Kevin Gulash

Gulash, Kevin
On December 5, 2012, four days before his 57th birthday and 35 years after successfully battling cancer, Kevin Joseph Gulash died from pulmonary complications related to the life saving radiation treatment that had enabled him to live so many happy and exciting years with his wife, Diane, in his adopted home of Ecuador. His wife and constant companion, Diane Hillis, was with him at the time of his death. He died in Ecuador, not far from his home and restaurant, The Whale Café, located on the beach of his beloved fishing village, Puerto Lopez. He was a 1974 graduate of Notre Dame High School and an alumnus of Humboldt University in Arcata, California. Kevin was unflinchingly honest and brave in confronting his illness and did his best to prepare his loved ones for the inevitable progression of his illness. Like a certain well-known former Yankee, he considered himself the luckiest person in the world. He had faced near-death at the early age of 22 and considered the past 35 years a well-lived bonus. He had no regrets and would have changed nothing about his life. He approached his death as he did his life, fearlessly. Over the years, his siblings and many of his nieces and nephews and extended family were privileged to have joined Kevin and Diane for adventures in their adopted country. Later this month, his family will join Diane in Ecuador to celebrate the enviable life of Puerto Lopez's El Medio Loco Gringo, Don Kevin Gulash. Kevin is survived by his wife, Diane Hillis, his four sisters, Bonnie Coape-Arnold of Brooklyn, New York, Jill Archambault of Katy, Texas, Nancy Gulash of Hamden, Connecticut, and Peggy Ceponis of Ridgefield, Connecticut and two brothers, Attorney John R. Gulash of Fairfield, Connecticut and Peter Gulash of Reno, Nevada. He is also survived by his brothers- and sisters-in-law, numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Dr. John R. Gulash and Anne Gulash of Easton, Connecticut. The entire family fully appreciates the kind words and support that they have received from everyone since Kevin's death.