Daniel B. Kulak Obituary: Peabody Native, Vietnam Veteran and Protector of Brooksby Farm

Daniel B. Kulak, Peabody native and Vietnam veteran, saved Brooksby Farm and served as Assistant City Solicitor; devoted husband, father and community leader.

Daniel B. Kulak, 83, was a lifelong Peabody resident whose dedication to family, service and community left a lasting mark on the city he loved. Born and raised on Level Acres Farm in West Peabody, Dan grew up delivering eggs and selling the locally famous corn that anchored his family’s life. His roots in Peabody shaped a career of public service that culminated in saving Brooksby Farm and decades spent as Assistant City Solicitor.

A proud graduate of Peabody High School (class of 1960), Dan lettered in baseball before attending the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated in 1964. He went on to earn his law degree from Boston College Law School in 1967. While furthering his education, he married his hometown sweetheart, Corinne A. (Dzierzak) Kulak, and the couple returned to the family farm to start life together.

Dan answered his country’s call during the Vietnam Conflict, serving with the First Aviation Brigade and attaining the rank of Captain. His courage and leadership were recognized with a Bronze Star and two Oak Leaf Clusters. While overseas, he received word of the birth of his daughter, Tara Lee, who would later follow her father to the University of Notre Dame.

Back in Peabody, Daniel B. Kulak devoted himself to local government and to protecting the character of his hometown. Working with Mayor Mavroulos in 1976, Dan helped secure Brooksby Farm for the City of Peabody, preventing commercial development and preserving open space for future generations. That effort became a defining moment in his career and an enduring legacy for the community.

As Assistant City Solicitor, a role he held until his retirement in 2008, Dan built a reputation for fairness, honesty and patient negotiation. He worked with leaders across municipalities, specializing in negotiations and legal strategy to improve public services. Colleagues remember him as a trusted professional who often worked long hours to build solutions that served the public good.

Daniel is survived by his wife, Corinne; daughter Tara Lee Harvey; son Chris Kulak, a retired Peabody firefighter; four grandchildren; and his brother Richard Kulak and family of Fairfax, VA. Relatives and friends are invited to a funeral service at Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 11 a.m., with visiting hours Wednesday 4–7 p.m. Burial will be at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. For directions and the online guestbook, visit www.ccbfuneral.com.

Daniel B. Kulak was a local boy who grew to serve and protect. He will be remembered for his steadfast commitment to family, country and the city of Peabody.

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