Kenneth J. Kurutz

Kenneth John Kurutz passed away unexpectedly at 77 years of age on April 6, 2025, after having undergone a medical procedure two days previously.

Ken was born on May 21, 1947, in the Bronx, New York, to John Albert Kurutz and Veronica Muth Kurutz. He joined his sister Judith who was almost 5 years old at the time. The family moved from New York to New Jersey when Ken was about 3 years old and settled in Bergenfield. He attended Franklin Elementary, Roy W. Brown Junior High School, Bergenfield High School, and Dumont High School. He received his First Holy Communion and his Sacrament of Confirmation at St. John the Evangelist’s Catholic Church in Bergenfield. He married his first wife, Maureen Colontrelle, at the same church in 1966.  He and Maureen met in junior high school and married not too long after they graduated from high school. They were married for 22 years and were blessed with three children, John Albert, Kristin Anne, and Jaime Veronica.  The family re-located to Vero Beach in 1974, where Jaime was born.

In his youth, Ken was on his own a lot, so he gravitated toward spending time with his neighborhood friends and cousins. There were many funny stories he loved to tell about his escapades with these compatriots. His sister, Judy, came to his rescue several times when his escapades went a little too far. He loved to spend time at Cooper’s Pond in Bergenfield near where some of his cousins lived. One of his favorite things to do was to get up early in the morning and walk for miles with his friends to a favorite fishing spot. On the morning of these fishing trips, before his mother left for work, she would always leave enough change on the table for him to get through the day. This was a loving gesture that Ken remembered all his life and he spoke with warmth and love for his mother whenever he recalled it.  Everybody loved Ken – always. If they didn’t love him, it was because they didn’t spend enough time around him to get to know him.  Ken was unique.  He had many wonderful qualities – one of the finest was that he put family first. Through thick and thin, he never failed to work hard and provide for his family, no matter what was going on in his life.  Ken worked in the glass business for over 40 years, first with HBS, Inc., as a business partner with Jack Barrie, then owner of Sunshine Glass, part-owner of KePaJi, Inc., owner of Kenneth J. Kurutz LLC dba Commerce Glass, and as a consultant to Commerce Glass LLC for the past 4 years.

After Ken’s first marriage, he was married again briefly, and then, after several years, he met his third wife, Mary Elizabeth.  Luckily for both Ken and M.E., the timing was right, and they were both ready for a committed relationship. It was new and exciting and just what they both needed at almost 50 years of age. They both grew and learned so much from each other and it was, to their amazement, a forever relationship that grew to be as solid as a rock. They were together from 1995 on and married in 1999 in Las Vegas. They both felt so fortunate to have found each other and they were happily married until his death. Ken’s passing has left M.E. bereft, and Ken and M.E.’s two beloved cats, Prissy and Sophie, are still looking for him to walk through the door.

Ken leaves behind his wife of 26 years and companion of 30 years, Mary Elizabeth, his son and daughter-in-law, John and Jessica Kurutz, his daughter and son-in-law, Kristin and Mark Shaw, his daughter and her fiancé, Jaime Hill and Chris Hall, his step-sons Zach Jernigan and Josh Jernigan and Josh’s wife Jess. He was the proud grandfather to Kaitlin Hennessey (Richie), Amber Rabon (David), John Alex Kurutz (Ana), Kenneth Kurutz (Hannah), Carmela Kurutz, Nick Shaw, Samantha Shaw and Bella Hill and step-grandfather to Bryson Lasky, Alexa Jernigan, Breanna Jernigan, and Shawn Williams.  He was also the proud great-grandfather to James Shaw, Isaac Kurutz, Magnolia Rabon and Georgia Kurutz and step-great-grandfather to Ava Whiteside, Dominic Whiteside, and Amari Schumaker.  His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are Ken’s legacy, and he felt so happy and blessed to have them in his life. Ken had many close family members in the Colontrelle and Hart families, as well. Ken is also survived by his former wife, Maureen Walker and her husband Den Walker.  Ken was predeceased by his mother, father and sister, Judy Delaney.

Many friends, relatives and acquaintances, both personal and professional, gathered on May 21, 2025, which would have been Ken’s 78^th birthday, to remember and celebrate his life.  The “Remembrance” service was held at The Grand Pavilion in Riverside Park.  It was a joyful and loving service in which Ken’s son, John, gave a very fitting eulogy for his Pops.  For their Grandpa, Carmela, Ken’s youngest granddaughter, age 9, sang a beautiful song and his grandsons, John Alex and Kenneth, read scripture, all with the theme of faith, trust, hope and love.  Cory Martin, a friend and business associate of Ken’s, read an inspired poem for M.E., written in Ken’s voice, about having faith that everything will be OK as she travels through life with his spirit accompanying her.  It was a tender and heartfelt service that was very moving for all in attendance, especially Ken’s family. Following the “Remembrance” service, a “Celebration of Life” was held at the Quail Valley Boathouse, during which a video of pictures, prepared by Ana Anderson, a family friend, was shown.  The video spanned Ken’s entire adult life, with his marriages, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was set to music that was meaningful to Ken and M.E.  It was a time for celebrating and reflecting on who Ken was as a man and as a good person who was loved and will be missed by many.

It took us a while to publish this obituary, as we are still reeling from the huge and completely unexpected loss we have experienced with Ken’s untimely passing.

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital was always Ken’s charity of choice, so a donation to St. Jude’s in Ken’s name would be appropriate and appreciated by his family.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.