brothers-in-law Frank (Nancy), Carl (Michele), Paul (Kathy), sister-in-law Heather (Jason), and his nieces and nephews Kyle, Cole, Cassie, Nicole, Kayla, Shannon, and Sean. He loved his extended family and the many vacations, occasions, and laughs they shared together.

Joe’s gentle spirit and wicked sense of humor will be remembered forever and his big family and many friends will miss him deeply.