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Dr. Monika Woroniecka, a physician at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. Photo courtesy Stony Brook Medicine

By Daniel Dunaief

Dr. Monika Woroniecka, a physician at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, died on Saturday during a trip with her family to see the eclipse near the Canadian border when she fell out of an Airstream trailer around 3 p.m. on State Route 12E in Watertown, New York.

Woroniecka, 58, was in the trailer with her family while her husband Robert, 59, pulled the trailer in a pick up truck.

Witnesses told police they saw the passenger door of the trailer swing open, helped by the wind, and watched as she hung onto the door before falling, according to a police statement. Woroniecka fell on the side of the road and was taken by Cape Vincent Ambulance to Samaritan Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

“Stony Brook Medicine is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of one of our esteemed colleagues over the weekend, Dr. Monika Woroniecka, a physician at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital,” Stony Brook Medicine officials said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues affected by this heartbreaking event.”

A police spokesman in Watertown, Sgt. Jack Keller, indicated an investigation into how the door came open during travel was continuing.

“In my over 25 years [with the police], I’ve never seen an incident like this,” Sgt. Keller said. “We’re investigating it as an accident.”

The police are still gathering details as they make sure they are “thorough in our investigation,” Sgt. Keller said.

According to New York State Vehicle and Traffic law, it is illegal to ride in a camper in New York unless it has a fifth wheel connection, which provides a rigid connection directly to the frame of the vehicle towing the camper. A camper attached to a vehicle using a ball hitch does not provide that rigid connection during towing.

The camper in the accident had been connected with a ball hitch.

Police sources added that campers towed behind vehicles do not have airbags or seat belts.

Airstream did not return an email for comment.

Dr. Woroniecka had been practicing medicine since the early 2000s and specialized in allergy-immunology. She treated children with food, environmental, medications and bee sting allergies. She also treated childhood asthma and skin conditions like eczema and hives.

Dr. Woroniecka had extensive experience evaluating children for immunity disorders and frequent infections, a Stony Brook Medicine page indicated.

Dr. Woroniecka’s native language was Polish. Some of her patients from Polish-speaking families traveled considerable distances to meet with her.

Her profile on Stony Brook Medicine indicated she “enjoys working with children and their families and developing a long-term relationship with families while guiding them through chronic allergy-related conditions,” She also indicated she liked to travel, hike, exercise and spend time with family and friends.

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Barbara Fine with Jerry her husband of more than 60 years. Photo courtesy Doug Fine

Barbara Fine, a resident of Setauket for more than half a century, passed away March 21. She is the mother of Ken, Rob and Doug; grandmother of Leah, Ethan, Quinn and Zach; the mother-in-law of Dionne and Amanda; and is also survived by her brother Steve.

After being raised in New York City and Long Beach, Barbara attended the University of Michigan at age 15, and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania after transferring. A voracious reader, she later earned two master’s degrees, and taught for 40 years as a reading specialist in the William Floyd school district. 

She believed in the power of journalism, and organized annual field trips with students to Long Island newspapers. She was a strict grammarian who encouraged correct diction around the home and classroom. Her son Rob said, “She was gifted in all academic subjects, including science and math.”

She was also a founding member of Temple Isaiah in Stony Brook. Known for her sense of humor, she loved Pink Panther movies and once submitted a salad recipe to the Village Times reading, “Take lettuce, add dressing.” Her son Doug said, “I probably wouldn’t have become a writer without her upbringing.”

In her leisure time, she loved to travel and visited every continent, including Antarctica. An avid tennis player despite childhood polio, she often could be seen jogging around the Setauket Mill Pond, near which she lived with her high school sweetheart and husband of more than 60 years, Jerry, who passed away in December.

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William Blackwood. Photo courtesy Mary Grace Blackwood

Prepared by Mary Grace Blackwood

William Blackwood, of Port Jefferson, passed away on Feb. 22. He was 94 years young. Bill lived a long, happy and adventurous life with a personality and wit that endeared him to everyone he met. Bill leaves behind a legacy of perseverance and humor in the face of adversity and a family that will be forever grateful for his love and attention. He often told us, “Life is not a rehearsal, this is the play.”  

Bill was a lineman for LILCO and owner of Great River Electric, the largest swimming pool wiring company on Long Island in the 1970s. An avid long-distance swimmer, Bill also worked as a lifeguard at Sunken Meadow Beach.

