John E. McCullough ’69 died on January 11, 2023, in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.
(The following was provided by the Demaine Funeral Home on January 11, 2023)
On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, John Everett McCullough died after a valiant battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
John was born on November 5, 1946, in Port Chester, New York, and grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, and Rye, New York, before attending Bowdoin College and going on to earn a Ph.D. in microbiology from Rutgers University. He worked for Bristol Meyers Squibb, MorphoChem, and SIGA Technologies as a molecular biologist, developing screening and fermentation processes for novel antibiotics. He was awarded a number of patents, either as an inventor or a contributor for his work.
John lived for many years in New Jersey, Oregon, and Virginia. He was an avid outdoorsman and athlete. In addition to playing tennis, volleyball, and golf, he coached children’s soccer and softball teams in New Jersey while his daughters were growing up. He was an accomplished swimmer and skier for most of his life. In his later years, he was a frequent biker, hiker, and trendsetting pickleball player. John’s quiet, unassuming demeanor combined with his quick thinking made him a skilled card player, and he played poker and bridge frequently and with great success.
John was a kind soul with a quiet but sharp wit that first took listeners by surprise, then sent them into uncontrollable laughter. He will be remembered by his daughters as a loving and patient father, never too busy for board games, mini-golf, bowling, ice skating, trips to the boardwalk in Ocean City, or watching the same movies over and over upon request. He attended every concert, dance recital, and sporting event and required little convincing to purchase a variety of desserts on every shopping trip. John lived his last years with quiet dignity, his humor and perseverance earning the love and support of those who came to know him even after he was no longer able to speak.
John is survived by his family Karen McCullough, Katherine McCullough, and Corey McCullough, brothers James McCullough and Thomas McCullough, and grandchildren Alexander Munoz and Iris Munoz.