In Memory of

Peter

Karabin

Obituary for Peter Karabin

WATERVLIET - Retired New York State Police Technical Sergeant Peter Karabin, 74, of Watervliet, NY, died peacefully on Friday morning, September 21, 2018.

The son of Ukrainian forced laborers Ivan and Maria Karabin, Peter was born during an Allied bombing raid in Hochstadt am Main, Germany in 1944. After the end of World War II, Peter, his parents and sister Anne lived in displaced person camps in Kulmbach, Bayreuth and Munich before immigrating to the United States of America in 1948, entering at Ellis Island and settling in Watervliet. Peter, an altar boy and Watervliet Little League star, graduated from St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Parochial School in Watervliet and La Salle Institute Military High School in Troy, NY.

After graduating high school in 1962, Peter enlisted in the U.S. Navy, sailing the world and the coast of Vietnam aboard the minesweeper USS Impervious. After his honorable discharge in 1965 as a Petty Officer, 2nd Class, Peter attended Siena College in Latham, NY. In 1969, Peter joined the U.S. Merchant Marine and sailed the Atlantic, before marrying Tuula Karabin of Helsinki, Finland and joining the New York State Capitol Police. Peter's service included several years on the governor's desk before retiring from the New York State Police as a technical sergeant in 1998.

He was an avid reader and student of history, photographer, motorcyclist, and Siena college sports enthusiast and fan, and especially loved discussing politics and history with his many wonderful family and friends from Watervliet to Australia.

Peter is survived by his former spouse, Tuula Karabin of Albany, NY; his children: Viktor (Mayumi) Karabin of South Burlington, VT and Mira (Mark) Khan of Hartsdale, NY; his granddaughters: Naomi and Sabina Karabin; and Aurelia and Eveliina Khan; his brothers: Stephan (Ola) Karabin of Stuttgart, Germany; Robert Karabin of Greenville, SC; and Billy (Dee) Karabin of Watervliet; his nieces and nephews: Anita (Rob) Hanson of Latham, NY; Stephan (Jenny Lynn) Karabin II of Okinawa, Japan; Zoryanna (Tim) Siemer of Reynoldsburg, OH; Franco Rua of Troy, NY, Daniel Karabin of Watervliet; Jennifer (Rocky) McDonald of Richmond, VA; Chris and Michael Karabin of Greenville, SC; and Max Karabin of Carteret, NJ.

Uncle Peter loved to spend time with his wonderful granddaughters, nieces and nephews, and friends. His brother Johnny, parents and loving sister Anne (Rua) preceded him in Eternity.

Friends are invited to call at the Parker Bros. Memorial, 2013 Broadway, Watervliet on Thursday, September 27 from 4 to 7 pm with the Parastas service at 6 pm. The funeral will be Friday, September 28 at 10 am at the Parker Bros. Memorial with mass at 10:30 am at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 2410 4th Avenue, Watervliet. Interment will follow with military honors at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery at 200 Duell Road, Schuylerville, NY 12871.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church. Condolence book at ParkerBrosMemorial.com.

Affiliations


American

New York State Police

Ukrainian Flag

United States Merchant Marine

US Navy