Stephen Denis Kutner

Stephen Denis Kutner, 66, of Valley Stream, New York, passed away on June 13, 2017 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

Visitation will be on June 14, 2018 from 7-9 PM and June 15, 2018 from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM at Lieber Funeral Home in Valley Stream, NY.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at Blessed Sacrament Church with the Monseigneur John Martin officiating.   Burial will follow at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY. Arrangements are by Lieber Funeral Home.

Stephen Denis Kutner was born in the Bronx, NY, on October 9, 1951 to Virginia and Harry H. Kutner. He graduated from St. Pius High School and later Cathedral College.  He graduated from St. John’s University Law School in June of 1976.  He married Sheila Winters on July 7, 1979 in Queens, New York. 

Following his law school graduation, Steve volunteered for one year as a legal aide attorney in Tallahassee, Florida through Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). Upon returning to New York, he joined Kutner & Gurlides law firm, the practice of his father, Harry H. Kutner, and partner Michael Gurlides, also practicing with his brother Harry H. Kutner, Jr.  He later took ownership of the business serving as a general practice attorney for over 40 years.

Steve was actively involved in serving his church and community, serving for over 35 years as a Eucharistic minister at Blessed Sacrament Church, regularly providing communion to the sick.  He was a benefactor and active volunteer at the INN serving on their speakers bureau, and a generous benefactor to Covenant House.  He volunteered for many years with the local Republican Club serving as a committeeman. 

Stephen was deeply committed to family life, making it home for dinner every evening despite long hours in the office, coaching his daughters’ CYO basketball teams, and volunteering at countless school events over the years.

Steve’s strength was in his quiet grace and humility, and was known by his family, friends and all whose hearts he touched as a kind-hearted, loving, generous man who was a model of acceptance of others. 

He loved basketball, golf, the Beatles, the Boss, the beach, and to have a good time, but most of all he loved spending time with his family.

Stephen is preceded in death by his father, Harry H. Kutner, his brothers Jay and Matthew and sister Rosemary, his mother and father-in-law Carl and Loretta Winters, and his brother-in-law John Del Rossi.

Stephen is survived by his wife, Sheila, his daughter Laura Bivins and her husband Nathan, his daughter Brigid Matts and her husband Kevin, his son Kieran, his daughter Maureen, his son Conor, and his granddaughter Juliet Stephanie Bivins (born May 19, 2018); his mother Virginia Kutner; his siblings and their spouses: Harry & Barbara Kutner, Raymond Kutner, Ann Marie & Douglas Perry, Bernadette Del Rossi, Christopher & Julie Kutner, Mary Beth & Gordon Marchand, and Kenneth & Doreen Kutner.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to FREE Theatre Day Hab/Drum Corps and/or ACDS 5 Plus program.

The Kutner Family wishes to extend our sincerest thanks to the entire staff of Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, particularly Dr. Ann Jakubowski, the Bone Marrow Transplant team, and especially the 8th Floor nurses.

We also deeply appreciate all the support of our family and friends over the last several months and during this time of grieving.