A talented actor, Bill performed for many years at Long Island community theaters and later as an actor in residence at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. 

Bill is survived by his wife, Mary Grace; daughters and sons-in-law Jamie and Ron Burns, Bonnie and Roy MacDonald, and Laurie and Edward Lorch; grandchildren Justin Lorch and wife Lisa Evac, Rebecca Lorch and Michael Post; and brothers-in-law and wives Rosario and Kathie Lazzaro, and Tom and Christina Lazzaro and all their children. 

A celebration of life is being held June 10, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Theatre Three in Port Jefferson.

Please email Mary Grace if you’d like to attend at: [email protected].

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Barbara Belle Zorn Winkler. Photo courtesy Kathy Leon

Prepared by Kathy Leon

Barbara Belle Zorn Winkler passed away from endometrial cancer on Feb. 10 in Stony Brook at the age of 84. She was a loving mother, a devoted nurse and a cherished member of her community.

Barbara was born in Nutley, New Jersey, and moved to Long Island after graduating from Ave Maria St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Florida in 1960. She worked at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson from 1964 to 1973 and excelled there as obstetrics supervisor and later night supervisor of the hospital. She also worked at Regina Residence in Port Jefferson, a home for unwed mothers. She became the school nurse at R.C. Murphy Jr. High School in Stony Brook from 1977 to 1996.

She is survived by her daughters Kathryn “Kathy” Winkler Leon, Nancy Winkler Brogan and Elizabeth “Liz” Rios; sons Erik and Kurt Kirkman; brother Barry Zorn; sister-in-law Lydia Zorn; and grandchildren Andres Leon Miller, Malakai Leon, Sierra Leon, Audrey Brogan, Bradyn Brogan, Stella Rios and Ellie Rios. She was preceded in death by her mother Elizabeth “Betty” Brady Zorn, Frederick “Fred” Zorn and fiancé James “Jim” Kirkman.

A Mass will be celebrated at St. James R.C. Church in Setauket on Friday, April 5, at 10:45 a.m., followed by a celebration of life ceremony from 1 to 5 p.m. at The Setauket Neighborhood House at 95 Main St. Contributions can be made to The V Foundation for Cancer Research (www.v.org) in Barbara’s honor.

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Alex Stubberfield

Prepared by The Stubberfield family

Alex Stubberfield passed away peacefully in Taos, New Mexico, where he had recently relocated from his East Setauket home to take up a position as planning & environmental coordinator with the Bureau of Land Management.

Born in Stony Brook, he grew up locally at his family’s Poquott home and after Ward Melville High School and an undergraduate degree from SUNY Brockport he moved to Virginia to commence a significant academic career at Virginia Tech.

Taking in academic secondments along the way to both Stirling University in Scotland and TU Darmstadt in Germany, Virginia Tech awarded him both a master’s in philosophy and a second master’s in public & international affairs in 2015. He went on to achieve his Ph.D. in social, political, ethical, and cultural thought in 2019, by specializing in environmental politics and working both to understand and evaluate environmental policy. Post-doctorate he worked at Virginia Tech as an adjunct professor for the Department of Political Science & International Studies where he designed and taught classes on global environmental issues. 

Volunteer work included stints with the U.S. Forest Service in Virginia and the U.S. National Park Service here on Long Island at Fire Island National Seashore.

Alex was a great cook, loved to travel and experienced work and leisure throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and Brazil. His passion for the outdoors was expressed through love of hiking and camping in wilderness areas and the beautiful mountains of the Blue Ridge in Virginia. 

His tragic death leaves an extended family in both the U.S. and Europe and a very wide circle of close friends whose love and support he valued so much. He is survived by Denise and Peter, his loving mother and father, and his sister Valerie with whom he shared a special bond.

In lieu of flowers, donations are invited in Alex’s memory to The Nature Conservancy in Virginia at www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/virginia. 

Visitation will be at Moloney Funeral Home, Port Jefferson Station, on Friday, April 19, 2-6 p.m. 

A memorial service will be held at Caroline Church, East Setauket, on Saturday, April 20, 10-11 a.m.

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Susan Bebb Seel. Photo courtesy Wylie Hunt

Prepared by Wylie Hunt

Susan Bebb Seel passed away after an eight-year battle with cancer on Feb. 29 in Stony Brook, surrounded by a loving family. 

