He was born January 1, 1908, in Brooklyn, New York City.
He attended St. Mary's school, Brooklyn Prep and Georgetown University.
He graduated from New York Law School in 1941, was admitted to the bar, and practiced law in New York City.
[1] He married Mathilda Dunn, and they had one son: Thomas Patrick Cullen.
of Queens County in 1946, and entered politics as a Democrat.