Mr. Kunick was our favorite Teacher at Ridgewood. He gave me a love for biology and marine biology specifically. We had a blast in his class and I really enjoyed being his teachers aide my senior year. I remember giving him a beta fish named Gary for his birthday lol He was a big part of the lives of us 2004/05 graduates. We talk about him often.

I'm a 2006 Alum from Ridgewood. Justin was my biology teacher and the best teacher I've ever had. I was lucky enough to be his aid my senior year. I even bought him a beta fish for his birthday my sophomore year! You were an amazing teacher and even better person. Always there to help and always had a smile. I cannot believe you're gone, and more so I'm sad I just now found out. I would have attended the services to give my condolences in person. You will be and are always missed and remembered.

When i found out you passed i couldnt believe it.So i had ot search for you. Your a great teacher and always pushed me to go higher with my education. Never let me slack.With your patience,wisdom and never giving up on me,i Graduated from Kathleen high(had moved after freshman yr)wiht honors. 116seat out of 334 seatsm,in 2011.Now im in college and everytime i thing of math and science,its u i think of. forever with me MrKunick!-Robin (ur stubborn student)

Anne, Mr. and Mrs. Kunick,
I remember Coach's first day as a teacher at Ridgewood as he was introduced to us by a fellow teacher. As I near my graduation in Elementary Ed, I hope that I can become the type of teacher and mentor that Coach was, and still will be to his students and players. He made a difference in my brother's life as I know he did the rest of the team. Having had him as a coach for four years and a teacher, I am sure that AJ has learned many life lessons as he looked up to him. Not only did he admire him as a baseball coach, but as a mentor and will continue to use these lessons wherever he may go in life. We, along with our parents are so very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. 
The Suriano Family

Coach Kunick,
I wish I would've been able to see you just one more time. You are and will always be an inspiration to me and so many others. You were an amazing teacher to me at Ridgewood. You have impacted my life as a teacher and as a person. Until we meet again...

Coach Kunick You will be missed forever, without a doubt. Your service was amazing, and I know you'd be so proud of the turnout. Rise Above. <3 I can promise you your Fivay Falcons baseball team will continue to do so! Gone, but not forgotten. We love you coach! :)

Dear Justin, 
It was so amazing to see you again today my friend, even know it was only your body, I felt you there. It was great to see your amazing family and to meet your wife as well. I loved seeing your parents again, they are unbelievably great. I wish we could have spent time together these past years. I just hope that when my time comes, that God judges me as a fraction of the person that you have always been. When that happens, I will see you again because I know you will be the first one sitting right next to God. Until then, I will miss you my friend and I will see you at "tha crossroads". Please tell Pat that I miss him too.

My prayers go to the family and friends of a wonderful man. God called home someone who touched so many.

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Having a friend like Justin only comes once in a lifetime. I will miss him so much and never forget the good times that we shared. He will always be in my heart. I know he's in a better place now, but it is such a great loss for everyone who loved him & knew him.
Karl Sabo

Thank you for all you did in the lives of those you taught. You will be with all of us for a lifetime. Prayers for your family.  Grateful fellow New Yorker and Fivay Mom.

Lissa Wiley

In loving memory of our wonderful nephew.  Wish we could be with you in Florida to get you through but please know that we now pray for Anne and all of you who are there with her and sharing the loss.  Our comfort is knowing that Justin did indeed "Rise Above".  We will always thank God that he was part of our family.

Dear Terry and Marilyn
We are so very sorry for your loss.We never had the honor of really getting to know Justin but know he was an awesome person
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Anne and the rest of your family at this difficult time as well as the days ahead. May God wrap you in his arms and give you strength and comfort.

I'm so sorry for your loss.  I'm at Fivay and was at Ridgewood.  I didn't know him personally, but I know he will be missed by all the students he came in contact with, along with everyone else who knew and loved him.  My condolences.
Denise Zahn

Terry & Marilyn,
I'm so sorry for your loss. What a wonderful young man he was & he will be missed by everyone that knew him. I'll pray for you to have strength to get thru the days & years ahead
The Noto Family

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Anne, and your entire family. Justin was an amazing person and he'll be missed by so many.

Dear Kunick Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with each and everyone of you.  Justin touched many lives and those individuals are better for having known him.  I'm sorry for our loss and prayer that your faith and family relationships will carry you through this most difficult time.  God Bless.

My heartfelt sympathy to Annie & your family. You were a very special young man who touched so many lives in such a short time. You were a good friend to Karl & will be missed very much by so many.

Dear Terry & Marilyn:

God saw your son getting tired, and a cure was not to be. So, He put His loving arms around him and whispered "Come With Me". With tearful eyes you watched and saw him pass away.  Although, you loved him dearly, he could not stay. A golden heart stopped beating, a beautiful soul at rest. God sees your hearts are broken and wants you to know that 
"He only takes the best". 

Each tear is a note of love rising to the Heavens.  
"Rise Above"

We keep you in prayer for God's comfort and strength during this difficult time.  
1Thessalonians 4:13-18 

In Christ's Love,
Lois & Frank Johnson

I only knew Justin a short time, but a great guy, the kids loved him. I was a lunch lady at Ridgewood.  I'm so sorry for your loss.

