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Paul Tully Obituary

Stockton, CA

Paul Tully

Oct. 13, 1943 - Sept. 23, 2009

Paul Tully, treasured husband of "Kath" and beloved father of Meghan and Patrick, passed away on September 23, 2009. Paul was a cancer survivor for 18 months and his fighting spirit, positive attitude, and zest for life were an inspiration to those who loved him. He was a simple man whose greatest joy in life was his family. He taught Kathy that love can be shown in many ways- 2 liter bottles of Pepsi, sweat socks and sweat shirts, and roses picked from the garden. He shared his love of the 49ers with Patrick and his love of teaching with Meghan. He dearly loved his brother Tom and cherished the times they spent together on "ship-hunts."

As a skilled, dedicated, and compassionate foreign languages instructor, for over 45 years, he affected the lives of thousands of students not only by teaching them but also by listening to them when they needed to talk, coaching them for academic competitions, and by writing each student who asked a personal, individualized letter of recommendation for college. The enthusiasm and humor he put into his lessons is still talked about by his former students today.

Coaching soccer, both recreational and competitive, and being a referee kept him young. He used to take great pride in being able to keep up with the players as they ran up and down the field. He knew the rules of the game, applied them consistently and fairly, and even explained the penalties to the players when they were made- always the teacher!

Paul was the West Coast editor for Steamboat Bill, a shipping magazine. His articles were meticulously researched and great thought was put into each of his pieces. He recently completed an article on the, "Catalina" and he was so proud of this featured article.

Paul was a good friend and loyal friend. He enjoyed anniversary dinners with John and Elaine, participating in and winning several Trivia Bees with Ginger and Steve, holiday celebrations with the Cohen-Zehner- Spatola clan and Oscar parties at the Wall house. His "front yard chats" with our neighbors always brightened his afternoons- thank you Alice, Gabino, Junior, Niece and Richard.

We know Paul as the man who zipped around town in his 1969 "Bug," who took care of his baby roses, who was still developing a functional relationship with his computer and the one who loved watching Jeopardy with his family, and sometimes even let us answer first. This was our Paul. We love you. We miss you. We carry you in our hearts.

There will be a Memorial Service at a later date.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Record on Sep. 30, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Paul Tully

30 Entries

Joseph K

February 2, 2022

Mr. Tully was my high school french teacher back in the mid 80s at Linden high. He was a patient and friendly teacher, and years later, as I continue to read and study french, I still think of him often, especially when I whistle or hear Joe Dassin's "champs elysees." best wishes to his family.

SAADIA TONGPALAD

September 24, 2020

He was a great teacher, colleague, wonderful person. He was also a soccer referee. Kids loved him on the game. I will never forget Mr. Tully, What a great human being. He left us way too soon. I hope he is in heaven with Jesus.

October 26, 2009

DEAR KATHY, I AM SO VERY SORRY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. JACK AND I RESPECTED AND LOVED PAUL. PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU. DOLORES MOLINI

October 9, 2009

Kathy,
I was so sorry to hear about Paul's passing. Please know we are thinking of you and your family and send you our prayers.

Peggy (Dodini) O'Brien

Tammy (DeGuzman) Evans

October 8, 2009

Kathy,

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Though I only met Paul once (when Leandra was marching to the music around your living room), I remember the many times that you spoke of him fondly. I know that he was a very special man, and you had a very special relationship with him. May those precious memories that you have of him bring you peace.

Melissa (Green) Gomes

October 8, 2009

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I had the pleasure of being in Mr. Tully's French class back in 89-91. He was a wonderful teacher and caring man. You could tell he cared about each and every one of his students. We had an exchange students from France two summers in a row and I enjoyed practicing what I learned during the school year with them. I hope your family finds joy in knowing how many lives he touched. I pray God gives you the peace, comfort and strength you need during this difficult time.

Chris Adam

October 6, 2009

Dear Tully Family,
Just wanted to wish you guys strength and comfort during this difficult time. I'll never forget Senor Tully. A fantastic teacher and friend during my time in his classes.
Chris Adam

October 5, 2009

Dear Kathy and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Please know my prayers and thoughts are with you during this time.
In love and friendship,
Evelyn Lotter

Mary Rowe

October 5, 2009

Meghan, Patrick, and Kathy,
I am so sorry to hear of this sad news. You are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Love, Mary Farrell Rowe

Marshea Pratt

October 5, 2009

Kathy,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Please know that you and your family are in my prayers. May God give you the strength and courage at this difficult time to see the beauty in the wonderful memories and life you shared with your husband that will never be forgotten.

