Laura Elizabeth Schachtrup Cullinan, a prominent philanthropist and community leader whose work helped shape the future of central Illinois, has died at the age of 50. Her death on October 24, 2026, has left her family, friends and the wider Peoria community mourning a woman remembered for her generosity, vision and deep commitment to helping others.
As president of the Gilmore Foundation, Cullinan helped direct substantial resources toward education, health care, arts and culture, youth development and community initiatives. Her leadership reflected a belief that a stronger community could be built by bringing people together and investing in opportunities for future generations.
But beyond her professional accomplishments, those who knew Cullinan remember a devoted wife and mother, a thoughtful friend and a woman who found happiness in making others feel valued.
A Life Rooted in Family and Community
Born in Peoria, Illinois, on September 1, 1976, Cullinan grew up with a strong appreciation for family, education and the community she would later work tirelessly to support.
She graduated with high honors from the University of Notre Dame before earning her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She began her legal career at Sidley Austin in Chicago and later worked as corporate counsel at RLI Corp. in Peoria.
Although she developed a successful professional career, Cullinan eventually found a calling in philanthropy, where she could combine her legal knowledge, organizational abilities and passion for improving people’s lives.
Her return to Peoria represented more than a homecoming. It gave her the opportunity to contribute directly to the region where she had grown up and help create opportunities for the next generation.
Transforming Philanthropy Through the Gilmore Foundation
Cullinan became president of the Gilmore Foundation in January 2020. Under her leadership, the organization supported initiatives across Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties, helping local institutions expand their services and reach more people.
Her approach to philanthropy emphasized collaboration. Rather than treating organizations as competitors for resources, she worked to bring community leaders together around shared goals.
Among the initiatives supported during her tenure were educational programs, health care services, cultural institutions and organizations assisting vulnerable families.
One significant project was the foundation’s commitment of nearly $850,000 toward establishing a doctoral program for certified registered nurse anesthetists at Methodist College. The program is expected to welcome its first students in 2028, potentially helping address regional health care workforce needs.
For Cullinan, such investments represented more than financial support. They were opportunities to improve access to education and health care while strengthening the region for years to come.
A Lasting Commitment to Peoria
Cullinan believed deeply in the potential of Greater Peoria and worked to encourage cooperation among businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and civic leaders.
She also helped establish the Peoria Food + Wine Festival with her husband, Allen Cullinan. The event brought people together around food, hospitality and local culture while raising money for charitable causes.
Her community involvement extended beyond formal fundraising. She and her family also supported local charitable initiatives through hands-on volunteering and donations.
Peoria community leaders described her as a person who combined intelligence with kindness and who worked to make the region a better place to live.
Her influence was evident in the organizations she supported and in the relationships she built across the community.
A Devoted Wife and Mother
While Cullinan’s professional achievements touched many lives, her family remained at the center of her world.
She married Allen Cullinan in 2014, and together they built a family with three children: nine-year-old twins Duane and Mary Michael, and six-year-old Frances.
Those closest to her remembered a mother who treasured everyday moments and made family life special through thoughtful traditions, celebrations and time spent together.
She enjoyed cooking with her children, creating memorable birthdays and holidays, tending to her garden and bringing family and friends together in a welcoming home.
Her love of beauty extended to the smallest details, from flowers and seasonal decorations to the thoughtful gestures through which she showed people that she cared.
The obituary published by her family described motherhood as her greatest joy and her children as the center of her universe. It portrayed a woman who wanted to cherish every stage of their childhood and create memories they would carry throughout their lives.
The Fatal Accident That Claimed Her Life
Cullinan died following a utility terrain vehicle crash on private property in Peoria County on the night of October 24.
According to published reports, the vehicle was traveling near Kickapoo-Edwards Road when it left a paved path, struck a wooden post and overturned. Cullinan was a passenger and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Peoria County coroner reported that an autopsy found severe blunt-force trauma to her head and chest.
The driver, Joshua A. Bellamy, 52, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence. The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation, and the charge is an allegation, not a determination of guilt.
Her sudden death has brought grief to a community that had come to rely on her leadership and generosity. Projects she helped initiate, including investments in health care education, are expected to continue beyond her lifetime.
Funeral Arrangements and Memorial Donations
A visitation for Cullinan is scheduled for Thursday, October 29, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Peoria Heights, Illinois.
A funeral Mass is scheduled for Friday, October 30, at 10 a.m. at the same church.
In lieu of flowers, her family has requested memorial contributions to the Gilmore Foundation Restricted Fund in Memory of Laura Schachtrup Cullinan.
A Legacy That Will Continue
Laura Cullinan’s death represents a profound loss for her husband, children, extended family and the many people who benefited from her work.
Her legacy, however, will remain visible in the educational opportunities she helped create, the health care initiatives she supported, the cultural organizations she strengthened and the community partnerships she worked to build.
She believed that meaningful change came through cooperation, generosity and a willingness to invest in other people’s futures. Her work reflected that conviction, and the institutions she supported will continue carrying elements of her vision forward.
For her family, her memory will live in the traditions she created, the time she devoted to her children and the love she shared with those closest to her.
For Peoria, she will be remembered as a leader who believed in her hometown and worked to help it flourish.
Laura Cullinan was 50 years old. Though her life ended far too soon, the impact of her generosity and commitment to others will endure through the people she loved, the causes she championed and the community she worked so hard to strengthen.
