| Date of Birth | June 2, 1930 |
| Passed Away | November 9, 2012 |
| Place of Residence | Almond |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | November 17, 2012 |
| Service Time | 4:00 PM |
| Service Location | Howell Hall at Alfred University |
ALMOND-John L. Stull, 82, of Almond died Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 with Paula, his wife of sixty years, by his side. He was a dedicated teacher to the end, and a man of keen insights, quick wit, relentless curiosity, enormous practical knowledge and a great, welcoming laugh. John’s life made a huge impact on thousands of students and observatory visitors, residents of the Alfred area, and of course his family.
Born in Dansville in 1930, John was the son of the late Milton and Theda Stull. In 1952 John graduated magna cum laude from Alfred University with a Bachelor of Science in ceramic engineering. He then earned Alfred University’s second Ph.D in that same field. (He would tell you with a smile that he would have been first, but Stull is an alphabetically challenged last name.)
John joined the faculty of Alfred University in 1958 and remained there for the rest of his career, officially retiring in 1992. He continued to be active at the University well after that date, continuing until poor health finally limited him. During his career he resurrected the University’s observatory by building or rebuilding almost all of the telescopes in use there. In 1989, against his mild objection, the Observatory was named the John L. Stull Observatory, and it is considered one of the finest teaching observatories in the country. John also served in a wide range of capacities at the University, ranging from serving on committees, through working with the Admissions department to jumping in to help shovel snow when storms shut down the campus. He was equally comfortable speaking and working with physical plant employees and university administrators. Over the years Alfred University presented John with a teaching award, the Alfred University Friend Award and the Lillian T. Nevins Award for Lifetime Service to the University.
John was an inveterate tinkerer, and in 1963 he invented the Stull-Ealing linear air track, a low-friction device used in physics instruction which has been marketed world-wide. He also was an avid sailor and summer resident of Keuka Lake. Whether air tracks, boat docks or his beloved telescopes, the phrase “over-determined” was a hallmark of a Stull design. Things were always built to be rugged, adjustable, and fully functional – “pretty” cost extra.
In 1997 the late Dr. Scott Weaver and Dr. David DeGraff using the largest telescope that John had designed and built, discovered an asteroid. This asteroid was later named Asteroid 31113 Stull, in John’s honor.
In addition to his wife Paula, John is survived by daughter Marylee Stull (David) Ashby, son Peter (Linda) Stull, and grandchildren Joshua Ashby, Rebecca Ashby, Abby Stull, and Rachel Stull (Nathan) Woodruff. A family Thanksgiving dinner was never complete until Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations or the unabridged dictionary (or both) had been brought to the table to settle a friendly dispute, although Google served this purpose in later years.
John was under the care of the Dialysis Unit of St. James Mercy Hospital, and spent his last two months at McAuley Manor in Hornell. Both took kind, capable care of him and his family.
Services will be Saturday, November 17, in Howell Hall, Alfred University. Calling hours will be from 1:30-3:30 p.m. downstairs (handicapped accessible), with a memorial service at 4:00 p.m. upstairs and reception to follow. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Alfred University Observatory, Alfred University, 1 Saxon Drive, Alfred, NY 14802.
Arrangements are with the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., HornelL.
John always possessed the ability to capture the attention of even a few, along with the many. A very generous, kind, and helpful man who will be truly missed by all. Will miss his stories, and his humor.
Dear Paula,
So sorry to hear of John’s passing.
I remember fondly John and his enjoyment of the lake.
with sympathy,
your former Keuka neighbor
Jeanne Winters McDonald
John was one of the kindest men I have ever met. I remember the times he had his vehicles serviced at my Dad’s garage in Alfred Station fondly. Our world needs more men like him.
My deepest sympathy to the Stull family. I have many fond memories of our Whitney Valley neighbor.
Readingof Johns passing brought a flood of fond memmories, especially from when we lived at the other end of Q2. Times like when you guys were watching Beth for us and our washing machine hose burst. John drilled holes in the floor to let the water out.
John was a great guy who helped me a lot in getting my Cer. Eng. degree.
My deepest sympathy to you, Mamie and Peter.
I remember Dr. still from physics courses held in the old Physics Hall in the mid-60’s. He had a way of making the most complex concepts easily understood. His sense of humor and use of everyday observations to explain theories has stuck with me. He used to have review sessions on Friday afternoons. After an hour, they degenerated into bull sessions. He was once challenged to see how high he could kick his leg. He put his heel on top of one of the old door casings – effortlessly!! Had to be over seven feet. Always good humored and a gentleman. Sorry for your loss.
I have many childhood memories of big tall John Stull and his family, and of the observatory which was just up the hill from our house on Sayles Street. Thank you for the wonderfully written obituary of this great, truly Alfredian man.
Paula, just to let you know you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers constantly during this very difficult time. We always enjoyed John’s company whenever we got together.
Love Connie and Jim
John was such a well-liked man by all the students that attended AUs Summer Astronomy camps. “Uhm” as he was called…they has too much respect to call him John informally, yet Prof Stull was much too formal. They all uhmmmed him and so the name was formed! We was so good natured and likeable; he is missed but will not be forgotten. My sympathies to the family.
When I came to work at Alfred in 1989 John and I used to laugh about how I was his “inverse” John had studied glass and ceramics and had migrated into physics to teach whereas I had studied Physics and ended up migrating into glass to teach. I always used to think that it was natural that John would be an astronomer as he was so tall and therefore always naturally close to the stars.
I met John several years ago, at McAuley Manor. I was a nurse on the rehab unit. He was kind and I’m glad I had the chance to meet him.
In the late 1950s, I took physics from Dr. Stull. I think because of his personality and clearly his identification with us, I liked him from the very first day. As the years went by and I became a member of the Board of Trustees of Alfred University in 1983, I got to know John a little bit better. The more I knew him, the more I felt affection for him as a person. I always thought his interest in astronomy and the Stull Observatory was really a different type of contribution to Alfred University.
I will miss him. I am sorry that I didn’t try harder to speak with him at our last Board meeting.
11/17, Alfred NY, John Stull was unable to attend a wine and cheese reception given in his honor due to a previously scheduled engagement at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Revelation 19:9.
Marylee and David So sorry to hear of your father’s passing. A student of his, now a friend of mine, shared the news. Patti remembers him very fondly. Condolences to your mother.