Hamptons builder, kin & pilot on doomed flight

AN EAST Hampton builder to the stars died with his wife, their grandson and a pilot Saturday after his small plane crashed into the waters off the coast of Long Island.

Bernard Krupinski, 70 — who built sprawling homes for celebrities like Martha Stewart and Billy Joel — was in the plane with his wife, Bonnie Krupinski, 70, their grandson, William Maerov, 22, and pilot Jon Dollard, 47, when the aircraft went down.

The Piper PA31 Navajo crashed at around 3 p.m. about one mile off Indian Wells Beach near Amagansett, authorities said. The National Weather Service said thunderstorms were moving through the area at the time.

Loved ones took to Facebook Saturday night to express their grief.

“Bonnie, you left us TOO soon, along with Ben and Will...life will never be the same...we are all crying!” Carolyn Miller Kotler posted, along with photographs of the Krupinskis and Maerov. “This family WAS East Hampton...huge loss for so many!”

Sheila Anne Smith shared a picture of Maerov from his LinkedIn page, accompanied by the words, “I love you Will.”

East Hampton lifeguards recovered one body from the plane, authorities reported.

The Coast Guard said it had recovered a second body.

“The search is ongoing for the remaining two people,” said U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman Lt. Alaina Fagan.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.

Members of the East Hampton Town Police, East Hampton Town Marine Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard temporarily suspended the search for the aircraft Saturday night. They will resume efforts Sunday morning, officials said.

Krupinski was a partner in three popular East End eateries, 1770 House, Cittanuova and East Hampton Point and was a co-owner of the exclusive East Hampton Golf Club.

He was slated to put a $42.5 million oceanfront home in Bridgehampton, N.Y., on the market Tuesday, according to the real estate website Mansion Global.

Maerov, a Georgetown grad, is son of the Krupinskis’ daughter Laura and her ex-husband Lance Maerov — the executive vice president of the marketing company WPP Group.

He was scrutinized for how he handled contract negotiations as a board member of portly pervert Harvey Weinstein’s scandal-ridden former company.

Laura Krupinski was reportedly estranged from her parents after accusing her father of having an affair with Stewart.