The heroic father who died in the Long Island mansion shielded his girlfriend from her ex-husband

Kenneth Pohlman, 53, of Long Island, was honored at his funeral Tuesday after he and his girlfriend were shot and killed by her jealous ex-husband. Pohlman will be remembered as a devoted father who loved his children, sports and the gym. He died trying to protect Kelly Coppola, the “love of his life,” during the violent incident last Wednesday night at their St. James home.

Hundreds gathered at St. Elizabeth's Church in Melville to mourn Pohlman. His mother, Dorothy, delivered a tearful eulogy, sharing memories of her son and expressing the pain of losing her “first little boy.” “You were so proud of all your children,” she read. “Now you've been taken by the hand of a monster. I just want to scream.” Known for his love of sports, Pohlman met his first wife, Kim, in Brentwood, with whom he had two children, Brianna and Tyler. Kim died of cancer in 2006, leaving Pohlman heartbroken.

Pohlman's father, Kenneth Sr., described his son's relationship with Kelly as a soul mate, emphasizing their deep bond. “They weren't just boyfriend and girlfriend,” he said. “They loved each other. And my son died trying to protect her. He was a hero.”

The double murder has rocked the quiet North Shore town of St. James. Authorities say Daniel Coppola, Kelly's ex-husband, broke into the couple's $1.1 million home and shot Pohlman and Kelly in a hallway with a semi-automatic pistol. According to Assistant District Attorney Eric Aboulafia, Coppola shot them while they were naked.

After the shooting, Coppola reportedly told his daughter, whom he had lured out of the house, that he had killed the couple. He was later arrested at his own home in St. James and sent for a psychiatric evaluation after expressing suicidal thoughts. The district attorney reported that Coppola admitted to the murders and has been held without bail since his arrest.

Family members described Coppola as abusive and “crazy” toward Kelly, with his actions driven by personal problems, including financial ones. Kelly's father, John Patton, spoke of her joy with Pohlman. “She was beaming with joy,” he said. “That something like this happened is such a tragedy.”

Pohlman's family is devastated. His brother Tom shared a light-hearted memory of teasing Kenneth about his dedication to the gym. “There were long periods of time when we didn't see each other,” Tom said. “But when we did see each other, I would ask Kenny what he had hurt. And yet he went to the gym seven days a week.”

Pohlman leaves behind three children and countless loved ones who remember him as a selfless protector who died trying to save the woman he loved.