With great dignity, I announce the passing of Eugene Robert Kunit. His spirit will live on in his sons Greg and Michael with whom he shared his vast knowledge and wisdom. Visionary, artist, poet, warrior, architect, athlete, intellect, teacher, lover of nature and the divine creator’s gifts to us all, he leaves behind a life well spent, with no regrets. He spent his entire career as a landscape architect making the world a more beautiful place. His great works were acknowledged and published worldwide in numerous Garden Magazines worldwide such as “Better Homes and Garden, Sunset, Home and Garden” and many more.
Gene’s beloved mother, Ethel, also a brilliant artist, gave birth to him on March 26, 1943, while his father John, an historian and H.S. principal, was, as the custom of the day, waiting in the expectant fathers room. He was a middle child, between his sister Elene, and brother John.
His family relocated from Queens to Glen Cove Long Island shortly before his High School years. John wanted his sons to play football and have an active athletic program at the High School. The Glen Cove High school won all honors in all athletic abilities once the brothers took to the field and gym. He captained its championship football team, a member of the league championship basketball and baseball teams. He now has a plaque on the Glen Cove Hall of Fame. Gene gained New York street smarts early on while working in the garment district of New York City. Defeat was not in his vocabulary. He was High School Senior President, and received many academics accolades throughout his high school years.
He received a perfect score on the SAT’s and was accepted to Cornell University, graduating in the class of 1964 with a degree in Floriculture. During that time he was “All Ivy” Football, gracing the University with winning season after season in Football. He also won the HeavyWeight Boxing, and wrestling Championship, for Cornell. He belonged to the Sigma Nu fraternity, where his college antics have become lore.
He was approached by The Los Angeles Rams, The San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Cardinals, and many others, but chose the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not a man who liked to be told what to do, his decision was partly based on his respect for The Head Coach of the Steelers at the time, R.K. Buddy Parker, who personally approached Gene. The rapport was immediate. When the coaching staff changed, Gene decided to further his academic education and was immediately accepted to the prestigious Landscape Architectural Program at the University of Michigan. With a Masters Degree in hand, he headed west to fulfill a dream by landing a position with the top San Francisco Landscape Architectural firm of its time. This choice enabled him to work and thrive in such projects as The Santa Barbara Coastal Planning, project.. He especially enjoyed working in unison with the Chumash, Native Americans.. His goal was always to preserve the natural beauty, never disrupting, but skillfully enhancing Mother Nature’s Creations. Gene eventually formed his own Design and Build Company, Gene Kunit & Assoc. Always needing an outlet for his abundant energy and power, Gene began Power Lifting, capturing the a Gold medal at the World Games. He also won the Gold again in the Senior Olympics.
In his mid years he walked through life with his beloved Life Partner of 29 years, Linda S. DeGuere, and her loving daughter Shayna. He loved and worked from his estate in Sebastopol, California before moving to Citrus County in 2010. Each weekend he would go to the California Coastline and do plein aire paintings, capturing the raw natural coast at its best. Upon retirement, He was able to devote his time to his art in oil, acrylic, and watercolor…his true passion. He became an avid golfer, having only begun to play in his retirement years. Being a natural athlete he learned the ever challenging game at a fast pace. He could not wait for his days to play with his best friends of 4, Art, Johnny, and Mike.
His legacy will live on in the over 550 Gardens, Estate, and Vineyards throughout California. He so graciously provided plans whenever a person requested his designs after seeing his work. He took great pride knowing that his designs and plantings were used all over the world. His designs and structures were far ahead of his time. He got great joy in traveling throughout the country and spotting one of his gates here, or Gazebos there.
He fought right up to the end. Never complaining, always with the determined goal of overcoming the numerous health challenges he faced throughout the last two years. Gene began his right of passage on Jan 23, 2020 with Linda by his side.
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