Throughout his life, Tom Culkin made a habit of giving back.
From serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War to his decorated 32-year career with the Scranton Police Department to his passion for putting smiles on people’s faces who visited the extravagant holiday displays at his South Scranton home, Culkin continually put others first.
Culkin died Thursday after a short, courageous battle with cancer. He was 77. He is survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, the former Marilyn Guarina, whom he met during an eighth grade dance.
During his career in law enforcement, Culkin worked as a patrolman and participated in undercover investigations, eventually retiring as a detective.
Culkin’s four daughters — Amy Ostrowski of Roaring Brook Twp., Erin Tansley of Scranton, Bridget Judge of Moscow and Meghan Gable of Saratoga Springs, New York — recalled their dad’s strong work ethic and caring nature.
“We’ve heard countless stories this week of people telling us about his infectious smile and that he would give you the shirt off his back,” Judge said. “If you knew him, you loved him.”
Culkin — a 50-year member of the Fraternal Order of Police and German American Club, and 40-year member of the Scranton Pool League — likely is most well known for the “Holiday House,” a staple on Moosic Street in Scranton for more than five decades.
In addition to the Christmas and Halloween displays, Culkin made an effort to recognize other holidays, including Easter, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and the Fourth of July.
From a modest start, Culkin developed his Christmas display into a must-see attraction, although he never cared for the limelight.
“My father came from very humble beginnings,” Judge said. “He was all about if you want something, you’re going to work for it. It started small and every year it grew and grew because he saw what it gave to the city. He was the man behind the curtain … he didn’t want any kind of accolades. He would do it because he knew how it made everyone feel and he loved hearing it was a part of everyone’s holiday tradition.”
Down to his final days, Culkin remained proud of the legacy he created through the popular holiday displays.
“Even last week when we were at Sloan Kettering (Cancer Center in New York City), he was telling the nurses and his roommate if you’re ever in Scranton, come to the holiday house,” Tansley said. “Look it up, Google it. He just wanted everybody to know about it.”
Scranton City Council President Gerald Smurl, who is also known for having a popular Christmas display on Prospect Avenue in South Scranton every year, always had a friendly relationship with Culkin.
“Everybody thought we were in competition for a long time, but it never was,” he said. “We used to laugh because we’re actually friends, but it was always funny to hear.”
Smurl’s company — Smurl HVAC LLC — performed many jobs for Culkin and his family over the years and the council president said his friend’s death leaves a void in the community.
“He was a great asset to the city and he made thousands of kids happy,” Smurl said. “He’s really going to be missed. I’ve known him a long, long time and have become accustomed to the house being lit up all the time. I don’t know what we’re going to do around the holidays … I think the saddest part would be not seeing it lit.”
Judge noted her father’s love of Christmas lights started during car rides with his wife — specifically trips to see a home in Green Ridge many years ago.
“When my parents were dating, my father would stare (at it),” she said. “He always loved to go see it and he was able to purchase some things years later. People save money to do things; he loved to buy decorations and see the looks on everyone’s face. When he was younger, he said ‘One day I’m going to decorate my house for the holidays,’ and sure enough he fulfilled that dream.”
Not long after Gable moved to New York, the holiday house came up during a casual conversation.
“I was only living in my house about a month and a neighbor said ‘I saw the Pennsylvania license plate, where are you from?’ ” Gable said. “I said ‘Scranton’ and he said ‘You’ve got to be kidding me, I live in Peckville.’ I said ‘Do you know the holiday house?’ He said ‘Of course I do, that man’s a legend.’ I said, ‘Well, that’s my father.’ ”
When asked by the neighbor if there would be a reproduction in New York, Gable quickly shot down the thought.
“I said ‘No, absolutely not,’ ” she said. “That’s it — one and only.”
While the daughters admittedly haven’t had much time to ponder the possibility, Judge noted it’s unlikely the holiday house tradition will continue.
“As much as we would love to, he was a mastermind,” she said. “Everything for Christmas was on one switch. My sisters and I decorate our houses simply. I just don’t think it would be the same for any of us to carry that on.”
Gable stressed while the holiday displays garnered a lot of attention, Culkin also put much attention into his “oasis” in the family’s backyard.
Judge said the scenery led many of her and her sisters’ friends to compare their father to a character from “Karate Kid.”
“Growing up in the ’80s, all our friends would say ‘Your dad’s Mr. Miyagi,’ ” she said. “He’d have ponds and bridges and things you don’t normally see in somebody’s backyard.”
Tansley remembers a directive her father would give each of his daughters: Be aware of your surroundings.
“Go out into the world and enjoy your life, but always be aware of what’s going on around you,” she said. “His favorite thing to say to us when we’d leave the house to go somewhere was ‘Heads up.’ ”
Affectionately known as “Beansie” since childhood, stemming from some good-natured ribbing, Culkin remained in contact with many lifelong pals.
“He still has his elementary school friends,” Judge said. “He had a friend who shaved his head and they were all busting him and calling him Porky. He said to my father, if I’m pork then you’re beans. His friend’s hair grew back, but my father’s nickname stuck.”
Ostrowski joked that she nearly picked up a similar moniker until her mom stepped in.
“The day I was born that same friend came and said ‘She must be little Beanette,’ ” she said. “My mother shut that down.”
Tansley described her dad as the most amazing father, man, husband, friend, son, uncle and grandfather.
“We’ve never heard a bad word about him and he will never be replaced,” she said. “It’s a huge loss to the city.”
Smurl summed up Culkin’s genuine nature and kind demeanor with a simple statement.
“Once Tom was your friend, that was it,” Smurl said. “You were his friend forever.”
Tom Culkin of Scranton decorates his Moosic Street house for Christmas in Nov. 2022 which he enjoyed doing for more than 50 years. (FILE PHOTO)
Marilyn and Tom Culkin during a Halloween party Saturday at their South Scranton home in Oct. 2022. (FILE PHOTO)
Halloween decorations by Tom Culkin at his home at 638 Moosic St. in Scranton in Nov. 2022. The decorations have been an annual spectacle for more than 40 years. (FILE PHOTO)