PJ Cullinan
Tony Rizzo shared his memories of PJ Cullinan, in the Kansas City Star on Tuesday:
The P.J. Cullinan I knew had nothing to do with Ireland.
To me he was Mr. Cullinan, father of some of my classmates at Redemptorist School, and a leader of Boy Scout Troop 40, a collection of neighborhood kids who, at times, must have tried the patience and self-control of any adult tasked with trying to keep us out of trouble.
But he did it for years and I cannot remember one time where he raised his voice or treated us with anything other than kindness and respect.
It was in Kansas City many years ago that I met PJ, in a time before I had anything to do with Irish organisations, festivals, or websites.
I was always surprised that his enthusiasm for things Irish in KC never seemed to wane, unlike everyone else I knew from Ireland. Indeed at the last few Celtic Fringe meetings I attended, PJ and I were often the only people there actually from Ireland.
And every time I saw him, his smiling face came to seek me out. That’s how I always picture him. And how I always will.
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
