William Michael Culhane, a proud son of Hoboken for 74 years, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021. Bill was one of a kind who had a huge zest for life, family, and friends. He always had a smile on his face, an animated story at the ready, and a deep laugh from his heart. The great memories and experiences Bill has left us are too numerous to count.
Billy grew up on 12th Street in the yellow flats of Hoboken where he developed a love for anything that involved a ball, competition, camaraderie, and comebacks. He remained a kid at heart up to his final days.
As a teenager, Bill loved being a summer camp counselor at the Hoboken YMCA and Camp Tamaqua, a camp that sent the kids of Hoboken out of the inner city into upstate NY for the summer. He excelled on and captained the baseball team at Hoboken High and graduated from Saint Peter’s College with a degree in Accounting.
Bill’s career on Wall Street spanned 45 years starting with CJ Lawrence and ending with Knight Securities. His personality, hard work, and loyalty carried him from the back office to a coveted seat on the Institutional Block Equity Sales Desk.
Bill was an avid fan of all sports, travelling the world with friends and family, hosting friends at his Mountain House, golfing with his Forest Hill Field Club family, tailgating at 12B at every New York Giants home game, and never giving up on the New York Mets and New York Rangers.
Bill volunteered to coach countless Hoboken baseball teams winning several state and regional championships. He brought his teams optimism, dependability, and first-class coaching. Bill’s crowning achievement was bringing the 27-3 Hoboken Ambassadors, likely Hoboken’s all-time greatest baseball team, to Russia on a Goodwill baseball tour. For his dedication and coaching success, Bill was recently inducted into the Hoboken Hall of Fame with the Ambassador Award.
Bill is at peace and reunited with his father John, mother Muriel, and brothers Jack and Robert.
His love of family extended to his sister in laws Alice Galmann, Katherine Rohner, nieces and nephews, John, Alice, Leo, Billy, Michael, Stephen, Thomas, Kristin, Scott, and Katie.
Bill is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years Deborah, beloved son Chris, dearest daughter-in-law Jennifer, beloved daughter Erin, grandchildren Jack, Quinn, Katherine, Morgan, Will, and Maggie. Bill’s children and grandchildren were the pride and joy of his life. The legacy of Bill’s love for life, dedication to family and friends, passion for sports, and enduring spirit will live on through them, now 6th generation sons and daughters of Hoboken.
Visitation for Bill will be held on Sunday, April 11, 2021 from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Lawton-Turso Funeral Home in Hoboken (633 Washington Street, Corner of Seventh & Washington Streets, Parking on Seventh). A Funeral Mass will be offered on Monday, April 12, 2021 at 10:30 AM at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Hoboken (Corner of Fourth and Hudson Streets). Social distancing and masks will be required.
For the safety of in-person attendees and our staff, gatherings at Lawton-Turso Funeral Home will currently follow the latest guidelines as described here:
- All people attending must wear a mask while inside and around the outside of the funeral home.
- For safety, the number of attendees indoors will be limited to a reduced capacity according to currently allowed levels and shall be monitored by the management.
- All attendees must practice social distancing while paying their respects.
- In the event of changes to these safety practices, please watch this page for the latest updates.
My name is Jane O’’Rourke Reed, sister of Jack O’Rourke, a dear friend of Bill and Debbie. They never lost touch with each other. My memories are of His Mother, Muriel , who was friends with my mother Molly Bill’s obituary brought back so many memories of Hoboken. It was a walk through his wonderful life of family and friends in the city of my birth. Rest In Peace Bill.
Jane (Jack’s sister)
Dear Debbie,
My sincere condolences on your loss. My heart is heavy , filled with all the wonderful memories of growing up in Hoboken. My brother Jack has lost a wonderful friend and am sorry for all the boys who grew up together , but love that they have fabulous memories. Jack loved when Billy and John came up to Saratoga to the races.
Love,
Laurie O’Rourke
Man what can I say about this great man. He taught me a lot about taking care of your family. Coach bill and aunt Debbie was there for me as a kid. They knew about my home situation and tried there best to help me get out of the situation. We had so much fun on that Russian trip we really felt like stars thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me. Rest easy coach
To Debbie, Chris, Erin – we are at a loss – Bill will be missed tremendously and will be remembered for his hearty laugh, good stories and his generosity. Cherishing the annual card game on Holy Thursday at the mountain house – his down the shore stories – and his love for his family and life.
