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Richard Kullman Obituary
Retired Industrial Arts and Drivers' Education Teacher at Lunenburg High School
LUNENBURG -- Richard A. Kullman, 71, died peacefully at his home, on Friday, May 31, 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer.
He leaves his wife of 23 years, Pattie B. (Brown) Kullman; two sons, Jeremy Kullman, and his wife, Kristin, and their two sons, Benjamin and Caleb, of Watertown, Keith Platine, and his wife, Jennifer, of Leominster; five daughters, Tamara Yourk, and her husband, Joe, and their two sons, Hunter and Lucas, of Fitchburg, Bethany Duval, and her husband, Rudy, and their sons, Tanner, Wyatt and Grayson of New Ipswich, NH, Jody Gillette and her husband, Michael, and their children, Chloe, Delaney, and Maya, of Medford, OR, Brooke Goodrich and her husband, Chris, and their children, Adam, Amanda, and Jack of Yakima, WA, Lindsay, Hazelrigg and her husband, Frank, and their daughter, Alaina of Leominster; one sister, Linda Johnson and her husband, Phil, of Westbrook, Maine, and their children, Wendy Enright of Westbrook, Maine, and Greg Johnson of Middletown, CT.
Richard was born in Leominster, on April 29, 1942, a son of the late Bertil and Anna Kullman. Richard was raised in Leominster; he attended Leominster High School, and went on to study at Wentworth Institute of Technology, Fitchburg State College, and ultimately earning a Masters in Education.
Richard taught Industrial Arts and Drivers' Education, at Lunenburg High School for 34 years, positively impacting the lives of thousands of LHS students. After his retirement, he worked part time as a Security Officer at Leominster Hospital, comforting patients, and their families and ensuing the safety, of the hospital staff.
Richard took great pride in all the homes, he lived in, re-furbished and re-designing them to make every house a home. He once re-built the old Kullman's Market in Leominster, transforming it from the run down market to a one of a kind home.
Since living on Hickory Hills Lake, his favorite hobby was to be surrounded by his children and grandchildren. The many boat rides around the lake, were full to capacity, having the grandkids take turns behind the wheel.
Richard's family would like to thank the Cancer Center at Burbank Hospital, the HealthAlliance Home Health & Hospice, and the countless family members and friends for lending their support over the past several months.
KULLMAN -- Calling Hours will be on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 from 4:00 -- 8:00 P.M. in the Lunenburg Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Homes, 763 Mass Avenue, Lunenburg, MA 01462. Funeral Services and Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the Kevin T. Szocik Memorial Scholarship Fund (c/o Brendan Szocik, 175 LaGrange Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132) which will continue to help college bond Lunenburg students for years to come. For further information, see (www.masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Kullman
June 11, 2013
Pattie,
So sorry for your loss.
Carol Kelley
Paula Ewing
June 7, 2013
Patti,
I am so sorry to hear about Rich You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Eva Coates
June 6, 2013
I am so sorry to hear such sad news , Rich was such a kind and gentle man everyone just loved him when you met him He became your best friend. Patty My heart and condolences to you and your family Just remember all the memories with Rich He will be your guardian angel watching over you We will always miss him love you Eva Coates
Tony Calabro
June 6, 2013
I worked with rich on the weekends at the hospital for almost 5 years. I was amazed at the number of people this man positively affected in his life. He was one of the best human beings I have ever met. My condolences to the family.
June 5, 2013
I am so sorry for your loss, and sorry I missed the calling hours, as I was unaware of Rich's passing. Rich was a wonderful teacher, and more importantly, a wonderful man.
Paul A. Romano
Lois and Dick Courville
June 5, 2013
We were so saddened to hear of Rich's passing. We have wonderful memories of this great neighbor and friend. Camping memories, Pumpkin parties, neighborhood yard sales...
Our prayers are with all of you.
June 5, 2013
Richard and I were classmates through 7th grade till graduation from Leominster High School in 1960. My clear memory of Richard was of a soft spoken, kind young man, who treated his classmates with respect. I believe Richard's family will be honored to read these heartfelt tributes to their father and grandfather.
Robert W. Jones
Portland, CT
June 4, 2013
Very Sad to see you go Brother. May God Bless you and your Family.
