Richard Cullison

CULLISON Captain Richard (Dick) La Croix, age 67, passed away Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Captain Paul and Rosanne Cullison. Dick attended Wilbraham Academy, Wilbraham, MA. and graduated from Stony Brook Academy, Stony Brook, NY. He also attended the University of Richmond and served in the United States Coast Guard on board the Tamaroa. He was a proud pilot for the United New York and New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots. His career spanned over 40 years, starting with an apprenticeship in March of 1966. His apprenticeship lasted 7 1/2 years and was followed by a 10 day test including a complete free-hand drawing of the New York Harbor from memory, earning him a fulltime pilot position in September of 1973. Dick enjoyed meeting all of the people on the job, especially the international captains of the ships he piloted. He earned the title of Captain, and was often referred to as "Captain Cully" by his colleagues who admired and loved him. Dick also trained in Grenoble, France in 1981 and learned how to maneuver super tankers. He is one person who truly loved his job, and he was extremely good at it. He retired in 2007. He held a Federal License as Master of Steam or Motor Pilot Vessels, and a Pilot License for the state of New Jersey. Dick had an infinite capacity for detail when reminiscing about his piloting days with fellow retired pilots and friends. In retirement he returned to Mathews County where he had spent his boyhood summers at the homes of his grandmother in Mathews and his mother on Gwynn's Island. He thoroughly enjoyed his retirement years with Carol, especially the time they spent together on his Chris Craft Wall Street Commuter, "Socks." He leaves to cherish his memory: two sons, Ryder and wife Carrie Cullison and Jefferson Cullison, six grandchildren, his "Partner in Life," Carol Sterling, and her children, Daniel and wife Esthia, Anthony and wife Jennifer Sterling of Ramsey, NJ and her three grandchildren, two sisters, two nieces and a nephew. The family will receive friends Friday, Feb. 18, 2011 from 6-9 PM in the Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home, Mathews. A celebration of Captain Cullison's life will be conducted Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 in Mathews Baptist Church, Hudgins, VA at 10 AM. Memorials may be made to Mathews Baptist Church, P.O. Box 8 Hudgins, VA 23076.