Robert Willis McCullough

McCULLOUGH--Robert Willis, on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at Greenwich Hospital after a brief illness. Robert W. McCullough, 86, was born on September 19, 1920 in Montclair, NJ to Mr. and Mrs. W. G. McCullough. He grew up at Cummings Point in Stamford. He attended the Brunswick School, graduated from The Taft School and Brown University. He served in World War II as a Commander Officer of a Destroyer Escort. He spent his working years as a Senior Officer of the Collins and Aikman Company an later as Chairman of the Board of the Chesapeake Petroleum Co. He was on the Board of Trustees of Brown University and Chairman of South Street Seaport Museum. Mr. McCullough served as Commodore at Riverside Yacht Club and The New York Yacht Club. A distinguished sailor, he was active for many years in the America's Cup, he skippered Constellation in the 1967 Cup trials, was business manager of the Courageous Syndicate when she victoriously defended the Cup, and Chairman of the America's Cup Committee. He also successfully raced his yachts, INVERNESS. He was a member of the Cruising Club of America, The Storm Trysail Club, The Pawling Mountain Club and for 30 years a member of the Fales Committee at the United States Naval Academy. The beloved husband for 65 years of Margaret Hammons McCullough and adored father of Constance LindsayStewart of Redding, CT, Sandra Margaret McCullough of Riverside, CT, D. Scott McCullough of Boothbay Harbor Maine and Linda Anne McCullough of Cos Cob, CT, father-in-law of Michael LindsayStewart, sisters Dorothy McCullough of Riverside and Marilyn Thyrre of Coral Gables, Florida and many devoted nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Margaret Simpson and Patricia deGraff and his brother Donald F. McCullough. A memorial service will be held at 11am, September 21 at Christ Church, Greenwich, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brown University Sports Foundation, Christ Church, Greenwich, CT or the South Street Seaport Museum, NYC.