Sue was born on March 27, 1950, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was raised by Hellen and Dr. Kenneth Bebb in Wichita Falls, Texas. After living in the Washington, D.C., area, Sue moved to Stony Brook in 1994. She attended Wichita Falls public schools and graduated from the University of Texas with a master’s degree in speech pathology and audiology.

In the D.C. area, she was a founder of Rivendell School. Sue had a vision for unique ways of educating children. She poured her heart into developing a curriculum that reflected her faith and interest in literature, history, art and music. She was always an avid reader and member of the same book club of lovely ladies in Stony Brook for more than 30 years.

In 1996 she received certification as a life coach and coached clients of all ages. She coached clients at John T. Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, The Stony Brook School and countless others all over the country. She will be remembered as someone who received life from encouraging and inspiring others. Sue’s greatest joy came from relationships with family and friends. 

Her motto was “Show up and connect.” She did that well and to her fullest capacity even with stage 4 cancer. Sue loved to hear other people’s stories and was a shining light to everyone who met her. Her passion and love for people was unsurpassed. Sue and Spencer shared that enthusiasm and compassion in their community outreach and in their business, Made to Move Tennis & Wellness. In conversations with her husband, sharing their faith about God’s design for us to be healthy and to move, the name of the club, Made to Move, came into being. Sue loved to move. She was a triathlete, and before she competed in triathlons, she was a tennis player and active every year at summer camp.

As a member of Caroline Episcopal Church in Setauket for 28 years, she was passionate about music and sang in the choir. Sue also led adult education classes and Bible study; taught Sunday School; volunteered for Vacation Bible School; was active in Long Island Episcopal Cursillo, a program that seeks to grow Christ-centered leaders to fulfill the mission of the church; and made many, many prayer shawls and meals for those in need.

In 2016, before being diagnosed with cancer. she and her husband started The Village Spot, a nonprofit organization committed to helping young people, ages 18 to 30, who might be struggling to find a career or a meaningful place in their communities.

She leaves behind her husband, Spencer Edelbaum; her sons, David and Alex Seel; her daughter-in-law Erin Seel; her grandchildren, Ian and Eliza Seel; her cousins, Carolyn Kelly, Beth Russell, Louise Ratz and her second cousin, Susan Hernly Reed. Sue was preceded in death by her parents, Hellen and Kenneth Bebb, and her brother, Richard Bebb.

A memorial service will be held at Caroline Episcopal Church, 1 Dyke Road, Setauket, on Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m. The service will be live streamed, with the link on the church’s website: www.carolinechurch.net.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Rivendell School, 2410 N. Kensington St., Arlington, VA 22205; Caroline Episcopal Church, 1 Dyke Road, Setauket, NY 11733; or GIST Cancer Research Fund at gistinfo.org.

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Mary Ellen Niciu. Photo courtesy Legacy.com

Prepared by Christine Mackowiak

Mary Ellen Niciu, 83, of East Setauket passed away March 3 at Sunrise Senior Living in East Setauket where she had been in residence in the Memory Care facility since 2019. 

She was born July 10, 1940, in Brooklyn, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Maraia. She married William T. Niciu on July 5, 1964. 

Ellen graduated from SUNY Center on Long Island at Oyster Bay, in 1962 with a bachelor of arts in history. Upon her marriage to Bill, Ellen devoted her life to the care and upbringing of her family. She spent much of her time supporting her two daughters’ extracurricular interests, highlighted in particular by her volunteer time with The Clarkettes of Port Jefferson. 

In the latter portion of her life, Ellen worked for the NYS Department of Labor where her focus was assisting others with obtaining employment. Ellen also volunteered with The Guide Dog Foundation, raising several guide dog puppies. 

She was a dedicated daughter and aunt and adored her many cats. Her three grandchildren, Chris, Nicole and Jessica, were the pride of her life, and she reveled in all of their successes. She was predeceased by her husband of 56 years and beloved sister Rosanne Maraia. She is survived by her two daughters, Christine Mackowiak of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, and Elizabeth Niciu of Columbia, South Carolina; her three grandchildren and her brother Michael Maraia.

 A celebration of the liturgy of Christian burial was held on March 11 at St. James R.C. Church in East Setauket and interment followed at St. James R.C. cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations would be appreciated in her memory to Good Shepherd Hospice at www.catholichealthli.org.

