Gordon R. Fuller, Nov. 20, 1940 – July 24, 2018

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
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Career railroad executive Gordon R. Fuller, 77, died July 24, 2018, in New Jersey.

Fuller was born in New York City and studied at the New York Maritime College, sailing as an officer on Grace Lines and the Military Sea Transportation Service. Entering railroad service as an Operating Management Trainee on the New York Central in 1964, under R. D. Timpany, he eventually assumed direction of this training program and rose to Superintendent before being tapped by Timpany, who had become Trustee of the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ). At CNJ, he rose to Vice President Operations.

Following the 1976 Conrail takeover of CNJ and several other bankrupt Northeastern railroads, Fuller went to Sea-Land to head its intermodal efforts. In 1989, with Sea-Land colleague Ken Furst, he took over the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway, becoming President, CEO and Chairman. In 1996, he sold the P&W to Delaware Otsego Corp., becoming Delaware-Otsegos’ Executive Vice President.

Ten years later, Fuller became Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Morristown & Erie, later expanding its reach by starting up the Maine Eastern Railroad. In 2011, after leaving the M&E/ME, he assumed a seat on the board of railway consultancy PTSI Transportation. Fuller also served on the board of the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad.

A lifetime Anglophile, at PTSI Transportation Fuller was able to indulge his love of all things British by serving UK railway owning groups National Express and First Group in their quests to establish U.S. rail operations. He also assisted with the development of PTSI Transportation’s Route Learning System™.

Fuller, a frequent lecturer on rail and intermodal transportation, lived in Plainfield, N.J., for many years, where he served on and chaired the Planning Board and served on the board of the duCret School of Art.

Fuller is survived by his wife, Barbara; his children, Karen Wilk (and husband Jim), Jen McGuire (and husband Dan), Diane Fuller and Barb Fuller (and husband Mike Zittel); his sister, Ginger Fuller-Carter; his brother, Paul; and six grandchildren, Emma, Timmy, Bridget, Molly, Cora, and Nate. He was predeceased by his parents, Gordon and Virginia, and his granddaughter, Maggie.

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