Kelly Cullen Obituary

Brother Kelly Cullen, OFM died November 13, 2010 Brother Kelly Cullen, OFM, a well-known community organizer and Catholic retreat director, passed on to eternal life while visiting Rome, Italy. Bro. Kelly leaves behind a legacy of working for the poor, particularly in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. Most recently, Bro. Kelly served as retreat director for Mission San Luis Rey Retreat Center in Oceanside, CA. Kelly Cullen was born in 1953 in Spokane, WA, the son of Betty and Pat Cullen. He received a business degree from the University of Washington, and a few years later moved to Oakland, where he entered the Franciscan order. He professed solemn (lifetime) vows as a Franciscan friar in 1982. Bro. Kelly worked zealously for the poor in the Tenderloin area of San Francisco, and his accomplishments were many. "Life is about growing - personally and spiritually," he said in an interview. "For me that means working on behalf of a low-income neighborhood that also wants to work on behalf of itself. Friars have been in the Tenderloin for over 100 years. I see myself as part of a historical lineage that's important to the community." In 1993, Bro. Kelly became the executive director of the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC), a position he held for more than 10 years. As the executive director, he worked tirelessly to provide safe, affordable housing with support services to low-income people. In 2003, Bro. Kelly became involved in full-time retreat ministry, most recently at Old Mission San Luis Rey Retreat Center in Oceanside. Bro. Kelly is survived by his three brothers, Brian, Barry and Kevin; their wives; five nieces; five nephews; and ten great-nieces and -nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Betty Cullen. To sum up Bro. Kelly's life, he was a man of prayer, dedication, imagination and zeal. Vigil services for Brother Kelly will be held Sunday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m., in the Serra Center at San Luis Rey Parish, 4070 Mission Ave., Oceanside. The funeral mass will be celebrated Monday, Nov. 29, at 10 a.m. in the Serra Center, with burial immediately following in the adjoining Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery. A memorial service in San Francisco will be held on Friday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m., in St. Boniface Church, 133 Golden Gate Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brother Kelly Memorial Fund (checks payable to the Franciscan Friars). Donated funds will be evenly distributed between the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation, Mission San Luis Rey Retreat Center, and the care of the retired Franciscan friars of the Province of St. Barbara. Mailing address for donations is Office of Franciscan Outreach, 1500 34th Ave., Oakland, CA, 94601; the phone number is 415-552-2044.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Nov. 27 to Nov. 28, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Kelly Cullen

9 Entries

Cyndy Dutson

November 19, 2024

Fourteen years ago an angel was taken from earth and welcomed into the arms of our Lord. Brother Kelly, you are forever missed

Cyndy Dutson

November 19, 2021

Forever in our hearts. Forever missed. Forever in our memories.

Cyndy Dutson

December 9, 2010

I live in VA and Brother Kelly came into my life in July when my Mother unexpectedly passed away. Having attended Mass at San Luis Rey Mission the last 20 years she unfortunately had never become a registered member. Unable to hold her service in the Serra Center, Brother Kelly said "she must have the service she deserves" and offered to hold it in the Retreat Chapel. He was a blessing when we needed it the most and the service was so warm, inspirational, and personal. Everyone there was made to feel involved and to this day many of those who attended still remark it was the most moving service they had ever been to. I've been in contact with Brother Kelly ever since and his words of comfort still permeate my mind when I feel down. I can still hear his infectious laugh and see the twinkle in his eyes. Everyone needs a Brother Kelly in their life. In his own words, he "died in one of his favorite places on earth". Although short, I will forever cherish our friendship, I will truly miss him.

Rae Bordua

December 5, 2010

I met Brother Kelly more than 20 years ago in Guatemala. My friend Karen told me we were on for dinner with some of our compatriots, including a "priest." I gently suggested that I wasn't the type of person to hang out with priests, but Karen said, "This guy isn't like any priest you've ever met." That was an understatement! What a vortex of energy Brother Kelly was! I can remember that first time we all broke bread together for a fantastic meal with witty conversation with the "Gospel of Colonus" playing in the background. Kelly was the cynosure of our group of 12. I will always remember the golden and magical evening that kicked off our long and cherished friendship. Kelly brought so much love to the surface because he believed in the best in people. Now his radiant soul has gone to the light to show the rest of us the way.

My deepest condolences to his wonderful and supportive family, and all the many, many people he has touched with his unique quintessence. I will always hold Kelly's loving memory close to my heart.

Cathy Colombraro Mitchell

December 3, 2010

Kelly was the best friend of my brother, John, since first grade. Kelly would come into our home as a force of nature--We all loved him like another brother. His laugh was wonderful and his view of life something very special. I wish I could have known him in his adult life. As we all struggle to have Faith watching him live his life serving God and man would have made the struggle less difficult. I feel a great loss at his passing.

My deepest sympathies to his brothers and their famili

Donna Marie Capozzoli

December 1, 2010

I remember when Bro Kelly would come into our family restaurant with always a smile. He was always kind. We will truly miss him!

November 29, 2010

Brother Kelly was to say at least, "phenomenal." He filled a room with such warmed and love, that was truly inspirational and contagious. In the several retreats I participated at SLR, the most treasured was Brother Kelly's a Capella tunes. I will miss him, but truly feel blest for the chance to know him. Brother Kelly, Rest peacefully in the arms of the Lord. ~Cindy Charron

Kevin Cullen

November 29, 2010

I can’t remember ever “meeting” Kelly. He was always just “there.”

A younger brother of some eighteen months, he was there defending our right flank against hostile neighbor kids encroaching our territory. Or even a pair of elder brothers who we couldn’t always count on to be the good guys.

Kelly was there in our Spokane days carrying on the Cullen tradition of building forts out of requisitioned picnic tables. He was jarring bees in the hot summers or laughing hysterically as White Fang berated Soupy Sales.
That power of laughter resonated throughout Kelly’s life. His irrepressible style was evident even then.

Later the tales turned to Tacoma where he was there as we championed patrols as scout leaders for the infamous Troop 99 or swam for glory at the grassless Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club.

Kelly’s journey across his American landscapes mirrored that of the best of his generation—a group that thought outside the box—and ones that worked as hard as they played.

Kelly’s life was bound up with helping other people. For everyone else, he was simply just ‘there.’

And when America could no longer contain him, he turned his boundless energy on the world.

He spent his first year abroad in France with L’Arche helping developmentally disabled adults.

I guess I was one of the first to witness the development of his incredible talent for helping those in the grieving process.

Many of you remember Kelly as a fun-loving Franciscan friar. But I also knew him when my family went to worship at Thai Buddhist Wat. To me, he was monk for the world: equally at home in the traditions of Siddhartha’s orange as he was in the brown robes of St. Francis.

As for the rest of us—condemned to roam a world where our shadows are taller than our souls—please know Kelly has just been born again.

He’s still with us. He’s still ‘there’—protecting our right flank.