Colonel John Noel Kulas

Kulas, John Noel, Colonel US Air Force Reserve JAG of Twin Mountain, NH. He passed away on the evening of March 15, 2022.  Born in Brighton, MA on 12/25/1946 he was a welcomed Christmas Gift for his parents. John “Jack” was the son of the late John S. and Elizabeth V. (Leona) Kulas of Brighton, MA.  A loving and devoted son, caring brother and uncle, and friend to anyone in need of friendship and counsel.  He will be missed by many, in many ways.

Colonel Jack Kulas graduated from Boston College in 1968, enlisted in the USAF in January 1969, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in August 1969. He initially served as a War Plans Officer at Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Virginia from August 1969 until June 1972. His primary area of responsibility was the formulation and implementation of unconventional War Plans and Operations.  He was discharged from active duty in 1971 to return to Suffolk University Law School and graduated cum laude with a JD in 1975.  In 1976, Jack joined the Air Force Reserves as an attorney while developing a private law practice in Belmont MA. The essence of a fine attorney is one who values, respects, and protects privacy, a quality he exemplified beyond compare and for which he was known both professionally and privately. He achieved many accolades, awards, and commendations in his long-standing military career including Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Reginald C. Harmon Award Outstanding Reserve Judge Advocate, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Device, and the Air Force Reserve Medal.  He completed the Air War College and Air Command and Staff College Associate Correspondence Programs of the Air University.  Jack also volunteered during Desert Storm/Desert Shield and was stationed in Aviano, Italy. Following his retirement from the Air Force, in 2001 Jack wanted to maintain his ties with the military and to continue helping servicemembers. In 2001, Jack moved to Kodiak, AK, where he became the first legal assistance attorney at the US Coast Guard Base Kodiak. Base Kodiak serves as the major mission support point for Coast Guard operations across Alaska. The personnel serving in Alaska often cope with remote conditions, harsh weather, long distances, and limited infrastructure. It is in this environment that Jack provided legal assistance to over 1200 active duty and reserve personnel and their families, as well as hundreds of Coast Guard members stationed in other AK locations. He supported Coasties with confidential legal advice and practical guidance on a wide range of issues, including pre-deployment assistance, family law, wills and trusts, consumer law, landlord-tenant matters, and immigration. Military readiness directly depends on personal readiness. Jack eased the mental burden for the Coast Guard men and women serving in Alaska, allowing them to focus on their duties and giving their families peace of mind. When Jack had a moment to himself, he enjoyed fishing for salmon and trout and going to the local shooting range. Even following his retirement in 2010, Jack wanted to help and remained as a consultant to Coast Guard attorneys long after his departure from AK.

He is survived by his siblings, Betty-Ann Kelly, Belmont, MA, James M. Kulas and wife Janice of Brighton, MA and Sanbornton, NH, Gini Levenson and husband Barry of Marion, MA, and sister-in-law Sophie Kulas of Somerville, MA.  Predeceasing him were his brother Lee F. Kulas and brother-in-law, Charles P. Kelly, Jr,  both of Belmont.  Jack is survived by his nephews Barrett Levenson, fiancé Ali Woodruff and Barrett’s son Graham, Brent Levenson and husband Heinrich Mueller, MA, Ahren Kulas, CA and niece Tara Kulas of WA.  Also surviving him is his former spouse, Rosemary McNally Kulas of Belmont, MA 

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 25, 2022, 9:00 10:30 AM, at the Ross Funeral Home, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am St.Rose of Lima Church, 77 Clay St. Littleton, NH, with Funeral Honors at 2 pm in NH State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. Donations in Colonel Kulas’ memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital for Cancer Research https://www.stjude.org/donate/https://www.stjude.org/donate/ or Disabled American Veterans  http://dav.org/site/Donation