Sydney B. Culliford

GROVELAND - Sydney B. Culliford, a longtime resident of Groveland, passed away on February 13, 2019 at age 86 in his home with his family present. Sydney was born in Medford, Massachusetts and attended Haverhill High School while living in West Newbury. Upon graduation from high school, Sydney served in the U.S. Army, receiving an honorable discharge at the rank of Corporal. After the Army, Sydney attended and graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. It was during his time at Northeastern that Sydney was first introduced to railroading by interning at the Boston and Maine Railroad in the Engineering Department. Following college graduation, Sydney began a career with the railroad that would span over 50 years, eventually becoming Vice President of Transportation and serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Pan Am Railways until his retirement in 2014. He loved the outdoors and could often be seen canoeing on the Merrimack River with his cherished dog Toasty or while out on his nightly bicycle ride through Groveland and Riverside. On his more adventurous days, he would also take longer rides, sometimes as far as Boston. Sydney attended St. Patrick's Parish and Sacred Heart Parish for many years and was a member of Merrimack Lodge F. & A.M. in Haverhill for over fifty years. Sydney is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Frances Culliford, his daughter Nancy of Groveland, son Robert and grandson Dagim of Hampton, New Hampshire and his cat Katie. Sydney is also survived by his sister Nell Whiting of Brooklin, Maine and brother Roger and his wife Maureen of Atkinson, New Hampshire; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Monday, February 18, in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 So. Main Street, Haverhill, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Services will begin Tuesday, in the funeral home at 9:00 AM. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Sacred Hearts Church, 165 So. Main Street, Haverhill, at 10:00 AM. Interment with U.S. Army Honors will follow in St. James Cemetery, Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Sydney's memory to the either the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, 63 Elm Street, Salisbury, MA 01952 or to Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack Street, Lawrence, MA 01843. For guestbook, please visit www.driscollcares.com