McCULLOUGH

FREDERICK MICHAEL

Frederick Michael McCullough, age 94, of the Westwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA, passed away of Alzheimer's on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 6PM.

Beloved husband of 62 years to Carol Ann (Nedley) McCullough. Loving father of Christopher Aaron (Meui McKiblin) and Jason Frederick (Dawn Lehman). Cherished grandfather of Bree Isabel, Jackson Caleb, Shekina Liberty Lynn, and Nadine Stella Star. Fred was preceded in death by his parents Patrick and Clara (Huff) McCullough, his siblings Patricia McKenna, Mary Lou Shontz, Patrick McCullough, Kathleen Marie Evans, and Lawrence McCullough, and his longtime friend George Frost who he met while both were attending Saint Vincent College & Seminary. The Frost and McCullough families have been close friends and travel companions ever since.

He served in The National Guard from which he had an honorable discharge in January of 1964.

He was a North Catholic High School graduate and received a bachelor's degree from St Vincent College & Seminary. A few too many practical jokes may have prevented him from receiving an invitation to pursue further theology studies. He then attended Duquesne University where he received a Master of Arts in History.

Frederick retired in 1993 after 34 years of service with the Carlynton School District where he taught English, History, and Latin. Early in his time at Crafton High School, he met his wife – Carol– in 1962 during their one year of teaching together. Later in his tenure, he was an initial organizer of the Carlynton Federation of Teachers which chartered in 1974. This soon led to livable wages and healthcare for all teachers in the district. He enjoyed annoying the principal by putting his lunchbox with an 'Impeach Nixon' sticker in front of him while signing in each morning. In response to such activities, they removed his homeroom and gave him six prep periods to try to break him, but he wasn't one to break. He outlasted them all.

A long-standing supporter of human rights, he was very active in the National Organization for Women. In1982 he took a sabbatical to canvass in Florida and Illinois in an attempt to get each state to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. He also attended many anti-Klan and pro-Women's Rights rallies.

Keeping fit was important to him. In the 1940s and 1950s, he would run in North Park and said he never saw another runner there during those decades. Fred was a longtime member of the downtown YMCA where he was an enthusiastic participant in the early bird group. Most mornings, he could be seen running through town and along the north shore before sunrise. He continued running into his 90s, running in the Turkey Trot every year until the age of 90 in 2022 (he participated in a wheelchair in 2023). He was often the only participant in his age group.

Frederick also enjoyed camping, hiking, birding and was an avid reader and outdoorsman. The family began camping when his oldest child - Christopher - was 1 year old and began backpacking when his youngest - Jason - was 4 years old. Camping was initially chosen as the only family activity they thought they might enjoy that was also affordable. This was necessary until after the union formed in 1974, before which money was sparse.

These outdoor excursions led to a deeper love of the natural world. Frederick quickly became an avid naturalist and a member of the Brooks Bird Club and the Three Rivers Birding Club. He and his family stumbled upon the Allegheny Front Migratory Observatory (AFMO) bird-banding operation in 1969 during their early years of camping at Dolly Sods. Both Fred and his wife Carol became bird-banders at AFMO – pitching a tent for six weeks each fall to participate in the operation. They backpacked every trail in the region, even before the trails were there. They made many close life-long friends that remain as family friends to this day.

Fred's wit and dry humor will be remembered by all who knew him. He was a master of one-liners and rarely failed to pepper each conversation with quirky responses.

Visitation will be held Sunday, June 28, 2026, from 1PM to 4PM at SCHEPNER-McDERMOTT FUNERAL HOME, INC., 165 Noble Avenue, Crafton PA 15205. The last hour (3PM-4PM) will be a Celebration of Frederick's life for anyone who wishes to speak. A dinner reception from 4:15PM – 7PM will follow at Cefalo's, 428 Washington Avenue, Carnegie PA 15106.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Frederick's memory may be made to: The Brooks Bird Club Allegheny Front Migratory Observatory Fund, https://www.brooksbirdclub.org/afmo-bird-banding.html or The Feminist Majority Foundation, 433 S. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212 or online donation at https://feminist.org/support-fmf/

www.schepnermcdermott.com