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Vincent A. Smyth, right, aside his son, Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth. Photo courtesy Suffolk County GOP

Prepared by the Suffolk County Republican Committee

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Vincent Smyth, father of Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth.

Join us in expressing our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Smyth family during this difficult time in their lives. The streets of heaven are crowded with one more angel.

Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Vincent A. Smyth to pay a tribute.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 18 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the M.A. Connell Funeral Home in Huntington Station. 

A Mass will be held on Tuesday, March 19, at 10 a.m. at the St. Patricks Church in Huntington.

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Stock photo

Dr. Alfred Ekstrom of Woodstock, Georgia, and formerly of Port Jefferson passed away on Feb. 15 at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center. At the time of his passing, Alfred was surrounded by his loving family. He was 89 years old.

Alfred was born in Guatemala in 1934 to Oliver and Bessie Ekstrom. He came to the United States after the death of his parents at the age of 11. After attending Washington & Jefferson College, he went on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Alfred was a general practitioner, serving Port Jefferson and surrounding towns for over 45 years. He retired in 2006.

Alfred is survived by his son Geoffrey and daughter-in-law Donna, daughter Amy and son-in-law Keith; grandchildren Jamieson and wife Sophie, Karissa, Kelsey and Aubrey; and great-grandchildren Josephine and Oliver.

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Valerie ‘Val’ Rose Kratochvil

Valerie Rose Kratochvil, age 16, suddenly passed away on March 4. Valerie is survived in heartfelt memories by her parents Margaret and Kenneth and her twin sister Laurie. Valerie is also survived by her Aunt Susan, Uncle Scott Sedacca and cousins David and Kristen Sedacca; Uncle Ken Fee and cousin Kerry Fee; Uncle Peter Fee; Aunt Anne and Ray Redeman and cousins Jessica and Kaitlyn Redeman; Uncle Anthony and Aunt Donna Termini and cousins Bella, Joey and Lucy Termini; Aunt Mildred and Uncle Phil Musco. She was predeceased by her grandparents Marilyn and Kenneth Kratochvil, Ann and Matthew Fee, and her great-grandfather Vincent Petrolino.

Valerie was born Nov. 8, 2007, and she brought light into the world instantly. She was 2 minutes older than her twin sister Laurie — and she never let her forget it! 

Valerie was a junior at Smithtown High School East. She was warm, loving, compassionate and the best friend a person could want. Valerie was a brilliant girl; she kept herself to a standard of straight As that she worked incredibly hard to keep in order to pursue her goal of becoming a pharmacist one day. 

She was a member of the Music, French and Social Studies honor societies. She was also on track to be a part of the National Honor Society. 

Valerie had a love for singing that was unmatched. She was also involved in the choir program at her school. She participated in NYSSMA for three years and was in the All-County Choir for two years. 

The high school junior was not only an incredible student and singer but she was an athlete as well. She was on varsity winter and spring track teams, varsity field hockey, Long Island field hockey and other Long Island field hockey club teams. She participated in the Athletes Helping Athletes Club at her school that showcased her dedication to sharing her love of sports with others.

Many friends and family members called her Val. Outside of school Val was an avid reader who adored going to the store to get her next book to read. She had a passion for cooking and baking as well. Val was fashionable and loved to shop for clothes, curl her hair and do makeup. Val was an avid skier and went on many vacations with her family, skiing in Vermont and Lake Tahoe, traveled to the Caribbean and several times to Disney World. 

Valerie brought happiness every single day to those she encountered. She touched the hearts of everyone. Valerie loved life and had the brightest future. Our family is heartbroken and we know Valerie will be with us always. Heaven has gained a beautiful angel. Valerie, we will miss you forever and will remember all of the wonderful memories that you have given us every day for the rest of our lives. We love you, Valerie!

Since Valerie’s passing, loved ones, friends, teammates and community members have offered support to the Kratochvil family. Teammate and friend, Hannah Honor, started a Meal Train for the family, asking for donations and contributions to a meal calendar — providing meals for the family — extending through April. 

Offering additional support Mallory Guerin, director of Long Island Field Hockey, created a GoFundMe page asking for support for Valerie’s family. All donations will go directly to the Kratochvil family to help pay for funeral expenses, meals and any other expenses while they are out of work. To donate visit GoFundMe and search for the Kratochvil family. 

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