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William Tully Obituary
William J. Tully, a long-time resident of Pelham Manor, NY, and Fort Lauderdale, FL, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, July 21. He was 90 years old. Born in Bronxville, NY, to Leo and Catharine Tully, he would go on to live an incredible life. After graduating from Iona Preparatory School, he attended the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a double major. In his senior year, he co-captained the 1948 NCAA National Championship Tennis Team. While there he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy Air Corps. Following his graduation, he joined the family publishing business. In 1950, he married the love of his life, Kathryn Merkert. After starting their family, Bill decided to join the New York Stock Exchange as a seat owner and specialist with Spear, Leeds & Kellogg.
Other highlights of Bill's legendary athletic career include: All-American in tennis and track at Notre Dame; winner of the 1948 Canadian National Championships; winner of 22 USTA National Titles, as well as dozens of Eastern, New York and Florida Championships. He played in the U.S. National Championships at Forest Hills, NY, for several years. Bill represented the U.S. in the 1968 Olympics, and he won the International World Championships in singles while representing the U.S. in the 2002 Senior Cup in Austria. He is an inductee of the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame (1995) and the USTA Eastern Hall of Fame (1999).
He partnered with his children in numerous competitions, both locally and nationally. He won the National Grandfather-Grandson Championship four times with three different grandsons. He loved seeing his passion for tennis passed down to his children and grandchildren. Throughout his life, Bill's teammates and opponents alike have praised his sportsmanship, graciousness and fairness, both on and off the court.
He was a dedicated parishioner of OLPH Church in Pelham Manor, a Knight of Malta, a loyal member of the New York Athletic Club for over 60 years, and The Lauderdale Tennis Club in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and The Jesters, an international racquets organization, and a former member of the Pelham Country Club. Locally, Bill served his community as a Councilman in both Yonkers and Pelham Manor. He cared about people and never slowed down in the pursuit of excellence.
Bill is pre-deceased by his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Kathryn (Kay), as well as his brothers Lee and Paul and his sister Marie. He is survived by his 9 children: Bill (Bea), Chris (Marie), Cathy (Jim) Moore, Joanmarie (Tom) O'Connor, Jackie (Ralph) Alberti, Sandy (Tom, deceased) Martin, Susan (John) Rollins, Mark (DeeDee) and Marjorie Tully. He will be greatly missed by his 18 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Bill's life will be held at Pelham Funeral Home, 64 Lincoln Ave, Pelham, NY on Sunday, July 24, from 2:00-8:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 559 Pelham Manor Road, Pelham Manor, NY at 10:00 am on Monday, July 25th. Interment will follow the Mass at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Calvary Hospital Hospice, Bronx, NY.
For more information or to leave a condolence please visit: www.pelhamfuneral.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for William Tully
Sponsored by Pelham Funeral Home.
William Bronner
March 16, 2025
Hi...when I was young, approximately 24 and fresh out of WSU college in Detroit and beginning work at IBM in Endicott, Ny, and a new friend and also starting IBMer from Cleveland did a trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica for a week long vacation and tennis tournament. We both had played for our college teams. Bill Tully at 36 was in the tournament and Gardner Mulloy at 53 was given a honorary placement into the semifinals when he arrived. I had blown out my shoulder practicing serves before. the first round and couldn´t play. Bill and Gardner ended playing each other in the finals. We sat right behind the rear screening with Garner´s wife and watched a tremendous 3 set match in mid 90´s temps. Bill won the match close and long 3rd set.
I remember talking to Bill in line for a luncheon during the week that the Montego Bay Racquets club provided for all attendees at a shore line hotel. He was very enjoyable to talk to.
richard gross
September 1, 2017
I enjoyed playing against big Bill Tully, he never cursed....he wouldn't play me in singles after he beat me in a
long set as he hated running my drop shots down and would yell "golly" if I won the point...one of the best doubles win I had was beating Bill and Max Palafax 6-1 7-5 at Tennis Club of Ft Laud, Bill had lots of class
SSTEWART FISH
October 25, 2016
SO SAD TO HEAR THIS. I KNEW BILL AT DECOPPET AND DOREMUS, AND AT GAINES REESE, AND SPEAR LEEDS. HE WILL BE MISSED. MY SYMPATHY TO ALL THE TULLYS.
jennifer faga
August 8, 2016
My deepest sympathies to the entire family. I live out in Montauk now and was unaware of his passing until yesterday. I am sorry for your loss and know he is on the courts upstairs !! XO
Scott Foster
July 31, 2016
Our prayers are with Tully family
Scott Foster
July 31, 2016
Our sympathy goes out to the entire Tully family. Your father was very special and I will always have fond memories of him and the Tully family. I shared so many great times with Bill and your family during our childhood family visits to the LTC. And later, Bill always made a special effort to greet myself and my family when we were visiting at the LTC. Each visit Bill would ask what everyone was doing and "are you still working in the financial industry in Chicago?" Cheers to Bill and the entire Tully family. He will be missed.
July 28, 2016
I first met your father/grandfather in 1970 as fellow competitors and over the years that turned into a warm friendship. Like all the senior tennis family I liked and admired his friendliness, sportsmanship and all-round good qualities. His use of such strong language as "Jiminy Crickets" and "Phooey" was universally enjoyed.
My wife, Edith, joins me in sending our most sincere condolences upon his passing.
