Today our hearts mourn the loss of Maurice "Kuch" Kuchar, a man among men. Kuch died peaceably in Madison, CT on Friday March 11, 2016. Maurice Kuchar was born in 1926 in Manchester NH, and was one of five children born to Ukrainian immigrants. He celebrated his 90th birthday last week, with a surprise visit from his beloved granddaughters from Austin, Texas, Catherine, and Molly, who shares her grandfather's date of birth.

Kuch joined the U.S. Navy at 17 years old, and he was stationed in the Pacific theater during WWII. When he returned home, he attended Dartmouth College and the University of New Hampshire. His lucky day was the day of the Sadie Hawkins day at UNH, when Jeannette Matthews invited him to her Sorority Beach Party. Thus began a 66-year-plus love story, as the Chi Omega and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fell in love.

After graduation, Kuch accepted a position with General Motors Acceptance Corporation. His work ethic, his devotion to the company, and his desire to do the best for his family saw him transferred throughout New England and New York. When GMAC promoted him to Control Branch Manager for Southern Connecticut, Jay and Kuch knew they were here to stay, in Madison, CT.

One of his greatest joys was the team of 4 he made with his wife Jay, three boys , Pete, Mark & Gregg and daughter Nancy. Best days were family get-togethers where Kuch, and his three boys, would play each other "for a quarter" in golf or tennis. Kuchar was an extraordinary sportsman blessed with superior hand-eye coordination. A high school and college football star at UNH, when he entered the corporate milieu of GMAC for 38 years, he transferred his talents to the golf course. Little did he know his days on the course with his VanPatten Gang in NY, or his Madison Country Club buddies, would ultimately lead him to the Masters.

Jay and Kuch spent the winter months of their initial retirement years in Fort Myers Florida, where Kuch enjoyed picking tomatoes and playing golf. More recently, winter months were spent in Ponte Vedra, Florida, where he loved the library, senior center bridge, and the Chapel at Ponte Vedra church service on the beach.

He loved the Winter Club in Madison, CT, for so many reasons, namely the camaraderie. There he and Jay were surprised by his whole family on their 40th wedding anniversary, there his daughter Nancy had her wedding reception, there, so many great meals and good laughs were had

An avid gardener, Kuchar was known throughout the New Hampshire lakes region where the family summered on Newfound Lake, for his famous half sour pickles. There will always be a place in his heart for Camp Wulamat, where he took his family for close to 60 years, forged many friendships, won many horseshoe and cribbage contests, and wore out many a bathing suit.

He often compared his life to his favorite movie "Fiddler on The Roof," and could, at a moments notice, snap his fingers, dance like Tevye, and hum "If I were a Rich Man." Those who knew him will confirm that in fact he was a Rich Man, in the love of his family, the respect of his peers, and his boundless fountain of pride for his grandson Matt, PGA Golfer, for whom he once caddied at the Master's golf tournament.

Maurice "Kuch" Kuchar is survived by his wife, Jeannette "Jay", and his four children: Peter Kuchar and his wife Meg, of Ponte Vedra, Mark Kuchar and his wife Janet, of Rutherfordton, NC, Gregg Kuchar and his wife Mary, of Asheville, NC, and Nancy Kuchar Marsh and her husband Robert Marsh, of Milford, NH. The couple also have seven

grandchildren, the aforementioned Catherine, Molly, and Matt, as well as Rebecca Kuchar Krutz, beloved granddaughter and true Ukrainian Princess, of Novato, California, Virginia Kuchar Blaylock, aka "Ginka", of Greensboro, NC, Lauren Kuchar of Bostic, NC, and Chris Kuchar of Rutherfordton, NC, as well as six great-grandchildren.

A memorial will be held at the First Congregational Church, Madison on April 2, 2016 at 11:00AM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Madison Congregational Church, or the Scranton Library. To sign the online guest book please visit hawleylincolnmemorial.com.