In Loving Memory Joyce R. Rippolon Cullen

Joyce R. Rippolon Cullen, born September 5, 1941in New York City, NY, passed away on Monday, July 31, 2023 at the age of 81. Joyce worked as an Earth Science teacher in the NY Public School system, most years in Somers High School, Somers NY.  She lived with her husband of 25 years on Peekskill Hollow Rd in Putnam Valley, NY and retired from teaching after 25 years. Joyce spent her entire teaching career going to mainly Yellowstone Park for summer courses and taking nature photographs and slides which number in the thousands. She had also visited every national state park as one of her goals. Her music passion was bluegrass and she travelled extensively to festivals while vehicle camping, which she also enjoyed while attending most all of them. Joyce was an avid square dancer and clogger. She taught clogging for decades to adults and performed (most notably) once with her group in the Rose Bowl parade. The group also entertained at several senior homes in the Hudson valley area.  Another of her passions was shopping, which she enjoyed by taking local friends to wherever she was inclined to explore. The Xmas Tree shop was a favorite of hers. She was a cat lover and always kept several at a time. A collection(family) of stuffed teddy bears also entertained her life through most of her later years. 

Joyce is survived by her brother, Thomas Rippolon…both brother and Joyce were adopted by their parents, Thomas and Louise Rippolon of Putnam Valley, NY; divorced husband of 25 years, James Cullen; friends/longest time friends and survivors and residents in Putnam Valley: Laura Deigan, Elinor Brown, and a childhood friend currently residing in Baton Rouge, LA; Marjorie McNitt ( maiden last name Tompkins) of Putnam Valley; her best bluegrass travel buddy and musician friend was Mary De Berry of Newburgh, NY her longest friend from childhood in Putnam Valley is Sue Sullivan who now resides part time in Vernon, Texas, and near Bangor, Maine.

 

A private memorial service to celebrate Joyce’s life will be held at a later date.