John Robinson Vunk (1874 - 1946)

Born 1874 in Virgil, New York

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 30 Jul 1946 at about age 72 in Patchogue, Suffolk, New York, United States

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Biography

John was born in 1874. Judge John Vunk Dies in Patchogue Former Supreme Court Justice John R. Vunk died Tuesday morning In his home at 286 North Ocean Avenue , Patchogue . He was 72 yours old. Born in Virgil . N. Y., a son of Ly- man D , and Antoinette C . Robinson Vunk , both school teachers , Justice Vunk was a graduate of the Cortland Normal School. In September , 1897 , he came to Suffolk County to take a $9-n-week position as a teacher In the Swan Creek Grade School In East Patchogue , where he remained for 2 years ,transferring then to the Brookhaven Grade School , six miles east of Patchogue , where he taught for four years . Meanwhile he had become active in Democratic politics and in 1901 was elected a Justice of the Peace, and in 1902 re-elected. In 1903 he retired as a teacher, and began studying law in the Patchogue office of Robert Pelleteau, later Surrogate of sukkolk County. in 1908 he was admitted to the bar.

Former County Judge John R. Vunk of Suffolk County, who was appointed a Supreme Court justice by Governor Roosevelt on July 9, 1932 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Lewis Smith. He served until the following January.

On October 11, 1937, Governor Lehman appointed Justice Vunk District Attorney of Suffolk County to fill a vacancy.

Justice Vunk was the first Democratic District Attorney of Suffolk In 15 years. He became his party's candidate for District Attorney in the November election three weeks later and made an unexpectedly close race, losing to Frederick J. Munder, Republican, by only 600 votes. On April 20, 1940, his 66th birthday, Justice Vunk was elected Democratic leader of Suffolk County. On August, 1942, he was succeeded by Robert H. Hairston of Melville. For many years he was senior member of the Patchogue law firm of Vunk & Carleton, but in recent years he practiced by himself, the windows , and doors of his office being lettered "Ex-Ex-Ex Judge Vunk." Justice Vunk leaves a widow, the former Edith Ginnochio; a daughter, Mrs. Cynthia Mclnemey, and threesons ,John R Jr., Stephen O. and 'Hubbard J. Vunk. all of Patchogue. THE SUFFOLK COUNTY NEWS, SAYVILLE, N. Y. FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1946

Sources

• 1920 census

family record