It was an honor to work with you. You taught me a great deal. You will be very missed
Michael C. Guerriero
Senior Officer
Chief Union Steward
Local #0222
FMC Devens
Bill Phlps
June 4, 2013
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Elise Bowne
June 4, 2013
Such a wonderful man who will be truly missed by all. One thing I liked about working at the hospital was working with a great person like Rich. Always knew how to brighten your day no matter the circumstances, he was always optimistic. Such a gentle and caring person that everyone loved to be around! I will truly miss you Rich! RIP!
Lisa Sullivan
June 4, 2013
My memories are of younger days, girl scouts with Tammy and camping trips with the family. The first time I ever stayed in an RV was with the Kullman's, if I remember correctly. As we grew older I remember his support of everything Tammy was involved in, being at performances and recitals, smiling from the audience. A big hug waiting when it was all over. Now that we are all older, his children with children of their own, the images across my screen reflect that of a warm and wonderful grandpa. Still a great dad, but a remarkable granddaddy. And always with a smile. The Kullman family, my prayers are with you now as you grieve and reflect on precious memories that will never fade. Your dad/grandad is still with you. He's your angel.
With hugs and much love,
Bev and Mark Stewart
June 4, 2013
If you are ever at a loss for the definition of the word friend, think of Rich Kullman. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather as evidenced by the family who now misses him so much; but to us he embodied the word friend, a word that many of us use lightly, but Rich lived it. He was never too busy or too tired or too inconvenienced to lend support- either physically or emotionally. We will all miss him forever.
Pam (Aho) Munyon
June 4, 2013
Mr. Kullman was an awesome teacher, he made learning fun and easy. I feel very lucky to have been apart of his classes and to have had him for drivers ed....He will be greatly missed.
Rest in Peace and may the Angels surround you.
Dave LaRose
June 3, 2013
I worked with Rich at Leominster Hospital two years ago. He was one of the nicest guys I've ever met. RIP Flintstone
June 3, 2013
I worked with Richard at Leominster Hospital two years ago. One of the nicest guys I've ever known. RIP Flintstone
Kim Capone
June 3, 2013
I was so blessed to have worked with such a funny and caring man. Rich, you will be missed dearly. Thank you Rich for always making people smile.
Laura Morrell
June 3, 2013
Mr Kullman was my teacher for a couple of classes 1994-1999. He taught me so much in my photography class.
Pete Lincoln
June 3, 2013
Rich and I spent half our lives together in LHS. Throughout all the tempests of daily teenage angst, Rich kept an even keel, and provided kids with a calm port in any storm.
He was unassuming, unpretentious, and often underappreciated for the master craftsman and master teacher that he was.
Since our retirements, I often drift back to the multitude of faculty meetings, when he and I and Mark O'Malley would sit in the back of the library, and keep each other awake! Those were good days.
Rich was extraordinarily proud of his family. He never missed a game of the fabulous Blue Knight '92 undefeated season - I can still see him perched in the stands, camera in hand. Many summer days he'd be choogling by our front yard on his pontoon with kids and grandkids on display.
Rich was always glad to help out with the Student Council or Competitive Play programs down in the print shop - he had a kind, avulcular way of setting me straight about format!
I will miss his presence as a neighbor, but time will never fade the lives we spent together over the past four plus decades. He was of the very fabric of the school, and of the town.
Erik Radvon
June 3, 2013
Mr. Kullman was a great teacher who worked tirelessly to help students find their potential. He understood what so many seem to miss about education-- it's not about rote memorization or passing some standardized test, it's about helping individuals discover and embrace their God-given talents and abilities. What made Mr. Kullman a standout teacher and mentor for so many was his own remarkable talent for treating people, including his students, with respect. He seemed to presuppose a level of common decency and a willingness to do good work existed in everyone, and through his own example showed many students a path to success that they may not have otherwise found.
I don't think I'm alone in also remembering Mr. Kullman for his dry and sly sense of humor. He was a genuinely funny man whose temperament and good humor effortlessly cut through the drama teenage high school students tend to generate. That humor permeated the atmosphere in his classroom, creating an environment where the cliques and tension of high school were set aside and a collaborative workspace thrived in its place.
