Dr. Richard Culliton passed away earlier this week, surrounded by his family, at the Residence in Vinnin Square, Swampscott.  He grew up in Lynn and spent most of his life in Lynn and Swampscott.

Richard was born in 1936 to Dr. Thomas and Helen Bowers Culliton.  He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Thomas Culliton Jr. and sister Helen Culliton Whalen.  Richard graduated from Phillips Andover, Hiram College and Tufts University School of Medicine. He met his wife Mary, who was a nurse, at Carney Hospital when he was a medical student.  

Richard and Mary were married for 61 years and have four children. He leaves his daughter Ellen Culliton and her husband Dylan Dobbyn, his daughter Jennifer Culliton Paul and her husband Jonathan Paul, his daughter Lauren Culliton and his son Rick Culliton and his wife Katie.  Richard adored his seven grandchildren Elizabeth, Maggie, Emily, Annie, Matthew, Charlotte and Claire.  

Richard began his career in medicine in Portland, ME, then served as a captain in the US Air Force stationed in England.  When he returned from the Air Force, he went into practice with his father, also a noted local Obstetrician and Gynecologist, at their office on Nahant Street in Lynn.  Later he founded the Swampscott OB/GYN Group in Swampscott with his longtime friend and partner, the late Dr. Charles McDowell. Richard was a generous and skilled physician and his kind, affable demeanor contributed to his compassionate bedside manner.  He served on the staff of Lynn, Union and Salem hospitals.  He is still fondly remembered today, almost 30 years after retiring by many of his colleagues and patients as a kind and gentle physician.

For Mary and Richard, their care for each other and their children was the center of their lives.   Richard lived his life with great love for his family and pride in watching his children and grandchildren find their way.  He was deeply loved and will be forever missed.

The Culliton Family would like to thank the staff and residents of the Residence at Vinnin Square as well as the wonderful caregivers at Neighborgood Care in Marblehead, MA. 

A funeral mass will be held at St John the Evangelist in Swampscott, MA at 10:30AM on Saturday December 16, 2023. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations to his memory may be made to: My Brother’s Table, 98 Willow St, Lynn, MA 01901. For more information, please call the Murphy Funeral Home at 978-744-0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.

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