Julius Robert (Bob) Tulipani, 95 of Ridgefield, died peacefully on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. He was the loving husband of the late Georgine Tulipani.
Bob was born in Ridgefield, CT; the son of the late Julius and Lily Tulipani. Bob attended Ridgefield schools and then served in the US Army, in which he was stationed in Germany during the Korean War.
Bob earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Connecticut State College. He taught 4th and 6th grade at Ridgebury and Veterans Park Elementary Schools for 25 years until his retirement.
“Mr. T” was a caring and dedicated teacher who made a difference in his students’ lives. He enjoyed building sets for school plays and delighted all while competing as “Tornado Tulipani” during the staff Volleyball Tournaments.
During his teaching career, Bob co-authored two books: “Reading about Ridgefield” and “Reading about Connecticut”, both of which were used as part of Ridgefield’s 4th grade curriculum.
Bob dedicated his life to serving his hometown. He was a member of the American Legion – Ridgefield Post 78 and was the Legion Commander from 1992 to 2010. Bob oversaw Ridgefield’s Memorial Day parade for many years and worked tirelessly to ensure that residents remembered the true meaning of Memorial Day. You could find him putting out flags on veteran’s graves every year before Memorial Day, and had all of the military grave locations memorized, even those not marked.
Additionally, Bob served as Director of both the Ridgefield Boys and Girls Club and the Ridgefield Townies Basketball League. He was a coach for the St. Mary’s School softball and basketball teams, the Secretary of the Italian American Mutual Aid Society, and a member of the Ridgefield Old Timers Association, Parks and Recreation Commission, Kiwanis Club, and the Ridgefield Men’s Club. Bob was also active with the Ridgefield Graveyard Committee and Ridgefield 300th Anniversary Board. Bob and Georgine were both active in their beloved Saint Mary’s Church. They served as Eucharistic Ministers, and Bob enjoyed assisting with documenting the collection tallies.
Bob was an avid gardener and loved gifting vegetables to friends and neighbors. He also enjoyed weekly pinochle games at the Ridgefield Rec Center and walked there almost every day, saying hello to everyone he met.
Bob is survived by his three daughters: Lori Carriero and her husband, Joseph; Kathy Tulipani; and Beth Nemire and her husband, Randy. He is also survived by two grandchildren: Douglas and Angela Carriero.
Family and friends will be received on Thursday, June 22, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, June 23, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Saint Mary's Church; 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. Interment and US Military Funeral Honors will follow in Saint Mary's Cemetery; 110 North Street, Ridgefield.
Contributions made in Mr. Tulipani’s memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project - PO Box 758516; Topeka, Kansas, 66675, http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
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