I last saw Mr. Kullman at the Leominster Hospital. It was the middle of the night, the ER was packed, and a person on some sort of intoxicating substance was going out of control in the main lobby. Kullman, working as a security guard, burst through the doors and took responsibility for the person that the rest of the people in the ER were trying their best to ignore. He restrained the person until they calmed down and then proceeded to set him up on a gurney, give him a cup of coffee, and simply talk about what was going on in his life. That sums up Mr. Kullman's character to me. We could certainly use more like him.
lucille and rheat mccaie
June 3, 2013
a great man and a great friend. to the family just remember the great memories.
Kathleen Browne
June 3, 2013
he will always be in our prayers, forever in our hearts.
a wonderful man a wonderful part of our family he will be missed
love and sympathy to all
Kathy
Ron Brouillette
June 3, 2013
RIP Mr. Kullman.
June 3, 2013
A gentle soul, a very special person is gone from this earth. I know that no words can come even remotely close to healing the pain that you feel. My heart goes out to you in this difficult time. My heartfelt condolences.
Marie Caton
Mike Viola
June 2, 2013
Rich,
Thanks for always believing in me. You always would preach to me like a dad talking to his son. I did look up to you as a father figure and I'm sure you knew. I would always tell you to enjoy your golden years and enjoy retirement but you wouldn't listen. I came to the realization that you enjoyed helping people by working for your community and that was your happiness. You were like a dad to me, always supportive and never giving up on me. Well you are now getting some rest Rich. I love u buddy.
John & Maura Navin
June 2, 2013
In loving memory of a wonderful man. So glad we had many years and fun times at HHL with him. We will miss you Rich!!
John & Maura Navin
June 2, 2013
In loving memory of a wonderful man. Rich will be greatly missed!!
Karen Workman (Reed)
June 2, 2013
Wonderful caring teacher. I will always remember him.
Sarah Romano
June 2, 2013
sorry for your loss, Sarah
June 2, 2013
TAMMY, BETH,AND JEREMY YOUR FATHER WILL BE MISSED JUST REMEMBER ALL HE GAVE TO YOU AND FIND COMFORT
NANCY AND RON FOSTER
June 2, 2013
To the Kullman Family,
Mr. Kullman was one of my all time favorite teachers. He taught me Driver's Ed, photography and industrial arts at LHS. When you were in his class, you knew his main priority was to make sure you got something out of it. It wasn't the A or the F, it was the idea of learning something you didn't know before you walked in. That was important to him. As a neighbor of his down the street on Pine Acres Rd, he always waved to me in the years after his retirement when I drove by. An institution to the LHS community and obviously to his family, he will be greatly missed. God bless you all and my heart and thoughts are with you.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Cancro, LHS Class of 2000
Kathie Mosher
June 2, 2013
Pattie I'm so sorry or your lost. Rich was a great man. We are going to miss his big hello and smile when we get up there this summer. He was a great friend to my sister and her family. love you and you are in my prayers.
Tom Jr Mason
June 2, 2013
Mr. Kullman was an inspiration to thousands of students at LHS. He believed in EVERY student that walked though the doors of the high school and was directly responsible for graduating many that would not have graduated had it not been for his caring mentorship. A wonderful, wonderful man.
Joan St. Yves
June 2, 2013
What a loss. Rich was always so caring and thoughtful. My brother, Rich and myself worked the same weekends at the hospital and Rich always called us the Three Muskateers. I will miss him
Joan St. Yves
June 2, 2013
Such a great loss. Rich was so caring and thoughtful. My brother, Rich and myself worked the same weekends and he always called us the Three Mustateers I will miss him.
Kay Hillman
June 2, 2013
Dear Kullman Family,
There always seems to be a lack of words to fully express the sadness one feels when there is absence in one's life."Captain Kullman" was more than a colleague, he was a friend to us all. When in his midst, we always laughed. To the kids in his classes, he certainly was a captain for he guided many to a diploma that might not have sought that route otherwise.
Upon a recent visit, Dick couldn't stop talking about his family of whom he was so proud. How fortunate he was and how fortunate you have been to have had "Captain Kullman" at the helm.
Please accept my sympathy.
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