By JACKSON WANG
Executive Editor
Two important members of the Saint Rose community passed away last week—former professor Fr. Anthony Gulley and former board of trustees member Carl Touhey. Both Gulley and Touhey devoted over 20 years of their lives to The College. Touhey was 95 and Gulley was 83.
“[Touhey] was a really good friend of the college,” said interim college president Maggie Kirwin. “He was always very active.”
Kirwin described Touhey as a “very charming, very witty, very smart” man. In 2000, he made a generous donation to The College by giving $2 million to help build the Thelma P. Lally School of Education. In return, Saint Rose named the multimedia forum in the School of Education “The Carl E. Touhey Forum” in his honor.
Kirwin said Touhey was always about giving and helping. In 2002, Touhey had a large gathering at his home for a fundraiser to help build the school of education. Once that building was completed, Touhey even held his 90th birthday in the Touhey Forum.
“He viewed Saint Rose as a college that helped people,” said former college president Mark Sullivan.
Sullivan said the Touhey knew his donations would make a difference to Saint Rose, which is why he not only donated money to The College, but also his time. Touhey was also very active in helping
Saint Rose get a new gymnasium and sports complex.
Sullivan said he almost fell out of his chair when Touhey said he would give Saint Rose $2 million.
“Everyone looked up to Carl,” said Sullivan.
Touhey joined the Saint Rose community in 1991 by becoming a member of the board of trustees. He served that position until 2005.
The College awarded Touhey with an honorary degree at its 79th Commencement in 2001, recognizing him for his example in giving back to the community. He also received the “Spirit of Saint Rose Award” in 2004 for his contributions to Saint Rose and to the greater community.
In 1973, Touhey ran for mayor against Erastus Corning II, who served eight terms as mayor. Touhey came closer than anyone else ever did to taking down Corning. Kirwin actually helped Touhey campaign for mayor in that election.
But beyond the politics and philanthropy, Kirwin said Touhey was a very successful businessman. Touhey was the president and CEO of Orange Motor Co., the city’s oldest car dealership.
Around the time Touhey was serving on the board of trustees, Fr. Gulley was also making his impact to The College by making sure his students got most of his philosophy class.
Kirwin said Fr. Gulley always held his students a high standard, while ruling with an iron fist.
“He was an outspoken person, but a very straight shoot,” said Kirwin.
Known to colleagues as “Tony,” Fr. Gulley was a “very kind, very warm, and very passionate person,” said Marguerite Lodico, a professor of educational psychology, who worked with Fr. Gulley for 20 years in the school of education.
“He had a real passion for philosophy,” said Lodico. “It was very close to his heart.”
Fr. Gulley joined The College in the 1970s and retired from teaching in the early 2000s. But during his time at Saint Rose, there is once incident involving Fr. Gulley that both Kirwin and Lodico will always remember.
Fr. Gulley was teaching one of his philosophy classes one day when baseball player came into his classroom wearing a hat. When Fr. Gulley asked the student to remove the hat, he refused. So instead of letting someone else handle the problem, Fr. Gulley took it upon himself to resolve the issue.
“Father Gulley was a strong man and he literally threw the baseball player out of the classroom,” said Kirwin.
But beyond his manner in the classroom, Lodico said Fr. Gulley was also an impeccable dresser.
She said she will always remember Fr. Gulley for his kindness.
“He would always ask about my family,” said Lodico. She added that family was very import to Fr. Gulley, especially his brother, who developed Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
Fr. Christopher DeGiovine, Dean of Spiritual Life and Chaplain, said Fr. Gulley was very dedicated to caring for his brother, as well as very everyone else in his life.
“Father Gulley was a man dedicated to his priesthood, to serving people, and especially to the ministry of education,” said Fr. DeGiovine.
The College will be holding a Mass at St. Vincent Church on Madison Avenue and Partridge Street for Touhey on October 13th, and for Fr. Gulley on Octdober 20th.
