Bob “Cull” Cullings ‘59
Brother • Class of 1964
Bob “Cull” Cullings
January 10, 2010
"Our Hero" Bob is the bridegroom of Belle Goodfellow of Manlius, NY his life partner and closest friend of more than 50 years, who survives him. Bob was a 1959 mechanical engineering graduate of Clarkson College of Technology. Bob also earned an MBA from Syracuse University, and was a registered Professional Engineer. He held executive management positions in Ansonia, CT and Elmira, NY during his career. Bob had a youthful energy and appearance into his 70's. Over the years his passions were marathon running, weight lifting and swimming. He was an accomplished athlete, earning membership in the Glens Falls, NY Sports Hall of Fame as a soccer player. Bob especially enjoyed visiting the beaches of southern Maine with his family. Bob enjoyed the wonder of the nighttime sky, the birds and nature in general, (except for squirrels). His favorite times were outdoors in the fresh air, with the wind on his face, and a demanding physical task at hand, that sought to improve the look of things.
He was a kind man; a strong yet gentle man; totally honest in character. Bob was the son of George Wallace and Ruth Hammond Cullings, born in Saratoga Springs, NY on April 3rd, 1938. Bob was predeceased by his parents, and his three older siblings, David, Ruth Lesslie Miller and Kathryn Purcell Simpson. He is adored by his 4 children, Amy (Pedro) Moreno of Warrenton, VA, Meg Cullings of York Beach, ME, Gregg (Sonja) Cullings of Medina, OH, and Betsy (Rusty) Hauptman of Horseheads, NY. As a parent he is remembered as an interested, loving, patient, advocate, and friend, who always cared. Bob has 8 loving grandchildren as well, whose activities he enjoyed. Peter, Jessica and Daniel Moreno, Madelynn, Brynn and Tarynn Cullings and Whitney, Karl Hauptman and his four legged side kick, Scraggles. The family wishes to gratefully acknowledge the splendid, most compassionate care and loving attention to Bob at Elcor's Colonial Ridge West. Donations in memory of Bob can be sent to the Town & Country Fire Department, 130 Gardner Rd., Horseheads, NY 14845 or Southern Hospice, 11751 E. Corning Rd., Corning, NY 14830.
Some memories and observations about the Athletic and gritty side of Bob from a friend and Clarkson Soccer Teammate.
To understand what Bob meant to Clarkson soccer, you have to know what the program was at Clarkson during mid-late 50's. It was a new program. The season was concentrated with the 1st practice in early Sept and last game early Nov. The team carried around 20 players so that during practice the team could have full scrimmages.
But during the game only 13-15 played, a few came in as substitutes, usually resulting from injury to one of the starting eleven. The starters basically played the full 90 minutes. It’s also important to note that no game or practice was ever cancelled because of poor weather conditions. We played in the rain, sleet, or wind and at least 2 games I remember were played during heavy snow conditions, not unusual for Potsdam at that time of the year.
The Soccer Team had an exceptional Coach, Jack Hantz. He was tough. He was demanding; but he was fair. Like his wrestling teams, he believed all his players should be in top physical shape. A goal which he accomplished. An example might help. Practices were scheduled 5 days a wk for 2-2.5 hrs and in typical Hantz fashion, our last routine would be 7 complete laps around the outside of the Soccer patch at a fast pace. For the laggards (usually 4-6 every practice), it was 10 laps. That he called “motivation”!!!
Leading, at the head of the team, was Bob. He never seemed to tire, actually it looked to me like he was floating rather than running as the rest of us. Bob was a starting Halfback for the team during our 3 yrs. For those unfamiliar with soccer, halfbacks often started the offensive drives into the attack zone and were the first defenders back when the opposition was attacking our goal. They covered the whole field not just the offensive or defensive end. And that’s what Bob did best.
Bob could sprint with the best players on the field for 90 minutes and had that rare combination of speed and incredible endurance. He was very focussed and competitive as well as being dependable to always do the right thing. Bob was one of the leaders on the team judged by his actions on the field. Clarkson’s soccer team completed 3 winning seasons which would go down as the very best to that point in time. I can still remember in the Dressing Room after a game or practice- muddy, bloodied at times, wet and exhausted looking at each other with a big grins on our faces. WE LOVED IT !!!!! That was Bob. 56, 57 and 58..........3 great winning seasons, the Colleges' best record ever up to that time. Bob was a tough, gritty and truly gifted athlete, a terrific teammate and a great friend. He will be missed.
Al Graham '59.
