Tuck Mulrooney, beloved husband, father, and Gpop, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2015. Tuck was born in Wilmington, DE, where he lived for the 91 years of his life. The eldest son of Edythe (Spence) and Thomas W. Mulrooney, Tuck was named in honor of Father J. Francis Tucker, the founding pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church. He and his wife Betsy (Byrne) were married for 60 years before she passed away.Tuck had a long and blessed life, characterized by his devotion to his faith, love of his family, service to his country and community, and fidelity to his many lifelong friends. He graduated from St. Ann's Catholic School, Wilmington High School, and Saint Joseph's University. Throughout his life, Tuck remained an avid fan of St. Joe's basketball.Tuck's military service spanned 41 years, from when he was inducted to when he retired from the US Army Reserve as a Colonel and the Delaware National Guard as a Brigadier General. In World War II, he served with the 44th Infantry Division, 114th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, and earned a Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Presidential Unit Citation for combat in France, Austria, and Germany.Tuck chaired the state committee to establish the Delaware World War II Memorial. The bronze sculpture, which sits in H.B. du Pont Park, was dedicated in 1991 and honors all who gave their lives in the war, especially those from Wilmington. Tuck was a past commander of the American Legion Delaware Post #1 and the Military Order of the World Wars, and president of the Retired Officers Association of Northern Delaware.Tuck began his career as state program director for the Catholic Youth Organization of the Diocese of Wilmington. During his tenure, the Wilmington CYO accomplished its goals of becoming a spiritual, athletic, social, and cultural program, the traditional hallmarks of CYO. Tuck created a girls' sports league, a parochial football league for elementary students, and a four-city basketball competition between boys' and girls' parish teams in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore and D.C. At one point, he supervised 139 teams and more than 1,000 athletes competing in 15 baseball, bowling, basketball and softball leagues. Tuck's love of sports and commitment to sports heritage led him to join his friend Al Cartwright to champion the idea of establishing what became the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1976. He was a founding member, led the search for a permanent site, chaired the design and exhibits committees, and worked to raise the funds to build the Hall, which opened its doors to the public at Frawley Stadium in 2002. He served as president and board member, and was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame. Tuck also was a long-time member of the International Sports Heritage Association. He served as its treasurer for many years and received the Schroeder Award for distinguished service, the organization's highest honor. Tuck's devotion to his faith and its teachings was constant. Tuck organized a rally to commemorate the Marian year. Pope Pius XII ordered a Marian year for 1954, the first in Church history, to increase devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Twenty-five thousand people attended the Marian rally at Wilmington Park; the following year, attendance increased to 30,000 people at Delaware Park.For Tuck, Malvern, a Catholic layperson spiritual program, was a way of life. He began attending annual retreats with his father and the Wilmington Men of Malvern Archbishop Fitzmaurice Group, and continued for 62 years. Tuck was passionate about recruiting men to Malvern and supporting the retreats. He was CA Captain for 25 years, a vice president and board member of Malvern, received the William M. Lennox Award, and was elected into the CA Captains Hall of Fame. Tuck was also a member of St. Anthony of Padua Church and St. Ann Church, and a former member of St. Mary Magdalen Church. His professional life included a 27-year career at the DuPont Company, Newport and Edgemoor plants; his third career, which he began at age 61 as the director of industrial training at Delaware Technical and Community College in Stanton, lasted for 20 years.Over his long life, Tuck was also a loyal friend and leader to organizations that benefited the community"the Friends of Ireland, Serra Club, Talleyville Lions Club, Big Brothers, and many more.In addition to his parents, Tuck was predeceased by his beloved wife, Betsy. He is survived by his sister, Anita McBride; his brother Tom Mulrooney (Mary Lou); his daughters and their husbands: Pamela MacPherson and Tom of Wilmington, Nina Mulrooney and Al Dorof of Philadelphia, PA, Claire Mott and Fred of Newark, and Lisa Becker and Bert of West Chester, PA; his son Byrne Mulrooney and his wife Lisa of Charlotte, NC; his nine grandchildren, Meoghan, Michael, and David MacPherson, Melanie Lee (Sean) and Kevin Mott (Kim), Bridget and Kelly Mulrooney Rachel and Melissa Becker, and his great grandson, Colin Mott.Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 5, from 5-7 p.m. at St. Joseph of the Brandywine Church, 10 Old Church Road, Greenville, DE 19807. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 6, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Ann Church, 2013 Gilpin Avenue (Gilpin Avenue and Union Street), Wilmington, DE 19806. Burial will be at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, contributions are welcome to the Malvern Retreat House, 315 S. Warren Avenue, Malvern, PA 19355. Prosit!