JOHN D. SULLIVAN
Husband, Father, Grandfather,
Teacher, Army Colonel, Deacon
1935 ~ 2021
OBITUARY
John Dennis Sullivan went to be with our Lord on October 12, 2021. He was born of Irish immigrants on June 6, 1935 and raised in New York City, attended Mother of the Savior Seminary High School and graduated in 1953. He attended Fordham University and married the love of his life, Barbara. John went on to graduate with honors and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant the U.S. Army in 1957. His military career took him and his family to Fort Riley, KS and Fort Bragg, NC during the Cuban Missle Crisis and the Berlin Crisis. He remained in the U.S. Army Reserves for a total of 31 years and taught in several military schools throughout the United States. He retired from service as a full Colonel in 1988 as Commandant of the 1163rd USAR School and Muller USAR Center, Bronx, N.Y. He returned to civilian life as a high school teacher in the Bronx and Long Island, N.Y. and Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic School, Houston, TX for a total of 30 years. John taught youngsters the joy of learning under the most trying circumstances of the inner city. He heard a calling and then was ordained as a permanent deacon by Cardinal Cooke on May 31, 1981 and served in the diocese of Fall River, MA and Houston, TX. It was John's spiritual strength that helped navigate the family through the tragic loss of his son, Michael in 2003. Upon retirement to the Villages in 2000, Deacon John served at St. Timothy Parish in various ministries including Baptisms, Bereavement Ministry, Respect Life Ministry, Hospital Chaplin and graveside services. John had a rare gift for making everyone feel like they are the most important person in the room!
PAST EXPERIENCE
The Diaconate
Deacon,
St Timothy's Church, Lady Lake, FL
January 2000 - June 2016
Barbara and John retired to The Villages and John has been serving as a deacon at St. Timothy Parish assisting the pastors, Fr. Robert Fuchek and Fr. Edward Waters in various ministries, assisting our priests at mass, Bereavement Ministry, Respect Life Ministry, visiting the sick at hospitals, homes and other medical facilities, conducting wake services at the local funeral homes, visiting our families of the deceased, assisting at funeral masses and leading the prayer services at the graveside in the cemeteries. Every Saturday afternoon, he has been assisting at Holy Communion Services in the Steeplechase Retirement Community, praying the Rosary, reading scripture, presenting homilies, distributing Communion with members of St. Mark's parish to the retirees in the building chapel. Barbara has also assisted the parish in the Gift Shop and as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at daily mass and home visitations.
Deacon,
Holy Trinity Church, West Harwich, MA
June 1991 - January 2000
John and his wife, Barbara, initially retired to Cape Cod, where he served in the Diocese of Fall River, MA and assisted Fr. Gerry Shovelton at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
NOTE: My father convinced Fr Gerry to move down to The Villages,
where they continued their ministries together as good friends.
Deacon,
St Bartholomew, Yonkers, NY
June, 1981 - June 1991
Deacon John D. Sullivan served St. Bartholomew's parish for 10 years. He became the very first permanent deacon to serve at St. Bartholomew when he was assigned to the parish following his ordination by Cardinal Terence Cooke on May 31st, 1981. Deacon Sullivan was chairman of the parish's Renew program and worked in sacramental preparation, adult education, Scripture courses and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program.
MILITARY EXPERIENCE
Duty, Honor, Country
Colonel,
1163rd ARCOM
Bronx, NY
June 1975 - June 1988
ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL HERE Army Schools such as the Command & General Staff College, Military Intelligence School and many others. Also taught in the evenings at the basic and advanced courses for officers and non-commissioned officers (BOAC).
Major,
77th Infantry Command
Bronx, NY
June 1963 - June 1975
ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL HERE Army Schools such as the Command & General Staff College, Military Intelligence School and many others. Also taught in the evenings at the basic and advanced courses for officers and non-commissioned officers (BOAC).
Lieutenant,
Ft Riley, KS &
Ft Bragg, NC
June 1957 - June 1963
Commissioned 2LT, USAR and served on active duty for six years and then ARMY Reserve for another 25 years. During active duty, served with the 1st Infantry Division, Ft Riley, KS and 18th Airborne Corps, Ft Bragg, NC during the Cuban Missle Crisis and taught continuously every year with a multitude of Army Schools such as the Command & General Staff College, Military Intelligence School and many others. Also taught in the evenings at the basic and advanced courses for officers and non-commissioned officers (BOAC).
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Public Schools
Principal,
Queen of Peace School
Houston, TX
Sept 1991 - June 1995
Principal, Administrator
K ~ 8th grade Catholic School
Administrator,
John Philip Sousa JHS
P.S. 141, Bronx, NY
June 1973 - June 1990
Assistant Principal, Administrator
Teacher, English
Dean of Discipline
Olinville JHS
P.S. 113, Bronx, NY
Sept 1964 - June 1973
Teacher of 7th, 8th and 9th grades
Social Studies
English
Math
EDUCATION
Dad's Schooling
Master of Arts,
Hunter College
New York City, NY
Sept 1968 - June 1971
Not a lot of information exists here. I believe Dad went back to school to get his Master's on a "part-time" basis with a focus on Education & Administration.
Bachelor of Science, Fordham University
Bronx, NY
Sept. 1953 - June 1957
Not a lot of information about college here, other than, my Dad did extremely well. 1956 was a busy year since that's when Barbara & John got married, graduated college and in 1957, I was born!
High School,
Mother of the Savior,
Blackwood, NJ
Sept. 1949 - June 1953
Mother of the Savior Seminary High School (Preparatory for the Priesthood) Society of the Divine Savior
Salvatorians, 2506 N. Wauwatosa Ave, Wauwatosa, WI
See below for several pictures from John's high school days!
VOCATION
Diaconate
