Remembering Brad Kulp
Yesterday the Star Wars universe lost one of its biggest fans. Most won’t know him, he wasn’t a super collector, he didn’t write any books, run a podcast or write for a collecting website. Brad Kulp was just a fan who loved the movies. Loved collecting. Loved music, the Eagles and Flyers, and loved sharing his fandoms with everyone he met. He was the best of what being a collector and fan and friend stood for. He was one of the warmest, most caring people I’ve ever known.
Brad was a lifelong Star Wars fan and one of the earliest Pennsylvania Star Wars Collecting Society members. His collection included everything he had from when he was a kid all the way to the present, displayed in his home (in the Man Cave) with figures hanging on the walls, a huge library on the shelves, and even his comic collection which hung on the ceiling. His favorite character was R2-D2 and new additions to the Artoo Army were always highlights for show and tell at club meetings. As another friend reminded me, Brad had a story for everything in his collection whether it was how he’d come by it or why it had a special meaning to him. Sharing those stories and his knowledge was one of Brad’s favorite things. He was so excited when he attended Celebration V in Orlando that he brought along a digital scrapbook of his collection so he could show it off and discuss it with all the people he knew he was going to meet.
Our friend, Joe K., has a hilarious story of Brad getting to meet Geoffrey Carlton, author of “The Star Wars Super Collector’s Wish Book” series of reference books, at a Celebration party. As Joe tells it, Brad was introduced to him and made the comment, “My God, it’s Geoffrey Carlton,” and proceeded to run off to speak with him leaving Joe and company on their own. The story grew with each retelling and this year, for Celebration Anaheim, we made a special set of buttons for Brad, Joe, and Bruce L., who made Brad’s trip possible, to commemorate it.
Brad had been in declining health for the past few years and thanks to Bruce, he was still able to attend PSWCS meetings and events, and Celebration Anaheim. The entire Club was thrilled to have Brad with us in Anaheim because of his enthusiasm for all things Star Wars. When you’ve been to a lot of conventions it’s easy to become jaded, but with Brad there this year, hearing how excited he was by each panel he’d attended or cool new collectible he’d spotted, it made me appreciate it more.
Beyond toys and collectibles, Brad’s passion was for music. Not only was he a huge fan of John Williams’ Star Wars scores, he also loved the fan created songs and parodies as well. He spent a lot of time collecting Star Wars themed music and shared it by giving away CD mixes and as a DJ who played it at several PSWCS summer socials and other local gigs. Cheap Trick was his favorite band and he was just as happy to talk about that fandom as he was Star Wars.
I’ve known Brad for over 13 years and it’s sad to think that he won’t be with us next month at this year’s PSWCS social. He won’t be with us to talk about the new Star Wars movie opening in December and he won’t be here to share in the new John Williams music. Brad was a father, and husband to Carole, and leaves behind a beautiful family. Brad Kulp was a wonderful person and friend and the world is a little less bright today without him in it.