Howard R. Meinke of Laurel died September 18, 2014 in auto accident in Greenport. He was 86 years old.
Born August 27, 1928 in Rockville Centre, he was the son of Howard and Martha Meinke.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952 and was a building contractor, operating Meinke Associates of Trumball, Connecticut.
He was a past president of the North Fork Environmental Council and a tireless advocate for the environment. He is remembered by friends and family as a man who was passionate about preserving the North Fork’s natural beauty. (See story.) He was a past commodore of the Mattituck Yacht Club and a past president of the Connecticut State Home Builders Association. He enjoyed sailing, golfing, tennis and skiiing, his family said.
Meinke is survived by his wife Margaret (nee Van Winkle) and children Jeffrey Meinke, Nancy Morrell and Janice Dunbar. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
There will be a celebration of his life on Saturday, September 27 at 1 p.m. at the Mattituck Yacht Club. Memorial donations may be made to the North Fork Environmental Council or the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund.
Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue.
