John Francis “Jack” Cullity, 71, a prominent local attorney and athlete, died at the NH Veterans Home in Tilton, NH, following a long illness.
Attorney Cullity was born in Manchester, NH, November 8, 1929, and was the son of Ellinor (Neilsen)(Cullity) Sheehan and Francis X. Cullity who died in 1931. His stepfather was Attorney John J. Sheehan whom his mother married in 1943. He resided in Goffstown and spent many happy summers in Moultonborough, NH. He had been a resident of the NH Veterans Home for the past two years.
He was a graduate of St. Joseph High School for Boys, New Hampton Prep School, and the College of the Holy Cross, class of 1952.
Upon graduation from college Jack joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he attained the rank of captain. He was a combat veteran of the Korean Conflict and was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the U.N. Service Medal, and the National Defense Medal. When his tour of duty was completed, he went on to Boston College and Boston University Law School, from which he attained a law degree.
Attorney Cullity was a successful trial lawyer in the Granite State for over forty years, initially at the firm of Sheehan, Phinney, Bass and Green, and then with his own firm of Cullity, Kelley and McDowell, P.A. He was a lawyer for the common people and was noted for the pro bono work he performed on behalf of people in trouble who needed legal assistance.
Possessed of and outstanding athletic ability himself, Cullity loved all sports but football was his passion. He enjoyed a three letter career at the old St. Joseph’s high where he captained the football team, and went on to a notable career as a two way football player at Holy Cross under both Coach Bill Ozmanski and Coach Dr. Eddy Anderson. Defensive captain in his senior year, he capped his college career with an appearance in the Blue and Grey game in Atlanta, GA. While serving in the military, he played for the Quantico Marines in Virginia. Jack also volunteered his services in his spare time as an assistant football coach at the former Bishop Bradley High School. Attorney Cullity was inducted into the Queen City Athletic Hall of Fame in the summer of 2001.
He was a member of the NH Bar Association, the Holy Cross Alumnae Association, and the Marine Corps League. In addition he was a member of the Lakes Region Detachment, and the Elks Club.
Family members include four daughters, Lizbeth Cullity Vieux of Haiti and Sierra Leone, Africa, Lauren A. Cullity Sanford of Shapleigh, ME, Kristin Cullity Stewart of So. Salem, NY, and Karin Cullity Nelson of Rye, NH; their mother Anne Culllity; 8 grandchildren; three sisters, Karen Sheehan Lord of Manchester, NH, Susan Pearsall of Northfield, NH, and Mary Sheehan-Moore of Parkton, MD; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Calling hours are Tuesday from 4 to 7 pm in Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, 1799 Elm St., corner of North St.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 10 am in St. Joseph Cathedral, Pine St., Manchester.
Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bedford.
Memorial donations may be made to the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, PO Box 1097, Meredith, NH 03253-1097.