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Gary David Kukes

September 24, 1941 - October 02, 2024
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Thellea Leveque

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Posted by:

Thellea Leveque

Report Obit

Gary David Kukes

September 24, 1941 - October 02, 2024

Gary David Kukes, MD, PhD, 83, passed away on October 2, 2024.
 
Gary was born on September 24, 1941 in Detroit, Michigan, to Beatrice (Winsen) and Joseph Kukes. Growing up in Detroit shaped who he was and he often reminisced fondly about the old days in the neighborhood, sharing stories about antics with his siblings and his pack of first cousins. At age 19, he moved to California, living there for 54 years before settling down in Rochester, Minnesota in 2015 for retirement. Gary welcomed his cherished daughter, Thellea in 1974. Gary partnered with his loving wife, Lynn, in 1980, and they spent 44 wonderful years together.
 
Gary graduated from Mumford High School in 1959 and went on to UCLA, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Zoology, his Ph.D. in Neuroanatomy, followed by his Medical Degree in 1977. Gary completed his residency in Pathology at UCLA in 1981.  To honor their commitment to the importance of education, Gary and Lynn established and endowed the Kukes Trainee Travel Award to support graduate students in neurobiology at UCLA. Gary worked as a pathologist at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System for 28 years and held an academic appointment at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
 
Gary loved to learn and was endlessly curious about the world of nature, science, medicine and history. He was an amateur astronomer who enjoyed space photography and even built a miniature telescope observatory on his deck in California. He was also a stamp and coin collector, diving into American history through these hobbies.  Gary’s keen interest in mental health and the human psyche helped him navigate his sometimes unquiet mind. He was always striving for deeper understanding and truth.
 
Gary placed a high value on lifelong learning, but he also made time for fun and family. He was an avid hockey and baseball fan, especially cheering on the Detroit Tigers. He was a loving and zany dad to Thellea, sharing everything from bowling outings and trips to the Santa Monica pier to Woody Allen movies, Jewish deli brunches, and visits to the UCLA medical library. Gary had a wonderfully quirky and silly sense of humor that could bring a bit of wildness to every moment all while being sincere and wise in ways that left a lasting impact on everyone around him.
 
In 2013, Gary met his real-life angel and organ donor, Lisa Kutzke. Lisa’s selfless kidney donation to Gary gave him an additional 11 years of time on earth to spend with family and dear friends. In honor of Lisa and her late brother, Mark, Gary and Lynn provided support to her hometown medical charity organization, 4PeteSake, in Spring Green, Wisconsin and the ties between the Kutzke and Kukes families will forever remain strong. 
 
Gary is survived by his wife Lynn Sandweiss Kukes; daughter and son-in-law Thellea Kukes Leveque and JC Leveque; first wife, Dixie Kukes Noble and her son, Kelly Day; grandchildren Ansel Kukes Leveque and Sabina Kukes Leveque; sister Nance Kukes; brother and sister-in-law Roger Kukes and Linnea Gilson; siblings-in-law Joan Bernard, James Sandweiss and Paul Sandweiss; and angel kidney donor Lisa Kutzke and family. Gary was preceded in death by his father Joseph Kukes; his mother and stepfather Beatrice and Samuel Goldstein; cousin Andrew Kukes, and sister Toby (Kukes) Alves.
 
Contributions in lieu of flowers in Gary's memory can be made to 
The International Dark Sky Discovery Center
 https://darkskycenter.org/donate/
This organization’s goal is to inspire future scientists and people of all ages to understand how important dark skies are for the well-being of humans, plants, and animals, and for opening a window to the observable universe.
 
Memorial Service 
Sunday November 24, 2024 10:00AM
Ira Kaufman Chapel
Southfield, MI

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Condolences 3

Thellea Leveque From Dixie Noble: Gary was a wonderful man. Although our marriage didn’t last, he was a fantastic dad to our daughter, Thellea, and I have many fond memories of our time together. We met in a medical research lab. He was handsome and had a brilliant mind. During the first 3 years, we had a wonderful relationship, mostly fun and some times serious. It was strenuous for both of us, as he completed his PhD in brain research. He was friends with his colleagues who were quite impressed with his expanse and depth of knowledge. After 3 years of our companionship, we were married in 1972. He decided to become a medical doctor. We applied to several med schools, but UCLA, familiar with his abilities, grabbed him before any other school could accept him. He was allowed to skip the first year of med school, because he was asked to teach histology for first year students. Here are some outstanding events in our time together. We watched the first landing on the moon, he encouraged me to complete my BA in art, opened a boutique in Brentwood, shared brain research, and had a lovely bungalow high in Beverly Glen Canyon. Later, we lived in a studio apartment in Santa Monica. We attended many enjoyable entertainment events. He loved sports, ice hockey and baseball. In 1973, we spoke of having a child. When Thellea Joelle Kukes was born, it was pure joy. We successfully completely a natural childbirth, November 24, 1974, 11:15 AM. When Thellea was about 3 years old, we attended med school graduation. After she had seen a couple of graduations, she insisted on wearing her Black Mickey Mouse hat to his graduation. Commonly, a med school family experiences some very stressful times. We had an amicable divorce with carefully arranged dad’s visitations. After a couple of years, Gary met a lovely young woman, Lynn. Lynn adored Thellea, and was happy when Thellea visited. Thellea gave Lynn the name, Mitu , (2nd Mom). We have a good relationship and I’m very grateful to her for sharing our care of Thellea. Thellea visited just a few weeks before Gary passed away. Thellea walked into his room. Gary open his arms wide when he saw her and said, “this is the best day of my life!”, his last words of love for her. OOO May he walk in light, beauty, love and knowledge throughout eternity. Dixie Kukes Noble
17 days ago

Carol Eisenshtadt Gary and I went to Hampton Elementary School together. He was a very special person to me. I remember his Bar mitzvah. We had dinner with him and his wife before our 50th high school reunion. He will always be in our hearts.
about 1 month ago

Thellea Leveque From Bob Weiner: What a wonderful obituary and tribute to Gary. I first met him when we were freshman and in the same fraternity at the University of Michigan. He moved to California and left the magnificent winters in Ann Arbor. We reconnected many years later when he joined the Department of Pathology at the VA medical Center in Long Beach where I held a position in the Nephrology Section and Division of Nephrology, at the University of California, Irvine. Over the years Gary and I frequently had lunch together and shared our mutual wackiness. When he would go home, Lynn often would say "You must have had lunch today with Bob". In addition to his lighter side, Gary was intensely serious about a number of subjects in the political and social spheres. Also, I remember how proud he was of family and friends, but especially Lynn and Thellea. Although there were times when we were distant, I will always remember him as a true friend. Thank you for sending the meaningful tribute to Gary. Bob the Elder Winer (aka, Leibel ben Yosef)
about 1 month ago

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