Barry R. Culhane

Barry R. Culhane, who served the nation, Rochester community, and Rochester Institute of Technology for more than five decades, died unexpectedly on November 13, 2022 in Florida. He was 76. A native of Rochester, Barry was born October 13, 1946, the son of John D. Culhane, Jr. and Beatrice M. (Gell) Culhane. Barry graduated from Gates Chili High School, the University of Windsor and received an Ed.D from the University of Rochester. He served as a medic in the United States Army from 1969-1971. Barry was very instrumental in building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Highland Park and the Gold Star Memorial in White Haven. He helped establish the Veterans Day Breakfast at RIT ten years ago as a way to honor veterans and active service military members of the community and their families. Barry was a patriot to the core.
He recently retired after a 47-year career at RIT which included many leadership roles, including serving as executive assistant to three RIT Presidents, the first student Ombudsperson, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, and associate professor at NTID, where he also served as a department chair and Associate Dean. Barry is credited for helping to create the Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival which has brought tens of thousands of visitors to RIT each spring since 2008.
Barry's service to community organizations was vast, through volunteering or serving on their boards, including Hope Hall, the Al Sigl Community of Agencies, Upstate New York Multiple Sclerosis, Junior Achievement of Rochester, and Rochester Rotary, where he served as President.
Barry's achievements, awards and recognitions were also extensive, and included induction into the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame; RIT's Four President's Award for distinguished public service; RIT's Lifetime Service Award for service to veterans; the Rochester Press-Radio Major Donald Holleder Award; and the Veteran's Outreach Center's Edwin and Jacqueline Harris Award for service to veterans. Barry also was honored with the American Spirit Award from the Reserve Officers Association, and the United Way's Golden Rule Award.
Barry will be remembered for his amazing intellect, quick wit, stalwart courage, endearing smile, incredible sense of humor and the kindness he showed to everyone who had the privilege of knowing or interacting with him. He made a profound impact on this world, loved deeply and was loved by everyone. Barry was larger than life and his legacy will live on in our hearts. He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Christine Carroll Licata, daughters Katherine (Katie) B. Culhane of Bonita Springs, FL and Cari T. Culhane of Cornelius, N.C.; 4 brothers, a sister, many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great- nephews
Calling hours at Miller Funeral & Cremation Services, 3325 S. Winton Rd., Rochester, NY 14623 on Friday, December 2 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 3, at Our Lady Queen of Peace, 601 Edgewood Ave., Rochester, NY 14618. Private interment with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests those who wish to remember Barry in a special way make gifts in his name to: Hope Hall, 1612 Buffalo Rd, Rochester, NY 14624; Al Sigl Community of Agencies 1000 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14620 or to Honor Flight Rochester, Inc., P.O Box 23581, Rochester, NY 14692.
To view a livestream of Mass visit, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Czq30V36-E