Tom attended school here in Cohasset, and life in this small town was somewhat idyllic. When Tom reached the age of 12, his father Tom Culliney Sr., age 50 passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. Tom Sr. had been the Foremen for the Town of Cohasset Water Department for many years. He was also a volunteer fire fighter.
After graduating from Cohasset high school in 1961 he joined the United States Army as a military police officer. He spent the majority of his career in the Army stationed overseas and spent the majority of his tour in Germany and in France. When he returned home after close to 3 1/2 years he was lucky enough to obtain a position on the Cohasset police Department. He spent three years with the Cohasset Police Department, which during this time he met the love of his life who lived five doors down from him Judith Ann Taylor and they married in September 23,1967. Soon after they were married Tom pursued his career with the Metropolitan District Commission over in Hull. They purchase their forever home in Scituate and started their family. Their first born son Thomas Francis Culliney died two days after birth due to complications. On April 12, 1971 Tom and Judy welcomed there second child Richard Thomas Culliney. On April 2 1973 they once again welcomed a daughter, Lyn Barbara Culliney.
During this time Tom Culliney never stopped trying to advance his career. He spent 4 years at Anna Maria College receiving his undergraduate degree in criminology and then spent another 13 years of night school getting his Masters Degree in crimonology from Northeastern.
He never stopped working. But every night even if he was working a double he would take his dinner break and come home for a family meal. We would be playing outside and the cruiser would come down the road and he would either flash the lights or get on the intercom and announce it was time to get “AIS”. A— in seat.!!
When Lyn was in the 6 grade she decided she wanted to join the town soccer team. My dad thought that was an excellent decision and he was going to coach me. He got books from the library studied them and that year we won the girls u12 state championship.
If he was not at work, coaching Ricky and I on and off the field than any spare time he had in his week he came over to help his mom. His dedication to his family was exceptional. He never missed a football game, soccer game or a track meet. You could hear my dad cheering us on without the use of a megaphone,
Around this time the merger to the State Police occurred. He was promoted to Sergeant and was in charge of the drug task force team at the Blue Hills Barracks. After a few years he transferred to the South Boston Barracks. Due to his job taking up so much of his time he would leave an hour early every day so that he could spend some time in the car with me as I travelled to college in Boston. I will have to mention that with Every good Irishman comes an Irish temper. My father was not exactly pleased when I announced that I wanted to follow in his footsteps and join the Army National Guard. But he attended every graduation and pinned me at every promotion.
I married in 1996 and in 1997 gave my parents their first granddaughter, Kayla Mellissa. A softer side of my father emerged and the meaning of family grew stronger.
Tragedy struck us again on March 25, 2001 with the unexpected death of Richard Thomas Culliney (29).
A blessing did come later that year with the birth of their second granddaughter Olivia Lauren Briggs. Her sweet nature and willing to giggle at everything reminded all of us of the uncle she never knew.
As tragedies comes they must come in threes because later that year my father suffered his first heart attack. After serving 35 years as a police officer my father decided it was time to retire and to start re-enjoying his family again. We took several trips down to their favorite vacation spot on Marco Island Florida, we took a family trips to Maine and then he and my mother for their 45th wedding anniversary took a three week tour of Ireland.
And if my family had not been struck by enough tragedy, in 2009 my father Thomas Francis Culliney fell down the cellar steps and broke all the vertebrae in his neck paralyzing him. After spending about three years in the hospital and rehabilitation centers my father decided it was time to come home. The challenges he had to face every day were unbelievable but he never gave up. The love between my parents only seem to grow stronger during this time. They would giggle and laugh like they were high school sweethearts. On March 6, 2016 tragedy struck us again with the loss of my mom. But my dad true to his self never gave up. He learned how to drive again and lived basically independently with help from numerous care workers and for the past five years help from me.
Before his death my dad was so proud to learn that his granddaughter Kayla earned her degree from Emmanuel College in psychology. And that his youngest granddaughter Olivia is now attending the University of Tampa.
Webster’s definition of a hero is a person who is admired or idolized for courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities. You Thomas Francis Culliney are my hero
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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