Cullen Mancuso

Cullen Joseph Mancuso, age 90, died on Monday September 18, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Cullen was born on November 8, 1932, in Houston, Texas, to parents Michael C. Mancuso and Rosalie Mancuso. He grew up on his parents' dairy farm in Houston. Cullen graduated from Lamar High School in Houston with the class of 1950. It was there he met his high school sweetheart, Margaret K. Mancuso, whom he married in 1953. Cullen was the first member of his family to graduate from high school. He had an exceptional mind and furthered his education by obtaining a Bachelor's Degree with highest honors, Master's Degree and PhD in psychology, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Houston. In 1959, Cullen moved to Tulsa with his wife Margaret and two small children at the time, Michael and Lynette; their next two children, John and David, were still "a twinkle in his eye". The move to Tulsa came after Cullen accepted a position as a professor of psychology at The University of Tulsa, where he worked for 20 years, teaching on the undergraduate and graduate school levels. He was known as the professor with the most popular class on campus, called The Individual, Sex and Society. In the early 1960's, Cullen began his own private practice in clinical psychology in Tulsa, from which he retired in 1994. During his career as a clinical psychologist he became known as the top expert in child custody matters. He was also instrumental in bringing Family Mediation to Tulsa county as a more constructive method of resolving disputes among families, while providing participants with the opportunity for self-determination. Cullen was also the first mental health professional at the Rogers County Public Health Department. Cullen was deeply involved in helping others for the majority of his life, and also improving his surroundings. He was a life-long learner and was rarely one to sit idle. He maintained a healthy lifestyle of regular exercise and fresh fruits and vegetables. He also loved home cooking, especially Italian food. In his leisure time, he enjoyed time with his family, reading, maintaining his rose gardens, growing fresh vegetables and spending time on his tractor at his 100 acre farm in Foyle, Oklahoma. His family and friends will always remember him as an incredibly smart, hard-working, kind, loving and charming man, who prided himself in being a productive member of society and making his part of the world a better place. His most beloved legacy was knowing he and his late wife Margaret had raised four good human beings, who all worked together as "Team Mancuso", along with their spouses, and the four grandchildren and two great grandchildren he had the pleasure to influence and love. He is survived by his four children, Michael, Lynette, John and David Mancuso; four grandchildren, Andrea Mancuso, Myles McManus, Michael and Matthew Mancuso; and two great grandchildren, Audrey and "little" Cullen McNeil. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Friday, September 22, 2023, at 1 p.m., preceded by a visitation/viewing from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., both at Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel, 3612 E. 91st Street South, Tulsa, OK. A brief graveside service by Rev. Keeley Mancuso will be held immediately following the Celebration of Life, at Calvary Cemetery, directly behind Fitzgerald's. Flowers can be sent to Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel. Donations may be made to Hospice House/Clarehouse.

Cullen Mancuso

November 8, 1932 - September 18, 2023