William Michael Cullina

WILLIAM MICHAEL CULLINA of West Hartford, dearly beloved husband and best friend of Trudy Blasig Cullina, died peacefully on Sunday May 7, 2006. Bill was born in Hartford on July 2, 1921, son of the late Michael and Gertrude Carroll Cullina. Besides his wife, he leaves his four children, whom he cherished and considered his greatest legacy, William G. Cullina and his wife Melissa Dow Cullina of Woodstock; Kevin M. Cullina and his wife, Tamara Landry Cullina of West Hartford; John S. Cullina and his wife, Suzanne DeMallie Cullina of McLean, VA; and Susan Cullina McSwain and her husband Preston D. McSwain of Chestnut Hill, MA, and by his six grandchildren, whom he treasured and adored, Emily, Ashley, Liam, Stephen, Jack and Hunter. Bill was predeceased by his brother, Dr. Joseph C. Cullina, and his sister, Marguerite Cullina Dodson. He is also survived by many relatives, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Bill graduated with honors from Bulkeley High School, and from the Catholic University of America, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa society. He served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navel Reserve from 1942-1946, stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Stockton, CA. He received his law degree from Yale Law School, was one of the founding partners of Murtha Cullina, LLP and was recognized as one of Connecticut?s leading labor law practitioners. His contributions to his community were many. He served as a Director of St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center from 1968 to 2002, when he was elected an Honorary Director, and was presented with the hospital?s first Spirit Award on 1994. He served for twelve years as a Trustee of Saint Joseph College, and as a Trustee Emeritus since 1998. He was appointed a Knight of St. Gregory the Great in 1981. Bill served on a number of other Boards of Directors, including Junior Achievement, where he was inducted into the 2001 Business Hall of Fame for his dedication to the ethical practice of law and outstanding commitment to the community; St. Mary Home; Catholic Family Services; St. Peter Claver Parish Council; St. Francis Hospital Association; Mount Sinai Hospital; member and Chairman of the Board of governors of the Hartford Club; and ten years as a member of the Personnel Board of the Town of West Hartford. He was a member of the Hartford Bar Association; served as Chairperson of the Labor Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association; and was a Fellow of the American Bar Association. Bill loved everything Irish, and was proud of his Irish heritage. He had a passion for knowledge and was particularly fascinated by history and the worlds of finance and politics. He was an enthusiastic sports fan, especially of UConn basketball particularly the women?s team, and an avid life long player at the Hartford Tennis club. He enjoyed golfing with the ?Dublin Fore? and was proud of his hole-in-one. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, and will be deeply missed by the many lives he touched. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, May 11, at 10 a.m. in Saint Peter Claver Church, 47 Pleasant Street, West Hartford, followed by burial in Fairview Cemetery. Friends and relatives may call at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave. West Hartford on Wednesday, May 10, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hospital for Special Care or the Frontline Nursing Leadership program, c/o St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, 114 Woodland St. Hartford, CT 06105.

William Michael Cullina

July 2, 1921 - May 7, 2006