RIP Billy
Sending our heartfelt condolences.
Love, Steve and Ellie DeCandia
To Debbie and Family,
I wanted to send my condolences 💐for the loss of a loving husband and father. I knew Bill as a teenager and remembered him driving me to to camp Tamaqua on a number of occasions and his impressive collection of sport’s Jerseys. He was an introspective person who was quite and kind and was the foundation for his family. to grow. He demonstrated his love for family and community by finding the time to help others through good deeds. I will always remember Bill as a role model, loving husband, loving father, a family man who provided for his family. And most importantly , a bright light to all who new and loved him.
You will be missed Bill.
God Bless Bill and Love to all your family.
Jimmy Figueroa
My cousin Billy — last of the brothers, now reunited.
What a great loss — although most of my memories were years ago. My family would go to the Culhane’s every Christmas Eve when I was a kid. I can still picture Aunt Muriel and Uncle Jack’s apartment — was that on the second or the third ? They had a dumb waiter for the trash and I was always fascinated by it. Six years my senior, Billy was always spirited and full of life. Jack was the eldest, and he was more of an elegant kind of guy. We all laughed and laughed on those winter nights.
At Billy and Debbie’s wedding, I was a freshman in high school – and it was the biggest wedding I had ever seen – beautiful and festive. I feel badly that we lost touch — but family bonds are strong and I feel his presence.
God’s blessings to everyone — especially Debbie, Chris and Erin. He will always be with you. Stay strong. I will keep you all in my prayers..
Love,
Cousin Cathy Dube
Dear Debbie, I was shocked to see this on Micheal Cardino’s page… I’m not sure if Billy had been ill but I’m sure this was a shock… Please accept my sincerest condolences to all in the family…. Billie’s mom & mine were great friends back in the day…..Love MaryAnne & Kara
The world just lost one of a kind.
I became good friends with Ox since the first time I met him at FDU..Since that time there have been countless wonderful occasions and some sad times that we have experienced with Billy.Billy ,Debbie ,Laurie and I with all our friends have countless memories.A Very,Very special person to me is gone.I will meet you in heaven ,someday,my friend.
I’m honored to say Coach Bill was like a father figure to me and many other young men growing up in Hoboken. I’m thankful to have known Bill for over 35 years and every time I saw him it was like we were back in Russia playing ball. I’m gonna miss seeing you coach. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to play organized baseball I’m forever grateful 🙏🏽
Dear Debbie, Chris and Erin – I am so sorry to hear this news. My deepest condolences. Cousin Billy was one of a kind, and I feel so fortunate to have reconnected with him a few years ago with Tala. She and I have very fond memories of visiting the entire Culhane Clan – Chris and his new wife Jennifer, Erin, her son Jack, and those adorable girls. We enjoyed watching the World Cup at night with Billy and Debbie (Billy was a gracious soccer fan for that week!). I wish my son Layth had met such a great man. My earliest memories of Cousin Billy was when he’d come knocking on our Fairmount Terrace door before his statistics class at St. Peter’s; he’d head straight to the kitchen and wrestle with my dad over ‘sadistics.’ And when Billy brought Debbie over, we thought they were the coolest couple. And they still are. In our hearts always, and forever. Love, Maureen Rush
My deepest condolences to the family. I’m one of the Camp Tamaqua kids that knew Billy and Debbie and the family as teenagers. You could tell even back then that Billy was a very special kid who would become a very special man – especially with Debbie by his side. I only wish I could have spent more time with the family over the years. RIP Billy. You have left a magnificent legacy in your passing.
The world has lost a first class person. I have known Bill since we became fraternity brothers at FDU. I have many fond memories of Bill including his annual card game. I still think about one time we were golfing in SC and he placed a rubber snake in the hole and waited for me to take my ball out. I screamed and he laughed with his hearty laugh. He will be missed.
RIP
In recent years Bill was a welcomed presence at the patio bar at Forest Hill Field Club. There was always a warm greeting and some words of support. He will be missed.
Love