October 5, 2009

Kathy and Family-
You are all in my thoughts and prayers, and my heart goes out to you all.
Remember the good times and cherish the precious memories you hold in your heart of days gone by that you shared with Paul. They will help comfort you and bring you peace at this difficult time in your lives. God Bless You All.
Viki Brown

Eddie Reitnauer

October 3, 2009

Dear Tully Family-

You have my condolences. Mr. Tully was my Spanish 1 teacher my freshman year. I thought he was a great teacher. He had a great love for life and I recall how happy he was when he would share one of his stories from his travels to other countries. He was an institution at Linden High School.

Class of 01'

Marisa Berdeja

October 3, 2009

Mr. Tully was the teacher who I loved the most in highschool. He inspired me to follow my dream to become a foreign language teacher. He will be missed.

Saadia Tongpalad

October 2, 2009

I am so sad to hear about Mr. Tully's death. We worked together at Linden High School. He was the best foreign language teacher on campus. He was so caring and such a great person. My deepest sympathy to his family.

Michelle Garibaldi

October 1, 2009

Dear Family,
I knew I was in trouble when I joined Mr. Tully's 3rd year Spanish Class (after having a different teacher for the first two years)...and he said to us, in Spanish of course, "In this class, we don't speak Spanish."...Uh-Oh! I loved Mr, Tully, and last weekend, on Sept 24 2009, many of my classmates of the class of 1989, met for a small re-union. We had not yet heard of his death, but we were all fondly speaking of Mr. Tully. My husband is French Canadian and several of my classmates were able to speak to him in French, even though it had been 20 years since they had been in Mr. Tully's French class. Talked about an effective teacher!!!

We just heard today that he has passed. We are truly sorry for your loss and your heartache!! He truly made a difference in our lives, evidenced by my story from last weekend!

Jeff Philippart

October 1, 2009

My deepest sympathy to the Tully family. Paul was a great teacher and his enthusiasm for French was contagious. May he rest in eternal peace.
God Bless.

Shelly Eaton

October 1, 2009

Dear Tully Family,
I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Tully's passing. He was a very patient and kind teacher who even enjoyed having those of us in class who perhaps didn't study as we should have. I am certain that he has received a rich reward in heaven for all the blessings he gave others here on earth. May God comfort you in your loss and warm your hearts with precious memories.

Heather Carr

October 1, 2009

Dear Family,
Mr Tully was truly a great person and man. My attempts to learn french blossomed in Mr. Tully's French class. Being new to Linden I was not acustom to such a small arena of people, he will always stand out as one of the teachers that was encouraging and positive. He will forever live on in the hearts of his students!!!

Shawna Breitenbucher Lewis

October 1, 2009

I am very sorry for your loss. Mr. Tully was an inspirational teacher in my life. I took his French class for four years in high school ('94-'98). I made great friends in that class and have many wonderful memories. Due to my love of the language, I went on to take French in college as well. As a teacher now, I find myself using various French phrases in my own classroom and teaching my students about the language. They love the little things I am able to tell them. Mr. Tully touched so many lives and will continue to do so through others.

Diane (Duley) Stanley

October 1, 2009

Wow! What a man!!! I am still shocked and very sad about losing Mr. Tully. I am glad I got to tell him what an incredible teacher he was and how his passion for teaching inspired me to be a teacher in the very town where he taught me. I am sure there are hundreds with stories like mine or better. Mr. Tully not only taught with enthusiasm in the classroom, but would stand by his door in the halls as we were passing to give words of encouragement or just to say "Bon Jour,_____,(Bon Soir to me 'cuz I was always late!) Comment allez vous?"" Comme ci comme ca? or "Beunos Dias..." which usually led to a short discussion of the latest events in our lives. Mr. Tully really cared about us and treated us with respect. He even let me study for algebra during my t.a. time. He shared more than education with us. He shared his dreams, his life, his humor, his support. He encouraged us to dream and to sing...in French! I can still see him dancing in the classroom to the Chanzee Liaze(forgot the spelling), throwing erasers for fun,standing on desks to prove a point. Zut Alors! was one of my favorite expressions.
He was truly a special teacher who touched many, many lives. His legacy will live through generations. I am so glad he was a part of four formative years of my life and that he continued to be a part of my life and career as a teacher. What a man, what a teacher, what a friend, what a BLESSING!

