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JOHN LOGAN "JACK" BULLISTER

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Central Catholic High School University of California| Berkeley University of Pittsburgh

JOHN BULLISTER Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Jun. 24, 2018.

BULLISTER JOHN "JACK" LOGAN

Age 66, on June 13, 2018, of Lincoln/Lemington and Regent Square Pittsburgh and Seattle WA. Beloved husband of Catherine (CJ) Livingston, loving father of Matthew Logan Bullister, beloved son of the late John Logan Bullister and Thelma Kohlhepp Bullister of Pittsburgh, beloved brother of Thelma Greenthal RN of Scottsdale AZ (husband Ralph deceased), Marian Papale (Daniel) of O'Hara Township, Eileen Papale (husband Ron deceased) of Brookline Pittsburgh, Dr. Edward (Ted) Bullister (Joyce) of Boston, uncle of Daniel Papale (Sheila), Valerie Papale Blakeley (Matt), Dana Bullister, Robert Papale and Michael Bullister, great uncle of Daniel and Meghan Papale. John attended Lemington and Corpus Christi Grade Schools and Central Catholic High School, class of 1969. As a child he always had a backyard vegetable garden and delivered newspapers for the Pittsburgh Press, which he then handed down to his younger brother Ed. He received his BS Degree from the University of Pittsburgh, MS Degree in Chemical Oceanography at Texas A&M and a PhD in Oceanography from Scripps Institute at the University of California in San Diego. Upon graduation from Pitt John worked in Phoenix then joined the Peace Corp and taught Biology and water filtration in Antigua. After Scripps Institute he was a Post-Doctorate Oceanographer for Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Cape Cod and was working as a scientist /oceanographer for NOAA - National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration-Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle, WA and adjunct professor at the University of Washington Oceanography Department. John and ship CCS Hudson participated in the 1982 Ocean Ranger oil rig disaster recovery effort, bring dozens of those killed back to the shores of Newfoundland where their loved ones awaited. John was the author of a number of published research papers including a cover photograph and cover story for Science magazine. He traveled to every continent (including several times to Antarctica!) on the globe, making many friends and always kept his wonderful sense of humor, generosity and kindness-a wonderful role model! His final posting words were "Don't stress, be nice and go for it!" Contributions may be made to the Doctors Without Borders charity in his name. A memorial service to be held at a later date.

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Recent Activity

November 15, 2020

Sole posted to the memorial.

August 10, 2019

david parry posted to the memorial.

February 11, 2019

Ben Pressly posted to the memorial.

6 Entries

Sole

November 15, 2020

I am so sad to just find out about John passing away.
I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to meet John and his beautiful family. John was a great friend and neighbor while our sons were in elementary school and boy scouts. He was kind hearted and funny.
My condolences, love and prayers to Cj, Matt and their family and friends. Love from Sole and Kristian.

david parry

August 10, 2019

I am very sad to, belatedly, receive this news. John and I shared a house in Antigua back in 1974. We used to snorkel and spearfish together nearly every day. We never met again, but I followed his career remotely with the hope of finding some synchronicity sometime. Now that opportunity has sadly passed. My condolences to his family, and all those by whom he will be missed. I really liked John and it pleased me to see, from my remote viewpoint, his career unfolding over the years.

John Bullister, Big Bend Natl Park, March 1977, Photo by Ben Pressly

Ben Pressly

February 11, 2019

To the family of John Bullister I wish to express my sincere condolences. I recently tried to look up John and reconnect after many years only to find that I was too late. I offer the following account of a shared experience and have included a photo from it.

John and I were oceanography graduate students at Texas A&M University in the late 1970's. In March 1977, for Spring Break, we decided to go camping in Big Bend National Park in far West Texas. We were accompanied by a couple of other graduate students and my seven year old son, Jason. We left College Station in the evening and drove my car all night long, an 18 hour trip; arriving in Big Bend at 8 AM. We took turns driving and John's turn came in the wee hours of the morning. This was pre-GPS times and so we had a designated navigator to help the driver stay on the right route and, more importantly, stay awake while the rest us of slept. However, even the navigator dozed off occasionally.

John was quite a humanitarian and applied the brakes with enthusiasm whenever an animal strayed onto the roadway. In western Texas, there was an abundance of animals, mostly rabbits! They were quite active at night and John was ready and willing to apply the brakes when needed and he did so often. In addition, there were many, many tumbleweeds being blown across the roadway and when they suddenly appeared out of the darkness and into the light of our headlights, John's first thought was That's a rabbit! and he again applied the brakes, hard.

Now, to a passenger without knowledge of why we're slowing, especially to one who is sleeping or trying to sleep, this can be quite unsettling because when they feel the effects from sudden breaking, their first thought is, Ahhh, eminent collision! I cannot remember how often this happened but it was at least 20 times and so we tried to persuade John to change his driving behavior. However, he would have nothing of it. To his credit, he stood by his convictions and many rabbits survived that night because of it. We made it to the national park rather road weary but without additional drama and had a terrific three or four days while camping and exploring the beautiful dessert environment (see photo of John). We made the return trip, however, during daylight.
Ben Pressly
February 2019

June 24, 2018

We offer our condolences. We pray in your behalf, and we offer the hope of welcoming back our loved ones on a Paradise earth. Psm 37:29

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June 24, 2018

We are saddened by the passing of John, but grateful for his service to our nation with the Peace Corps in Antigua.

Our Condolences,
The National Peace Corps Association

June 24, 2018

My sincere condolences to the family for your loss. May the God who "binds up the broken-hearted" and "comforts all who mourn",sustain you and your family during this difficult time. Isaiah 61:1,2.

GD

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