Arthur Robert “Art” Tuppen, 103, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2026. Born on September 23, 1922, in Canandaigua, NY, he was the third child of Arthur and Isabella Tuppen. Art was known for his easy going nature, his love of golf, and his lifelong passion for learning. When asked about the secret to his long life, he would smile and say, “You gotta keep moving.”

Art cherished his boyhood in Canandaigua. He would sometimes reminisce about playing at the YMCA, ice hockey on Sucker Brook, earning money with friends for baseball gear, spending summer days at the Sonnenberg playground and the swimming school, delivering newspapers, and working at Roseland Park. Those early years shaped him and he spoke of them fondly.

A 1940 graduate of Canandaigua Academy, Art enlisted in the US Army during World War II and served as a radar operator in the European Theater. He completed his service as an Honor Guard escorting German POWs — a responsibility he carried out with the same steadiness and dignity that marked his entire military career.

After returning home, Art pursued electrical engineering at Syracuse University, becoming the first in his family to earn a master’s degree. Soon after Syracuse he secured a position with International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (ITT) in northern New Jersey where he and Mary (nee Clawson) remained until his retirement. During his early years at ITT, Art continued his education earning two additional master’s degrees. His formal education sparked a lifelong curiosity — he stayed engaged with world affairs, politics, and technological innovation well into his later years.

Art enjoyed a distinguished career with ITT. As lead engineer in his department Art was sometimes responsible for projects out of state or even abroad taking him to such places as the Florida Keys, California, Scotland, and Alaska. The Alaska assignment lasted several months, starting in the Aleutian Islands and extending to inside the Arctic Circle. When on the Scotland assignment in the 1960s, Art took a few days to find and visit the town where his mother grew up. While there, Art was able to locate a relative who, upon meeting Art, wholeheartedly welcomed him, closed down shop, and toured Art around the area for the rest of the day.

Upon retiring, Art and Mary returned to Canandaigua and became among original residents of Towne Harbour Island (THI) where they made and enjoyed many dear friends. Art was president of the THI Board of Directors for a time and was also an archivist for the Association. Art enjoyed his retirement attending events and outings with friends and family, playing golf, cheering for the Buffalo Bills and Syracuse Orange, and volunteering as a counselor with SCORE, a nonprofit organization that provides free mentoring to small business owners and entrepreneurs — a natural fit for his patient, thoughtful, and quietly wise nature.

One of Art’s greatest passions was genealogy. He dedicated decades to tracing the Tuppen family back to the 1500s and the Mills family to the late 1700s in Scotland. His research connected generations and preserved a legacy that will endure. His bound works are a family treasure.

In 2012, at nearly 90 years old, Art traveled with his nieces, Jeanne and Karen, to Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, and France to visit relatives and return to places where he had served nearly 70 years earlier. It was a journey that blended history, family, and memory — all things of great meaning to Art.

Known to friends as “Art” and to family as “Tup”, “Uncle Tup”, or "Uncle Bob", no matter what name you knew him as, he greeted everyone with genuine interest and the pleasantries of a gentleman. Even on his final day, he welcomed visitors with warmth, offering a heartfelt farewell, “Thanks for coming — have a good day!”

Art is predeceased by his parents Arthur and Isabella Tuppen, his beloved wife Mary and their dog Cocoa, brother James Tuppen, sister Mary Kennedy, nephew Mike Kennedy, and great nephew Ian Horning. He is survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and their families — all of whom adored him.

Calling hours will be held on June 4th from 2–4 PM at Fuller Funeral Home, Inc. 190 Buffalo St. Canandaigua, with a service to follow at 4 PM. Burial will take place on June 5th at Woodlawn Cemetery at 11 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sonnenberg Gardens, 151 Charlotte St. Canandaigua 14424 or https://www.sonnenberg.org/share-your-love/, Sonnenberg Gardens is a place that holds special meaning to the family as Art’s parents Arthur and Isabella Tuppen were the head butler and upstairs maid for Mary Clark Thompson. Art enjoyed visiting Sonnenberg even into his last years of life.

Art lived more than a century, yet he never stopped being curious and gracious. He was a deeply good man- a true gentleman. Art leaves behind a legacy of humility, kindness, and genuine interest in others — qualities that made everyone who met him feel seen and remembered. May he live on in all of our hearts as an example of a life well-lived.

To share a memory or express condolences online, please visit www.fullerfh.com