Obituary of William D. McCullough

In Remembrance of William “Bill” McCullough William was the older of two sons born to Samuel and Viola (Maness) McCullough in Newark, New Jersey. He and his family were active members of the St. James AME Church in Newark. Bill spent his early education years in Newark, making lifelong friends in the process. In addition to being a gifted student and loyal friend, he was talented on the basketball court. He graduated from Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. William briefly taught at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama before returning north to Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he obtained a Master of Science in Industrial Administration. By then, he was married and had a toddler. He and his young family moved out to California where he worked for Sylvania as a systems analyst. In his spare time, he played basketball and golf; supported his daughters in their equestrian and dance pursuits; and enjoyed many family outings. It was in New Jersey that Bill began his long-lasting career as professor in the Urban Studies and Community Development Department at Rutgers University, where he taught statistics and urban planning courses, among others. He retired after 27 years of service. Over the years, William loved going on family outings and vacations, whether it was to Shea Stadium for a day of baseball, a trip to the shore, a visit to a majestic national park, an eastern African safari, an island getaway, or a casino trek. It was not uncommon for him to spend quality one-on-one time with a loved one, whether it was to take in dinner and a Broadway show, attend a basketball game, or just spend time going on a nature walk. What many people admired about Bill was how genuine, kind, and sincere he was. He would go out of his way to avoid conflicts, sometime to the detriment of his well-being. He had a way of making you feel special. He had a gentle soul and preferred peace to confrontation. He was very loyal to family and friends and could be counted on for just about anything. William’s memory will be fondly cherished by his daughters, Cheryl and Michele McCullough; sister-in-law, Catherine McCullough; nephew, Maurice McCullough; niece, Annette Chambers; longtime partner, Viola Warren; surrogate sons, Craig (Denise) Lee, and Byron (Kathleen) Warren; and a host of grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, surrogate grandchildren, and cherished friends. He will always hold a special place in our hearts.