Thursday, October 1, 2026
After 36 days, more than 750 miles and countless hours of navigating traffic and drastically changing weather, Don Pupke, originally from Valley Stream but now a resident of Malverne, has returned home.
Pupke, 66, completed his cross-state walk from Buffalo, in western New York, to Montauk Point earlier this month, accomplishing a goal he had pondered for years. But his return to Malverne was about more than reaching the finish line. The final stretch brought him back to the village he has called home for 35 years and the community he set out to support.
Pupke’s walk raised money for American Legion Post 44, a longtime Malverne gathering place that has hosted meetings, community events and elections for generations. The funds will help pay for improvements to the Legion hall, including upgraded lighting, renovated bathrooms and a new kitchen.
“I love Malverne,” Pupke said. “I’ve spent my whole adult life here, for the most part, and all I want to do is do good for my village.”
Pupke is also an active member of the Valley Stream Lion’s Club.
The final miles of his trek, on Long Island, proved to be some of the most difficult. Pupke encountered busy roads, long stretches without sidewalks, guardrails that became obstacles and fast-moving traffic. He ultimately walked about 75 miles along Montauk Highway, often with little room between himself and passing vehicles.
Long Island’s roads weren’t the only obstacle. Pupke also endured heavy rain and extreme heat. Despite the challenging conditions, he continued toward his Montauk goal.
As he made his way east, Pupke’s walk developed a following of its own. Supporters tracked his progress on social media, often checking in if he missed a daily update. Along the route, strangers offered him food, water, places to stay and words of encouragement.
He was also surprised by how often people recognized him. Drivers stopped to wish him well, residents approached him along the route, and many who had followed his journey online came out of their homes to cheer him on.
That support culminated when Pupke returned to Malverne on Aug. 7. Dozens of residents gathered at Crossroads Farm at Grossmann’s, where members of Post 44, the village board and the Malverne Fire Department welcomed him home. Firefighters raised a large American flag over the finish line on Hempstead Avenue as Pupke completed the final steps of his journey.
“This is who we are as a community,” Mayor Timothy Sullivan said. “He’s a man of all seasons for us.”
“We feel very privileged that Don would want to come back here, and we could welcome him home,” Michael D’Angelo, operations manager at Crossroads Farm, said. “It lets us know how important we are to the community, and how important we are to Don.”
The Legion has deep personal significance for Pupke. His parents met there at a high school dance before graduating from Valley Stream Central High School in 1949, and he later joined the organization as the son of a veteran.
The fundraiser took shape after Pupke volunteered as a poll worker at the Legion hall during the 2024 presidential election. After seeing the building’s needs and discussing them with fellow Legion member Dan Kerning, he decided to turn his long-planned walk into a way to give back.
The trek became a test of endurance. After beginning the journey unsure whether he could manage even two consecutive days of walking, Pupke finished all 36 feeling stronger than when he started.
“It feels amazing, I’m so happy that I got it done,” he said after finishing. “Instead of feeling weak and pathetic, I feel stronger.”
His return marked another chapter in a lifetime of service to Malverne. Pupke has served as deputy mayor, police commissioner and fire commissioner, and has coached Little League baseball and lacrosse.
Throughout the journey, he never lost sight of the community that inspired it. Donors included longtime friends, neighbors and residents he met in his decades of public service, while supporters from across Long Island followed his progress.
After more than a month on the road, Pupke’s journey ended where much of his motivation began — at home in Malverne. His walk not only fulfilled a personal goal, but also raised support for an institution that has served generations of village residents.
As of press time, Pupke was $1,000 away from reaching his $25,000 fundraising goal. For more information, visit EmpireStateWalk.org.