Lori Guadagnolo Ruegsegger

October 1, 2009

Dearest Tully Family,
I was deeply saddened to hear of Paul's passing. As a former French student from 1989-1993, I will never forget the outstanding teacher that he was. I used to love when he would make us the cd's of french music, and found myself listening to them for years. I always loved writing in my journal and would wait for the advice he would be sure to give. His greatest lesson came my senior year, when I was his TA, and had a severe case of "senioritis". I earned a NM in his French 4 class, and came to beg him to just give me a "D" so I could keep playing sports. He didn't waiver and told me he expected much more of me, as a former A student,and I knew he was right. I am now a teacher, and try to follow his examples of engaging my students on a personal level and having high expectations. I am truly thankful to have had such a wonderful teacher, and am so sorry for the loss.

Anna (Howard) Miller

October 1, 2009

What can I say about such a great man? I had the honor of taking French I, II & III with Mr. Tully. I was also one of the lucky students who not only had their soccer games reffed by him but I had the pleasure of reffing along side him. Mr. Tully was a fun, intellegent man. I am thankful for the many memories I have of him. He was a blessing in my high school career.

Kathy, Meghan and Patrick my family will keep you in our prayers.

Sarah Marshall

October 1, 2009

What can I say...? Simply put, Mr. Tully saved my life. He was my French teacher for 4 years in high school, and one of the best men I have ever known. In high school I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and he saw me through some of the worst days of my life. He would hug me and let me cry on him...always listening...always caring. He was not just my teacher, he was my friend. We've kept in touch via e-mail for the past several years, and I will miss him dearly. Famous speaker and author Leo Buscaglia said “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” This is Paul Tully to me....as a suicidal teenager, when I felt alone, he reached out....and turned my life around...My hero. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and kids.

Ashley Lagorio

September 30, 2009

I don't know what to say. He was one of the greatest men I had the privelage to meet and have as a teacher. I was in his french class. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I feel for his family and send my condolensces.The world is missing a great man.

Paulo Munaro

September 30, 2009

My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this difficult time, me and my sons will miss his kindess and his mentoring through many years of referring all our sympathy to your family Paulo, Paulo Jr and Patrick Munaro and Family

Laurie Van Buskirk

September 30, 2009

Dear Kathy and Family of Mr. Tully,

I had the honor and priviledge to have Mr. Tully for a teacher at Linden High in the 80's. He taught me how to speak French, which I was able to use when I went to France as an exchange student after graduating in 1983. He was a great teacher, who had an impact on, not only my life, but many others. My thoughts and prayer are with you during this time of loss. May you always treasure the memories you have of him.

Chris (Todd) Korelin & Family

September 30, 2009

Dear Tully Family-
From our family to yours,we offer our deepest condolences during your loss. Mr. Tully was a part of our lives, and many others, during our high school years (Linden) back in the 1980's. He was a patient, and very intelligent man who contributed greatly to his students in many aspects. May you find comfort in knowing that he made a difference in so many lives. God Bless.

Scott Bryant

September 30, 2009

Dear Tully Family,

I had the great opportunity to have Paul as a teacher and a colleague. He was a tremendous teacher that always had time for his students. His passion as an Instructor was contagious. He had a great impact on thousands of people. He will truly be missed.

Kathleen Stevens

September 30, 2009

Dear Kathy, Patrick and Meghan,
It hurt my heart to see that Paul had passed away. You were like a second family for Cameron growing up and I have many fond memories of all of you. My thoughts and prayers are definitely with you.

Tammy Lagorio

September 30, 2009

Dear Kathy and family -

I was in Mr. Tully's Spanish I & II classes at Linden High and gradutated way back in 1980. Even though I don't use the language on a daily basis, I still remember so much of the language as he was such a creative and helpful teacher. My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time. May your wonderful memories bring you comfort.

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