   To Justin's family,
     We are so extremely sorry to hear
   of your loss. Sending thoughts and
   prayers your way.

   Linda, Herb, and Clinton Conger

Dear Anne, Mr. & Mrs. Kunick,
Our hearts go out to you. Justin was a great teacher, coach and friend. I enjoyed sharing my classroom with him and will never forget his humor that was often lost on those naive freshmen :-). He made me smile every day, and he will be remembered fondly by all that knew him.

To Anne and the entire Kunick Family-
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.  Justin was a great person and I will always remember him fondly.  He worked really hard and deserved the best.  He will be very missed, but not forgotten.

My dear cousin....we lost touch and gained it back.  We emailed each other and kept up with one another.  You have gone through so much in your life and always your faith never faltered.  I love you and I am sure that my dad met you at the gate to show you around.  All our earthly heavenly angels are going on to be with God and to help us in all our endeavors.  You have touched so many lives here on earth and I know in my heart in heaven you will accomplish so much more.  You will never be forgotten.  R.I.P. my sweet cousin.

Dear Kunick Family,

Please accept my condolences.  I was fortunate to have coached with Justin during his time at Ridgewood.  No doubt that I and so many others are better persons because of his presence in this community. I pray that God may ease your pain.

Justin, you will be missed!!! God will be taking care of you now.  Warm thoughts and prayers to the Kunick family.

Anne, Mr. & Mrs. Kunick and family. You raised a special young man I will never forget. I became a better person and coach during our 6 year relationship.  It was a pleasure to watch him grow and develop in the coaching profession. He was a winner in the game of life  His loyalty was a trait I will never forget.  Each time I observe a Lefty on the mound, Justin Kunick and great memories will be on my mind. He will never be forgotten by Ridgewood Baseball.  Larry Beets

Sometimes you find that influential teacher/coach that makes a special difference in a child's life, that is what Coach Kunick has done.   My son  had the pleasure of knowing Coach Kunick back from his Ridge Wood freshman year and then had the excitement knowing coach Kunick would be going to Fivay.  Coach consistently encouraged my son to play baseball which increased his confidence and respect for himself and others. Coach Kunick is a hero. Thank you to his family for allowing us to share his all to short life as it was a blessing.

You were a great person, according to your Dad. I remember when you were born and the troubles you had, and you were always on my prayer list. The family will miss you.

Dear Terry, Marilyn and Family -

Our heartfelt sympathy to all of you during this difficult time. You were so blessed to have had Justin to care for, watch over during his challenging times, and raise him to become the good person he was. He touched so many lives for the better. He made all of you proud. God Bless.
Dave and Maureen Ertl  East Aurora. NY

Please accept our heartfelt condolences. It was a great privilege to share in a very small part of Justin's  college life. We will always remember him for his dedication and intensity.

Terry and Marilyn,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and Justin's wife, Anne. Justin was such a wonderful young man and brought joy to everyone who knew him.  

David and Linda Riley,  Vero Beach, Florida

Thanks coach for all the work you did with the boys on YOUR team. My son Sean is not only a better player because of your coaching but more important he is a better young man because of your influence and i thank you for that. Peace be with your family

I always have a hard time talking to God when somebody so good dies so young. Justin was a member of a family that treats everyone as a valuable human being. The world needs more people like Justin. I'm sure that the people he touched will change the world the "Justin Kunick Way." Jesus loves you and so do we.

To the Kunick Family,  We are very sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.  The Hochadel Family

Coach Kunick, You were a great teacher, fantastic coach and, most of all, a good friend.  Rest in peace.  The Vanacore Family

Your full of life personality and sense of humor from your KC baseball days will always be in my memory.  My prayers goes out to your family.

You were a good friend and colleague.  I never would have made it through the first semester at Fivay without your advice and comfort.  I miss our long talks after school and even before school.  You always provided me with insider's information and knew the best solutions.  You have touched so many people and will be missed greatly.  My sympathy goes to Justin's family.

You were an amazing teacher, and the best coach. We will miss you so much, and you'll always be in our hearts. Rise above!

Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends. Justin, you will be missed by so many whose lives that you touched. You were a class act both on and off the field.
Peninsula Baseball Umpires

Justin,

         You were an amazing friend. I could go on all day with memories of us when we were growing up. We shared so much of the same beliefs in faith and in life, life is so unfair and it teaches us so many lessons on hope,love,faith and eachother. You were God's angel before you even left us. I wiish I could have had 1 more talk with you even though that sounds selfish but you made me believe that life doesnt end when something tragic happens to you or loved ones but rather it gives you hope and a promise that "If you dont give up" God will make your life special and complete with those who need you the most. I believe that you gave us all that hope and promise when your BEST friend and our friend Pat passed away back in 10th grade. Your determination at life is what made us most proud and I'm privledged to have been able to call you my friend. I know your not here in real life but your spirit will always live on and anytime I feel down I can always look at your picture and see your smile and it would brighten my day. I hope you watch over all of us and keep us safe. Just like we used to say when we were younger "We may not live forever but we will always meet up at the "Crossroads". I cant wait to see you up there when its my time, until then "Peace"!

You were a great friend to us and we have so many memories from the year we became friends. We will miss you dearly. Rise above.

OBITUARY

Justin Kunick

February 24, 1980 – April 27, 2012

Meadowlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

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