Man allegedly killed by girlfriend’s jealous ex in LI mansion murder died trying to save her, family says at gut-wrenching funeral

The Long Island man allegedly shot to death alongside his girlfriend by her jealous ex-husband was remembered at his Tuesday funeral as someone who loved his kids, the gym and sports — and died trying to protect the woman he loved.

Hundreds of mourners packed St. Elizabeth’s Church in Melville to weep for Kenneth Pohlman, the 53-year-old father-of-three who died last Wednesday when deranged gunman Daniel Coppola murdered him and the “love of his life,” Kelly Coppola, inside their St. James home just before midnight.

“Kenny, I have written you three poems before / each one was a poem of joy,” his devastated mom Dorothy said, reciting a poem to her son in a heartbreaking eulogy.

“This one has a different twist / how do I say goodbye to my first baby boy?

“I have so many memories of you / I don’t know where to start / but as many as there are / they will never fill the hole in my heart,” she read.

“You were so proud of all your children / when you spoke of them / you would beam / now, by the hand of a monster, you were taken / all I want to do is scream.”

Alabama sets execution date for convicted ax murderer Derrick Dearman

Dorothy’s said her son loved sports and he met his childhood sweetheart and eventual wife, Kim, when his family moved to Brentwood.

The couple had two children together — Brianna and Tyler — before Kim died of cancer in 2006.

Pohlman dated other women over the years, and had another daughter in 2009 but his relationships were never “right” — until he met Kelly, said Pohlman’s dad, Kenneth, Sr.

“They were soulmates,” Kenneth said. “People kept calling them boyfriend and girlfriend. They weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend. You’d go in their house, they were in love.

“And my son — and anybody who played football or baseball [with] Kenny [knows] — his last act in his life was selfless, trying to protect the woman he loved … my son was a hero.”

Boyfriend, 54, charged with murder after girlfriend’s remains found under firepit he became ‘territorial’ about

The double-murder has shocked the quiet North Shore town, which the Wall Street Journal once described as a “quaint and historic hamlet” where people know each other’s names, birthdays and everything else about each other.

Authorities say Daniel Coppola busted into the couple’s $1.1 million home and gunned down Pohlman and his ex in a hallway.

“While they were in a state of undress, he fired on them with a semiautomatic handgun, taking their lives,”  Assistant District Attorney Eric Aboulafia said in court.

Coppola allegedly told his terrified daughter — whom he’d lured out of the same house with a text message — that he’d just killed the couple, then left.

Cops arrested him at his own home in St. James, then forced him into a mental health evaluation after he talked about committing suicide.

The district attorney said the gun-wielding madman admitted to killing the couple.

He’s been held without bail since his arrest.

Family members said Daniel Coppola had been abusive and a “maniac” toward his ex-wife.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR METRO DAILY NEWSLETTER

He had also typed out letters that detailed his wicked reasons for the murders, including blaming Kelly for financial woes, the prosecutor said.

But Kelly found unending happiness once she met Pohlman, according to her father John Patton.

“The joy radiated around her, she was smiling all the time and to have this happen is such a tragedy,” he said. “I cannot even speak — my whole family, his family, the sorrow we are feeling is overwhelming. I just can’t get over this.”

Pohlman’s family is equally heartbroken.

At his funeral, his brother, Tom, recalled how he would always poke fun at his gym rat brother whenever they saw each other.

“There would often be long periods of time without seeing each other,” Tom, who lives in New Jersey, said.

“When we did, I would often ask Kenny what was wrong – what did he hurt? Why was it that he hadn’t been going to the gym?” he said, as if his brother was noticeably losing muscle.

“Meanwhile, he’d been going to the gym seven days a week.”

For the latest metro stories, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/metro/