Robert D. Sullivan, age 84, died in Waltham, Saturday morning, August 16, 2014, after a brief illness. Born in Medford, Robert was the son of the late Helen M. (Maxwell) & Daniel J. Sullivan.
Bob was raised in Medford and was a graduate of Medford High School, class of 1947. He attended Cardinal Newman prep for a year, 1947-1948, and then went on to graduate from Worcester State College, class of 1952, where he was class president. He earned his masters at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, in school administration in 1954. While attending UMass-Amherst, Bob began his teaching career with a teaching fellowship, 1952-1954. His years at UMass-Amherst were very special to Bob; this is where he met his future wife, Kathleen Eunice Garvin. They married in Medford, at St. Joseph Church, in 1953 and have been married for 61 years.
In September of 1954, Bob began his career in education in the Ridgewood, NJ public school system. He also continued his education in New Jersey at Peterson, Montclair and Rutgers Universities. He taught grade six elementary, he was a principal, administrative assistant to the superintendent and in July of 1970, he became the Director of Personnel for the district, retiring in October 1989.
In January 1955, Bob joined the United States Army and proudly served during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged as a Specialist 3rd class in December, 1956. Bob then went on to continue his career in education in New Jersey.
Bob was very active in civic and professional organizations in New Jersey. He was a member of NJ Education Association, National Education Association, American Association of School Administrators, Association for school, college and university staffing, of which he was a member of the Board of Directors, 1981-1984, and was president in 1982-1983 of the Middle Atlantic Association for school, college and university staffing. Bob was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for recognition of outstanding contributions to the teaching profession by the Jersey City State College in 1985.
Bob was also a football and basketball official in New Jersey and New York. A member of the NJ Football Officials Association and Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, NY Chapter, for football. In Ridgewood, NJ, Bob was an official in their recreational basketball program.
Bob was a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Ridgewood, NJ in 1974- 1975, and chairman of their youth foundation from 1980-1989. He was a board member of the Valley Hospital Home & Community Health Care and chairman of the personnel committee from 1987-1989. After Bob retired, they settled in Mashpee on Cape Cod. Bob and his beloved wife K. Eunice loved to golf. They were members of the Quashnet Valley Country Club in Mashpee from 1990-2005 and the Spanish Wells Country Club, in Bonita Springs, FL, where they wintered, from 1989 to 2012.
In addition to his beloved wife K. Eunice (Garvin) Sullivan, Bob is survived by his daughters, Dr. Kathleen A. Hoye and her husband Dr. Stephen Hoye of Taunton, Patricia M. Boylan and her husband Denis Boylan of Harrison, NJ, and Susan J. Waddick and her husband Matthew of Waltham. His devoted sons, Robert M. Sullivan, his wife Evelyn-Sue of Woodbridge, NJ, and William D. Sullivan and his wife Lisa of Woburn. Bob is also survived by 10 loving grandchildren. He was the brother of the late Helen Sullivan.
Funeral from the McLaughlin-Dello Russo Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St. WOBURN, Thursday, August 21st at 9:30 AM. Followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Brigid Church, 1979 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington at 10:30AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Wednesday, August 20th 4 thru 8PM. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.
It has been requested that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made in Bob's name to Worcester State University Division of University Advancement, General Scholarship Class of 1952, 486 Chandler St., Worcester, MA 01602.
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