Thomas Kaczmarek

Thomas Kaczmarek was a man who accomplished many things and pursued numerous passions. But no matter where his work or interests took him, his family said, his love for his childhood home of Montauk always remained. 
In addition to earning two Bronze Stars and other honors for heroism during his Army service in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968, Mr. Kaczmarek worked for 29 years as a Nassau County police officer before retiring in 2002 with a rank of sergeant. 
A graduate of Dowling College who earned a master’s degree from Stony Brook University, he remained an enthusiastic reader and collector of first-edition books throughout his life.
Along the way, Mr. Kaczmarek also explored gourmet cooking, photography, painting, leatherwork, welding, jewelry making, and, most of all, ceramics — eventually building his own raku kiln, which was a spinoff of his interest in all things Japanese. 
He toyed with playing the drums, keyboard, and ukulele. For exercise, he favored biking, yoga, golf, and paddleboarding. He was a skilled fisherman who tied his own flies and a sailor who participated in the 500th anniversary re-enactment of the sailing of Christopher Columbus’s fleet, traveling on board the Niña from New York to Corpus Christi, Tex.
Mr. Kaczmarek’s love of Japanese culture also led him to join the Society for Creative Anachronism, and even attend its annual gatherings in Pennsylvania in which he dressed in period Japanese clothing and engaged in related cultural activities, including throwing axes and the atlatl, a kind of spear, and archery. He eventually fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Japan with his son before illness struck.
Mr. Kaczmarek, who was 74, died of glioblastoma on Jan. 18 in Cary, N.C. 
Mr. Kaczmarek and his parents enjoyed distinction in Montauk as the Hoppin Avenue “pioneers” because they were the first family to build a house on their block, they said. Throughout his life, he spent as much time as possible at his childhood home, and continued to after his own children were born. 
He was born to Julius Kaczmarek and Marie Herzog Kaczmarek on Sept. 3, 1944, in Bay Shore, and grew up in East Northport.
Mr. Kaczmarek is survived by his “high school crush” and later life partner, Edna Beeman. He is also survived by his second wife, Roxanne Reynolds of Raleigh, N.C., their children, Michele Correll of Woodstock, Md., and Christopher Kaczmarek of New York City, and by two granddaughters. He leaves two stepfamily members, Lori Larrea and Gustavo Larrea of Valrico, Fla., and their two children.
A memorial service will be held this fall in Montauk at a date to be determined, at which time Mr. Kaczmarek’s ashes will be scattered.
The family has suggested that memorial donations be made to the preservation of the Montauk Light-house.