Dr. Gerald J. Tullai, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, August 18 at UConn Health Center from complications arising from his 25+ year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Katherine G. Tullai, his son Matthew R. Tullai (Karen), his daughter Elizabeth G. Bennett (Aaron), three grandchildren, Logan W. Tullai, Summer G. Tullai, and Louis R. Bennett, and his sister Kathryn Bai Rossi.  

Born in New Britain on May 10, 1944; he was a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, the University of Connecticut, and Indiana University, where he earned his Masters’ degree and Ph.D. in Linguistics. Before accepting a faculty position at Central Connecticut State College in 1970, Jerry served as a radio news producer for Voice of America in Washington D.C., where he was responsible for the daily “African Panorama” news program.

As a tenured professor of English at CCSU, “Dr. Tullai” was known to generations of college students who lined up for his often-oversubscribed Introduction to Linguistics class. In addition to his teaching responsibilities at Central, he served as the Chair of the English department, helped form and lead the International English Language Institute (IELI) and served as the chapter president of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), a labor union representing University faculty.

Born and raised in New Britain, Jerry was a lifelong resident, civic organizer, and promoter of the city. He was a founding member, actor, and producer at The Hole in the Wall Theater, a founder of the New Britain-focused Citizens United for Better Education (CUBE) and co-founder of the Central Connecticut Cycling Club (CCCC), which hosted annual bicycle races in Walnut Hill Park. 

He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed multi-day bicycle tours, pheasant and deer hunting, fly tying and fishing, and orienteering. Jerry was a longtime member of Bristol Fish and Game club and prior to his Parkinson’s diagnosis, was an expert at trap, skeet, and sporting clays. Jerry had an exceptional mechanical ability and could fix anything; he had a particular affinity for the first generation Chevrolet Corvair, which he claimed was “very safe”, despite what others had written about it.

Visitation will be held at Farrell Funeral Home, 110 Franklin Square, New Britain on Tuesday August 25 from 5 – 7pm, and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Maurice Catholic Church, 100 Wightman Rd, New Britain on Wednesday August 26 at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Jerry’s name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease Research, https://give.michaeljfox.com.