The team at American Booksellers Association is saddened by the passing of former ABA Senior Strategy Officer, Dan Cullen, and we celebrate his life and long-time commitment to independent bookselling.
Dan was a former indie bookseller and worked for ABA for 35 years. He was a soft-spoken, quiet force with a deep passion for the first amendment and for the success of independent bookstores. Many of us at ABA remember him as a light that guided and illuminated. He will be greatly missed.
Below, the ABA team has shared some of their favorite memories of Dan:
“All of us at ABA are heartbroken by the news of Dan Cullen’s passing. It is a loss for all who knew and loved him — there are so many of us from Dan’s time in the book industry. He began his career as an indie bookseller and ended it with his retirement from ABA after 35 years, but his support of our team and indie bookstores never ended. In recent years, Dan regularly texted us to applaud our efforts or the accomplishments of an indie.
“Dan was always a light in the industry for me, and I considered myself to be fortunate that my time at ABA overlapped with his, even more so to have called him a friend. He was a great champion of independent bookstores, small business, and a better world. He was terrible with deadlines and wonderful with words. I forgave him his love of the Knicks and was inspired by his Buddhist practice. Most of all, I loved watching him light up whenever he talked about his wife, children, and grandchild. He laughed readily — his snort was the best — and he was intellectually curious, always kind, ‘rich in family and friends’ as he liked to say, and above all, a good friend. May he rest in peace, and may his family and friends find comfort in our memories of him.”
—Allison Hill, ABA CEO
“Dan was a fierce defender of free expression and indie bookstores. Dan and I traveled together for years to spring forums, Board meetings, fall shows, book expos, and Institutes. He found the best coffee shops and I ordered the wine. He was my ABA partner in crime for 10 years and I feel fortunate to have been his good friend and colleague. He is gone from us too soon but the world is a better place for the work he did and loved to do.”
—Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, ABA COO
“Dan was my predecessor and he left large shoes to fill. He set me up for success and welcomed me to the world of bookselling. He shared his vast knowledge and was always ready to offer support and guidance. He was a stalwart cheerleader, and would often send words of encouragement after something exciting would appear in Bookselling This Week. He will be missed by all who had the opportunity to know and love him.”
—Ray Daniels, ABA CCO
“Dan was the one who hired me back in 2002, but we met and became friends in 1997, when I was working part-time for the company next door to ABA. Dan was not only a great boss and a great mentor, he was a great friend. We bonded over our shared love of sports, politics and free expression.
“As I think of Dan, I fondly remember the very late nights and conversations at BookExpo Conventions as we hustled to email Bookselling This Week each night (one time resorting to playing baseball with a rolled up paper ball as we waited for final edits before sending).
“Overall, I will remember him as one of the smartest and kindest people I’ve ever known, and I am grateful we kept in touch after he retired. I will miss Dan tremendously but I am grateful that we were friends and colleagues for so many years.”
— Dave Grogan, ABA’s Director of ABFE, Advocacy and Public Policy,
“Dan was one of the first people I met on my first day working at ABA, and for over 30 years I had the privilege to work with him. I'll remember him as a consummate professional, a tireless advocate for ABA and its membership, and for being one of the nicest people I've ever worked with. I'm deeply saddened by his passing and I offer my sincere condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.”
—Pete Reynolds, Project Manager
“Dan's was a voice of steady resolve and empathic leadership that I'll aim to emulate for all my days. He understood the vital importance of ABA's work while maintaining a holistic perspective on the world at large and the needs of the individual right in front of him.”
“In my early years at ABA, particularly at Institutes, I would come to Dan, ready to tender my resignation with issues I was sure were going to devastate the proceedings. Dan's frequent response was ‘Is the plane still in the air?’ We'd take a breath, come up with a solution, and then figure out where to get a good sandwich.”
—Greg Galloway, Director of ABA Technology
“I had the pleasure of working alongside Dan for most of my time at ABA, not only as a colleague but also as my office ‘neighbor.’ Everyday on the way to my desk, I'd pass by his office door and see the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ poster he had hanging there. To me, it perfectly captured Dan's spirit — calm, compassionate, kind, and quietly uplifting. I always looked forward to our daily chats, the spontaneous songs and melodies he'd sing as he walked through the office, and especially his unforgettable laugh — a loud ‘HAA!’ that echoed down the hall after a good joke.
“When Dan retired and ABA went fully remote, that poster was one of the things I took home with me. Every time I see it, it still brings a smile to my face. To say that Dan will be missed doesn't begin to cover it.”
—María Rodríguez, Meetings and Planning Manager
—Melissa Corcoran, Senior Creative Design Manager
—Matt Supko, Developer/Technical Consultant
You can learn more about Dan Cullen’s accomplishments and lasting impact on ABA in this 2021 article announcing his retirement. We also had the great pleasure of featuring him as one of the interviews for ABA’s 125th anniversary, where he shared his admiration for the bookselling community and his hopes for the future.
Memorial donations can be made to Team Telomere, a charity that works to educate and advocate for individuals with Telomere Biology Disorders.
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