Bob Cullings– Friend and Roommate
The first time I met Bob 55 years ago, we had a fight. It was only a few weeks after we started our freshmen year at Clarkson. There had been some kind of skirmish between my dorm, North – 3, and the nearby Holcroft House residents. It was more like kibitzing, but Bob and I wound up wrestling in the grass. It was friendly and we laughed about it. But I remember thinking - he was smaller than me but one tough guy!
I soon got to know Bob as we were both enrolled in Mechanical Engineering and taking classes together. A small study group formed consisting of Gil Ferdon, Charlie Lalin, Bob and I. There was a stretch where we did homework together in Gil’s trailer, and always had time for a break for Lloyd Bridge’s in Seaworld.
Bob was always a stand-up, solid guy, someone you could always rely on and trust. Later, as a senior, when I was interviewing a visiting company, I recommended him, saying you won’t find a better worker than Bob.
We were both in Army ROTC and after our junior year, spent a grueling 8 weeks together at the Engineer officers training school in Fort Belvoir, VA. We got a weekend off and went into Washington, DC and saw the movie “Gigi”. We were so sleep deprived we both dropped off. I was awakened when Bob was arguing with the guy sitting behind us, saying that the guy had taken his hat. Bob had been dreaming we were in field training bleachers back at Belvoir. We had a lot of laughs over that one. We both graduated as Officers in the Army Corps of Engineers.
We had a mechanical engineer classmate by the name of Freddy Hamada who became our buddy. Freddy was always saying people were “Out to Lunch”. One morning, after a Friday night party, Freddy wore reflecting sunglasses and slept through an entire ROTC class. Bob made a big sign saying “Out to Lunch” and leaned it against a sleeping Freddy. Even the Army instructor got a kick out of it. Freddy was in one of the lesser fraternities and was receiving some kind of discrimination at that time. So Bob invited Freddy to some of the Lambda parties and he had a blast.
When we were juniors and both qualified to live in the “House”, Bob and I became roommates for the last two years of our time at Clarkson. I don’t think we ever had a dispute in all that time. Bob was a perfect friend. We had lots of fun at the Lambda events and never did anything to get into trouble. At that time Lambda inherited an English bulldog named Clancy. He was great fun to chase tennis balls in the living room and to entertain our ladies during parties (except when he got a little gassy on beer and pretzels). It became apparent that this pure-blooded animal was having problems not having one master. Bob took over that role and made sure Clancy was cared for during our remaining time at Clarkson.
I pulled the best practical joke of my life on Bob. We were taking a senior elective from an English professor which required reading a couple paperback textbooks. One night after soccer practice, Bob went into one of the back rooms to sit in an easy chair and read the English assignment. He was underling key lines with a red marker. Soon he fell into a deep sleep. I quietly took the other text book, underlined a few lines and substituted it. We woke him up and after he studied for a while told him he was reading the wrong book! Bob laughed as hard as we did when he figured it out.
In our senior year a relative gave him an old car. I think it was a 1950 Pontiac. Bob lent it to me frequently without question. We became mobile and moved 5 miles out of town to a lake house with 3 others for our final 6 weeks. The house came with two powered rowboats and we had some great times on the Raquette River. It was an idyllic time. Bob had met Belle Goodfellow and had fallen for her. He was the perfect beau and we all were glad to see two such good people together.
Geography separated me from the Cullings after graduation, but we were always glad when we did meet. I will miss Bob a great deal, may he rest in peace.
Marty Doherty ’59
Bob Cullings – My Big Brother
I’m, Bulbus Boyd, the blithesome billowy, brock, bamboozling balderdash. I barter in boosumy broads for Bachanalian Brothers. I’m Bob’s little brother and this is the prologue to the litany he authored for me and which I had to recite in order to gain entry to the Lambda house during pledging period. Yes, we did have hazing then. I always felt very comfortable with Bob as my big brother and mentor during this experience. While he let me experience the fullness of being a pledge, I always knew he had my back. Back then, “paddling” was routinely practiced. When my turn came, Bob would make sure to give me a couple of obligatory whacks but really went quite easy. I always knew his heart wasn’t in it. For hell week, I just relaxed and went with the flow. Again, knowing Bob and the great Lambda Brotherhood wouldn’t go too far.
I feel badly that I didn’t stay in touch with Bob over the years. My first reunion with him was at the 2004 Reunion for Class of ’59. I was there preparing to chair our class reunion in 2005. I was excited to see Bob and went to greet him the first chance I got. I was dismayed when he didn’t seem to recognize me. I tried to shrug it off realizing that I sure had changed a lot. A second try, later in the week-end, brought the same result. Of course, I understand now and I, also, have a greater understanding for the challenges and emotional struggle experienced by his family during this time of illness.
When I think back on these times and the “Brother” Bob and soccer teammate I knew, I remember a constancy and authenticity quite remarkable for a college youth.