Tony Franco
Sandy and Jim Wilbur
July 26, 2016
Dear Tully Family, We send our deepest condolences to you all. Bill Tully Sr was a charming, accomplished, and well-loved member of his large family, the tennis community, and everywhere he has been. He radiated joy and a love of life. While only recent additions, we were pleased to be part of his family circle. With warm wishes to you all, Sandy and Jim Wilbur (Kristina Tully's parents and grandparents to James and Ronan)
Alan Kleinberg
July 25, 2016
Dear Bill
Please accept my sincere condolences to you and your family on the passing of your father.
He had a remarkable life.
Sincerely.
Alan F. Kleinberg
Joan Oelschlager
July 25, 2016
My husband Bob and I have only known Bill since 2009, when we moved to the LTC's Lenglen building. It didn't take long to realize what a wonderful person he was, as well as what a great tennis player. He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Tim Foster
July 25, 2016
The entire Tully family have been great friends to the Foster family. I remember many fun tennis matches with Bill. Bill was kind enough to get me on the floor of the NYSE when I first started in the financial services business in 1985. I smile when I think of Bill and the Tully family. Thank you for our friendship. Please have Mark call me at 513-509-4261.
Harriet Petropoulos
July 24, 2016
Forever missed from Lenglen Condo and Fort Lauderdale Tennis Club. Who will be asking "Did you win" as I walk past 101.
Carole Goya Rifflard
July 24, 2016
Dearest Tully Family,
It is with sadness that I heard about your father's passing but with great joy that I was blessed to know such a fine person as Bill. Bill and I played tennis every Wednesday at 10 am for many years and I always learned a great deal from him. As a player he was brilliant both in technique, strategy and competitiveness. As a person he was one of the most positive people I have ever met, always seeing the full half of the cup. He told me once that going deaf in one ear was one of the best things that ever happened to him because he could just put his good ear into his pillow at night and it blocked out the noise of cars going by on the cobblestones!!??!! He loved tennis, he loved his family (Love you Kay), he loved life, and he was happy to share his happiness with all. This world was richer and better because Bill was in it. Now God and Heaven have the joy of having Bill in their midst and he is together with Kay again. Thank you God for the extreme honor of knowing Bill Tully!
p.s. Yes, his "Jiminy Crickets" were great, but even better was his "Fooey"!!!
Paterese Keating
July 24, 2016
I want to say how sorry I am to hear of Uncle Bill's passing. Even though I am a relative through marriage, the Keating family is very close to the Merkert side & we do keep up on the Tully's! Great obituary on an extraordinary man. They don't seem to make these kind anymore. Over 50 years of marriage & 9 children & successful at everything he touched. Really remarkable. Sorry for your loss.
Peter Hemingway
July 24, 2016
As a dear friend of myself & my children for almost 35 years, both in Pelham NY and down here as a neighbor at the Tennis Club of Fort Lauderdale, I was very saddened to hear of Bill's sudden demise, and will genuinely miss him. He was a true Tennis Legend, not only as a great Tennis Player with so many accomplishments in Tournament play, but also as a knowledgeable Tennis Historian, as exemplified by his success in the Tennis Club's annual Tennis Quiz on the bus trip back from the Miami Tennis Open. He always won a prize, and was proud of it, as well as enjoying walking around the Open, watching as many different matches as possible & meeting up with some of his old Tennis buddies' along the way. His family has a lot to celebrate about a remarkably great person, who was a true gentleman in every way.
To the entire Tully family, whom I have also known for so long, please accept our deepest condolences. Lynn, my dear friend & partner would like to offer her condolences, as a friend of his for last ten years.
Peter, Lindsey, Ashley, John Hemingway & Lynn Holm, July 24, 2016
Luci and Mara Weiner
July 23, 2016
To Bill Tully's Family, We join you in spirit for this celebration of Bill's life. His was a truly amazing one and an inspiration on how to live life to the fullest. We are blessed with the many happy memories of Bill always smiling and at his charming best on and off the court. Kind and generous, pleasant and thoughtful with a cheery greeting to all, his joy for living was a rarity among men. Please accept our heartfelt condolences to each and every family member, especially Jorie.
Dick Cowap
July 23, 2016
The world is a better place because of Bill Tully. He always filled the room with warmth and laughter. He loved people and he loved his family. Most know him as a tennis player, and that he certainly was; but his greatest love was being a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. A truly special person who exemplified how to live life fully. His is a life to be celebrated.
Wishing love and solace to the whole family.
Blase Keating
July 23, 2016
Tully Family, I am so sorry to hear of your father's death. I fortunately had the pleasure of playing with "Uncle Bill" at Chartwell Country Club with our cousin, Hayes Merkert, and one of my siblings. He was a tennis legend in the Keating family. What an accomplished man!!! He left a wonderful and godly legacy that every father, grandfather and great grandfather would aspire to leave. May the Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace. Love, Blase & Heather Keating (Detroit, Michigan)
Dr. Robert Greene
July 23, 2016
Part 2 of 2
Fortunately, he was lucid and happy.
God bless Bill and all of you marvelous sons and daughters. May Bill rest in peace.
Sincerely,
Bob Greene
Billy Dunning
July 22, 2016
To All friends and family who were touched by Bill's life I want to offer you my deepest sympathies. I have the fondest of memories of Bill and all the time we spent together on the courts at the NYAC. I will never forget his little jog up the path to the courts, always arriving 30 seconds before the game was to start. Will always remember his "jimminy crickets". We have all lost a dear friend and I will miss him. To all the family who I know very well, it was a honor and pleasure to have him as part of my little world growing up and you all will always remain in my thoughts and prayers. A great man, a great tennis player, a great friend, and more importantly a great family man and father. You will be missed very much by all who knew him.
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