Jeff Bullen

Jeff AKA Bull-Man will be remembered as a great friend with a heart, a brilliant and at times a very absent mind, a sense of humor accompanied by a hearty laugh, and a fortunate member of a terrific family. A few stories come to mind, though there are many. My first introduction to Jeff was a ski trip with Doug Bibby to northern Vermont. Among other aspects of this adventure were: being pulled up and off a snow filled road side by a passing mail truck, and making many other wrong turns. We had attempted to turn around on a narrow country road. Finally, late that night after wandering Vermont country roads, we arrived at our rental house one night early and -15 degrees. I listened, frozen and impressed with Jeff's and Doug's ability to talk our way into the shelter of this house already full with the front line of the Colgate football team. During a college summer vacation job, Jeff worked at estimating the taxable values of residential homes. Knowing who owned each house helped him underestimate the value of modest houses owned by a widow, for example, or other deserving folks. Jeff had a heart. He always enjoyed sharing: time, food or whatever was to be shared at the moment. It was the companionship more than what was shared which was important. Though, I don't think the Bull-Man ever kissed the Blarney Stone, he had its gift. After his first year in Law School, and a summer internship with the Brooklyn DA, he was offered a job, which was impressive, though he declined it. At another time, in a hurry to return our dates to their dorm before curfew, Bull-Man drove through several stop signs and a red light. After being stopped by Granville's Finest, Jeff politely got out of the car, and had a lengthy, animated and apparently mutually enjoyable conversation with the Officer. When Jeff drove away, he had no ticket, and not even a formal warning, unusual to say the least, but typical, Jeff. Misplacing things was for Bull-Man, not occasional, it was legendary. One morning a generous fraternity brother asked Jeff for the keys to his car Jeff had borrowed the previous evening. Not only could Jeff not find the keys, he could not find the car. This became a seek and find mission for the entire fraternity. The car was later found carefully parked a good distance away, down by the sports field house. Knowing little of legal work, I once asked Jeff if he would go through an inch thick trove of letters from the attorney representing my Father's estate. I didn't expect him to do it at that moment. However, with deliberation, he scanned each letter, and about 15 minutes later told me everything looked like what he would expect. Exemplary of Jeff's mind. Fortunately for me on another occasion, I walked behind my car during a visit from Jeff. He had placed a couple of bumper stickers, zany and hilarious, but not appropriate for prime time viewing. I don't think I have laughed so hard before or since. One bumper sticker now lives on the inside of my tool chest lid. It still gives me a chuckle each time I see it. One of a kind, Jeff has been, and will be missed.