
Vincent P. Huneke Jr.
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Vincent Patrick Huneke, Jr. passed away peacefully and surrounded by his loved ones and a little Elvis and George Thorogood music, on March 22, 2021 at the age of 70. Vinny was born February 1951 in Brooklyn, NY, his city of origin was pretty evident to anyone who met him after just a few words of conversation.
Vinny spent his career with Brooklyn Union Gas/Energy North/Keyspan, working as a Foreman in the Street Department. Though he would constantly downplay how smart he was by telling everyone, "the world needs ditch diggers too." He was a brilliant and respected Union negotiator, serving as the President of the Steelworkers Local 12012 for many years.
Vinny raised his family of three daughters in Litchfield, NH. He was an amazing father, dedicated to loving and protecting his girls with all that he had. His later adult life would bring him to Portsmouth, NH where he lived the boater's life at Kittery Landing and Badgers Island Marina, he and was an avid fisherman and lover of the Piscataqua River. There he made many lifelong friends, was well known and loved by everyone he befriended, to know Vinny was truly to love Vinny.
After retirement he relocated to Barefoot Bay, FL and had eight great years away from the cold and snow he grew to despise during all his years working outside in the winter. After much convincing, Vinny finally came back north to live with his youngest daughter and son in law to spend some important quality days with his family.
Vinny was predeceased by his "saintly" (as he referred to her) mother, Madeline C. (Murphy) Huneke and his father Vincent Patrick Huneke. He is survived by his youngest daughter, Karen ("Murf") Velonis and son in law Daniel Velonis, middle daughter Colette Huneke, oldest daughter Kerry Byrne and son in law Rory Byrne. Five grandsons, Grayden and Kellan Velonis, Riley Huneke, Rogan and Nolan Byrne. His three girls were his world but they gifted him with five grandsons who he could not have been more proud of. Vinny is also survived by his brother, James Huneke, sister-in-law Diane, and nieces Deborah and Donna.
Vinny leaves behind many amazing friends who became family. Namely, Mark Roy of Sebastian, FL and his wife Sheryl Hebert and Haskell (Hack) Kingston or York County, Maine and his wife Cindy. He will meet them both on the other side for boat drinks and tuna fishing.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, May 8th at 11:00 am at Immaculate Conception Church of Corpus Christi Parish, 98 Summer Street, Portsmouth, NH. All in attendance must wear a mask and maintain social distancing in the church, per city and state ordinances. Due to Covid 19, the maximum church capacity is 130 people.
In lieu of flowers the family would request that a donation be made in his name to Vinny's favorite charity, of which he has donated monthly to for decades, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org
For online tributes or to share a memory with Vinny's family, kindly visit www.mccarthyfh.com
