Richard Smart Culver, age 86, resident of Newbury Court in Concord, formerly of Binghamton, NY, passed away on February 5, 2024. He was the beloved husband for 61 years of Margaret Harriet “Smuggles” Culver.
A Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Professional Engineer, Dick led a distinguished multi-national career in research and education, including roles as a Professor at Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria and University of Calgary, Canada. At the Colorado School of Mines, Dick served several years on the Engineering faculty and as Dean of Students. Dick’s longest professional stay was at Binghamton University, in the Thomas Watson School of Engineering where he was the inaugural Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. He spearheaded the establishment of the Watson School’s nationally renowned lower division program from 1994 to 2000 and retired as Professor Emeritus in 2007.
Dick was a lifelong skilled artist and craftsman who enjoyed drawing, woodworking, and stained glass. As a child, he built balsa wood and tissue paper model airplanes with which he won many flight competitions including holding a national record for indoor hand-launched gliders. He designed and built many things from furniture pieces to the family home in Golden, Colorado. In later years, he developed an extensive portfolio of original stained glass designs. Several of his pieces have been shown in galleries and are installed in homes and buildings in Binghamton. One of his later pieces hangs in the North Lobby at Newbury Court.
Dick was a loving, kind, unassuming, and tirelessly helpful husband, father, friend. He will also be remembered as a creative problem solver and master of the home project.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, Joseph Culver and his wife Mary of St. Louis, MO, Robert Culver of Durango, CO, Thomas Culver and his wife Polly of Amherst, NH and Kande McDonald and her husband Michael of Concord, MA, along with seven grandchildren, Easton, Owen, Audrey, Hannah, Marlena, Eliot and Naomi, and three brothers, Ed Culver of Maryville, TN, David Culver and his wife Ginny of Columbus, OH and Gene Culver of Maryville, TN. He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends will gather for a celebration of Dick’s life in Duvall Chapel at Newbury Court, 80 Deaconess Road, Concord on Sunday, May 26th at 2 p.m.
Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. For Dick’s full obituary and online guestbook, visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.
