Captain James J. Culligan of Warwick, NY, slipped away peacefully from the arms of his wife Kathleen into the arms of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in his beloved house on the hill on April 5, 2024. He was 94 years old.
Born in Chicago, IL, July 16, 1929, he was the son of Roland and Lillian (nee Winters) Culligan. He was raised in Ashland, Wisconsin.
James proudly served for the U.S. Air Force then he flew for many years with Skytypers. He was a certified flight instructor, especially for aerobatic formations. He became a commercial pilot for Eastern Airlines. He was a ski instructor for many years at the local ski resorts. He was an active member of the American Legion Post 214, Warwick. He loved his family, NASCAR, and the Green Bay Packers.
James was a parishioner at St. Stephen RC Church, Warwick.
James was married to Kathleen (nee Lutz) Culligan who survives him; his four children: Jerald Culligan and his wife Jeanne; Jeffrey Culligan and his wife Lourdes; Jennifer Culligan; and Marlene Groves and her husband David; grandchildren: Jay, Jason(Darcy), Jacob(Kelsey), Peter Cerullo, Marina Cerullo, Mason Groves, Hayden Groves, Sumner Groves; great-grandchildren: Paxton, Jensen, and Kasen; and Kathleen’s family: her children: Jade Solitario; Kara Solitario; Leah Solitario; Dominick Solitario and his wife Danielle; grandchildren: Austin Kurtz(Michelle), Carmine Rivera, Alivia Rivera, Antonio Rivera, Madison Gannon, Avery Solitario, and Dominick Solitario; and great-grandchildren Elizabeth and Waylon; his former wife Pia Culligan; and his newly-acquired four-legged friend Electra; and many good friends near and far.
A special thank you to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties for their compassionate care of James.
A graveside service and celebration of life will be held on what would have been James’ 95th birthday, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at noon at Orange County Veterans Cemetery, 111 Craigville Road, Goshen, NY. While our hearts are heavy and we miss him dearly, we will honor the life he lived and loved so well by wearing patriotic or bright colors as a tribute to his legacy.