'To Know Paul Was To Love Him': LI Dad Of Marist Student Laid To Rest

EAST NORTHPORT, NY ? Hundreds of people gathered to mourn Paul Kutz on Monday in East Northport.

Bouquets of white flowers were set up in the atrium of St. Anthony Of Padua Church for Kutz's funeral mass, as somber music played while mourners quietly filled every pew in the building to honor the husband and father of three.

"This should not have happened," the priest told everyone in attendance.

He called the mass a celebration of Kutz's life that saw a tragic end.

Kutz was killed on Oct. 2 when he was hit by a stray bullet at a Courtyard by Marriott during a family weekend event hosted by Marist College, police said. Roy A. Johnson Jr., 35, and Devin M. Taylor, 26, were arrested in connection with the shooting.

Kutz, 53, is survived by his wife, Nathalie, and three sons, Matt, Ryan, and Sean.

A eulogy, given by Andrew Kutz, Paul's brother, brought tears to many in the church.

"To know Paul was to love him," Andrew said, adding that Paul was his best friend.

When Paul was born in 1968, his family knew they had an "incredibly special boy," Andrew said. He said his brother had a calm, cheerful disposition. He was kind, undemanding, and soft-spoken. He also had a sharp, dry wit.

Paul once confided with Andrew he was not sure he would ever find a girl who would fall in love with him. That changed when he met Nathalie Landrein, and the two were "instantly smitten," Andrew said.

"You could feel the undying love between them."

That love led to the couple having three sons: Matt and Ryan in 2000, and Sean in 2003. Paul's best traits were inherited by his three sons, according to their uncle.

"It is impossible not to see Paul in his wonderful children," Andrew said of his nephews.

Paul imparted his love of baseball and hockey to his sons. He even coached their Larkfield Little League baseball teams for years.

The Kutz family loved spending time with one another, with the boys eager to spend time with their parents on a Saturday night to play board games.

Paul had a thirst for knowledge, Andrew said, graduating from the College of Holy Cross in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in accounting and economics. He earned a master's degree in taxation in 1993, then received his Certified Public Accountant license in 1991. He had held a Certified Financial Planner license since 1997.

The two brothers formed Kutz & Company in Great Neck together and practiced alongside one another since 1990, specializing in tax and financial planning, as well as investment and wealth management.

Following Andrew's eulogy, the priest encouraged attendees to pray for the Kutz family and celebrate Paul's life through kindness and understanding of one another.

Instead of flowers, donations in Kutz's honor may be made to Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption Center.

A GoFundMe was also set up for the Kutz family by Paul's friend, Philip Talamo. The fundraiser, which has raised more than $69,000 as of Monday, is meant to help fund the college educations of Paul's three boys.

If you would like to donate to help the Kutz family, you may do so here.

"Paul was a wonderful man who cared most about his family and his dogs," Talamo wrote on the fundraiser. "He leaves behind a devoted wife, three sons, and his father, three brothers and their families. The Kutz family has received a tremendous outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and the community. Paul was a kind, gentle, compassionate man who was taken from all of us too soon. The offers to help the Kutz family have been heartfelt and a source of love and comfort during an unimaginable time."

The Long Island community has been mourning Kutz.

Lynn Cromeyn, the band director at Northport High School, taught Matt for four years and Sean for one. She believes Matt's hardworking and politeness came from his father.

"Matt Kutz graduated from Northport High School and was an outstanding member of the Northport Tiger Marching Band Family," Cromeyn said. "Matt was a very talented trumpet player who always gave 100 percent as a musician, as a leader and as a friend. His parents were supportive of all of their endeavors and passions. Our hearts go out to Matt, his brother Sean and their entire family during this difficult time. This is an unspeakable tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with you always. I know, and as hard as this is to write, a part of his dad will live on via his sons."

Paul is also survived by his father, Boleslaus and brothers John Kutz (Nancy), Andrew Kutz (Frances), and Thomas Kutz and their families, as well as his beloved in-laws William and Monique Holden, Roger and Kathleen Landrein and their families.

"Paul?s beautiful presence will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched, from his loving Family, devoted clients, and numerous friends and acquaintances," his obituary on Nolan Funeral Home, Inc., reads. "To know Paul meant to love him, which is why we all hurt so badly as his young life ended so abruptly."