Lawrence "Larry" Kull

Died on Wed. July 21, 2021 after a five year battle with Leukemia and Prostate Cancer. Larry was born September 8, 1950 in Staten Island, NY to Richard and Edith Joan Kull. He grew up in Brick Twp., NJ where he spent summers surfing and working on the beach at the beach stand run by his family. When he graduated high school, he matriculated to University of Vermont on a football scholarship. He also enjoyed being a part of his Fraternity, Kappa Sigma. It was at college where Larry met the love of his life, Deborah Kull. They married in 1971 and shared many happy years together in Medford, NJ until Larry’s death. After college, Larry worked for Xerox before joining his father Richard in the automobile business. Over many years, Larry was instrumental in growing the family business and in 2014, became chairman of the AIADA. Additionally, in 2020, Larry was selected by Time Magazine as the New Jersey Car Dealer of the Year. Larry was a mensch, guided by his principles, work ethic and warm heart. Larry will be remembered fondly by all who knew him for his kind and generous spirit. He was an eternal optimist with a big bright personality. He loved golf, birding, karaoke, summers down the shore and winters in Florida. Larry cared deeply and had much love for his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Debbie, children David (Michelle) Kull and Jamie (David) Galemba, grandchildren Henry, Charlotte, and Claire and siblings Richard (Robin) Kull, John (Monika) Kull, Stephen (Carolyn) Kull, Susan (Peter) Lanzavecchia and the late Sandra (Jim) Gee. Relatives and friends are invited Sunday beginning 9:15 AM to PLATT MEMORIAL CHAPELS, Inc. 2001 Berlin Rd. Cherry Hill, NJ where funeral services will begin promptly at 10:00 AM. Int. Locustwood Mem. Park, Cherry Hill, NJ. At the request of the family, if you are not fully vaccinated, please wear a mask in the chapel. Shiva will be observed at the Kull residence in Medford on Monday and Tuesday from 5:00-8:00 PM each evening. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to The National Audubon Society, Attn: Donations, 225 Varick Street, 7th Floor New York, NY 10014 or Evesham Education Foundation, 25 S. Maple Ave., Marlton, NJ 08053 or blood cancer research at Penn made at pennmedicine.org/giving or with checks made payable to the “Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania” and mailed to Penn Medicine Development at 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (Please include Larry’s name in the memo line).
Larry’s extensive automotive, charitable, and civic involvement included many noteworthy associations and organizations including:
Business & Civic Organizations:
2011– 2018 Director Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
2016 Chairman NJ Coalition of Auto Retailers (NJCAR)
2014 Chairman of the American International Automobile Dealers Association, Director 2008-2015
2005-06 Chairman Automotive Free International Trade Political Action Committee (AFIT PAC),
Director or Board of Governors since 2001
Director Toyota Dealer Advertising Association
Director and Secretary Delaware Valley Honda Dealer Advertising Association, 2012 - present
Director Evesham Education Foundation, 1995 - present
Member National Automobile Dealers Association since 1970
Chairman of the 2011 Toyota National Dealer Council
Chairman of the 1995 Honda National Dealer Council
Past President Burlington County Automobile Dealer Association
Past President Tri-State Honda Advertising Assoc.
Past President Cosmopolitan Club of the Delaware Valley
Featured Charitable:
Making Strides Walk Against Breast Cancer – Our dear sister Sandy Gee passed away from breast cancer in 2013. Our RK Chevrolet dealership, led by Sandy’s Husband Jim, founded Team Sandy and has raised over $300,000 to fight Breast cancer making them the number one Chevy dealership in the country raising funds for MSABC. All of our dealerships and hundreds of our employees, vendors and friends participate in the walk each Fall at the Ocean City Boardwalk.
Major Sponsor of the New & Prior Cherokee HS Turf Fields – Our local High School and Town Recreation Council needed financial support for their Turf Field. Our second field sponsorship, this field is shared by many levels of athletic, extracurricular and educational events hosting over 1500 events per year serving thousands of student athletes in award winning activities. The Burns Kull Auto Group is proud to be the major named commercial sponsor of this project with a current commitment of $100,000.
Major Sponsor of the John F. Scarpa Technical School of Cumberland County – When the organizers of a new technical school serving our Vineland market asked for sponsorship The Burns Kull Auto Group including RK Chevrolet Subaru Kia & Toyota of Vineland jumped on board with a multi-year commitment to sponsor the Automotive Technology Program. Our dealer partners Jim Gee, Bob McCormick and Jim Gruccio recognized the need for education in this field and contributed to curriculum development while providing in dealership apprenticeship opportunities.
National Automobile Dealers Ambassador Program - Following the lead of my Dad, Richard N Kull who served as fund raising chairperson for this important program we contributed personally and through our businesses to so far name 18 of our key employees and family members as Ambassadors. As past chairperson of NJCAR I served for one year on the board of this program that combines the charitable influence of our industry to both local & national organizations and disaster relief.
Multi-year personal &/or business charitable:
Rowan University Foundation for Cooper Medical School, Boys & Girls Club of Broward County, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, 200 Club of Burlington County, Congregation Adath Emanu-El, Jewish Federation of SJ, Samaritan Hospice, University of Vermont Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Parkinson’s Care to Cure, Women’s American ORT, Deborah Hospital Foundation, Chabad of Medford, Hillel, Academy of Natural Science, Please Touch Museum, Goodwill, American Cancer Society, Coast Guard Foundation, Wounded Warriors, LAM Foundation, Medford POA, Ocean City Pops, Alzheimer’s Association, Taunton Volunteer Fire Company, NADA Charitable Foundation, YMCA Camp Ockinickon, Humane Society of Ocean City, Hadassah, National Museum of the Mighty 8th Air Force, Urban Promise.
Annual Sponsor of Marlton Independence Day Fireworks, Project Graduation, St Joseph Carpenters Society, Animal Welfare Association, Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund, Golden Slipper Charities, Evesham Education Foundation, Katz JCC, Cerebral Palsy of NJ, American and Juvenile Diabetes Associations, Cooper Hospital Foundation, Boy Scouts of Southern NJ, Center for the Arts in SJ, Blankets for the Scarpa Cancer Center & Cumberland County SPCA through the Subaru Love Promise program, The Vineland Little League Sandy Gee Training Center, Cape Atlantic Shoot Down Cancer basketball Tournament, Vineland HS Baseball & Softball teams, The Spirit of Truth Ministry Soup Kitchen, Cathy Miller Cancer Fund & Coaches versus Cancer, YMCA of Vineland, Big Brothers & Sisters of Cumberland and Salem Counties, Celebrating our Veterans, Code Blue M25 providing shelter for the homeless.