Papa's Eulogy (Richard Kullen)

Delivered at Shoreham Country Club, August 8, 2009, by Rick Kullen

My dad's educational spirit was sparked by an event that happened when he first entered school. He was getting ready for his first day when he had some trouble. He wasn't able to get his shoes tied. Luckily his little sister Gail was ready to lend a hand and tied his shoes for him. This little embarrassment prompted him to learn everything about everything he could. He went on to be an Alpha Sigma Nu honor society member at the University of Detroit High School, then graduated Georgetown University as a National Merit Scholar, and completed his formal education as a Root-Tilden Scholar at NYU Law School.

But don't think it was all business or that he was necessarily the wisest student. As a young adult he and a friend decided to take a tri-maran out on Lake Michigan when strong winds were blowing. They were cautioned that the wind and waves would be rough, but they thought the boat was basically un-sinkable with its 3 hulls. They managed to not only flip the boat, but to bury the top of the mast in the soft bottom of the lake.

There was also the time he almost got expelled from college. As editor of the school paper, Dad printed a story that didn't sit well with the school administration. Luckily his friends, or professors, were able to help him argue his case and he was reinstated.

And his educational endeavors didn't end with his formal schooling. Up until this past spring semester he was enrolled in an array of classes at Stony Brook. His classes ranged from art to history to ancient architecture. Dad always learned as much as he could about everything he enjoyed. He had absorbed enough information about wine that the last few years found him teaching continuing education classes about the different varieties. We would even have impromptu wine tastings at home over dinner. He taught us how to distinguish and appreciate the distinct characteristics of each wine.

Dad always enjoyed sharing his love of music with others. I remember countless dances, or teen nights, here at the club as a kid when I got to help dad DJ, even though I was only 8 or 10. To see live music acts sometimes he would go straight from work at the law firm in Manhattan to a reggae concert at Shea Stadium. In his suit, at least once he was mistaken for a poorly disguised narcotics detective. We'll always think of him everytime we hear Bob Marley or Jimmy Buffett on the radio.

My dad also loved the beach and everything about it. During a heat wave in New York, when he didn't have air conditioning, he went to see the Endless Summer surfing movie at least 15 times. He never learned to surf but he loved that movie. It helped him escape to the beach even if he couldn't physically go there right at that moment. I was told multiple times last night of other people's memories of my parents being the last ones to leave the beach with all us kids in tow, only to turn around and go back to the club for the event that night. One time he lost his keys in the sand and we spent an hour searching with flashlights. I still think he had the keys in his pocket the whole time, but just didn't want to leave yet. And just a few short weeks ago he arranged a family reunion/birthday party in the Dominican Republic for anyone who could make it.

In celebration of his life please raise a glass, a bottle, or preferably a can of Budweiser to Dick Kullen. Whether you call him Dick, Dad, or Papa, we'll always remember him.

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