Obituary of Joseph A. Sullivan

Joseph A. Sullivan, a life-long educator and longtime resident of Peabody, MA and Intervale, NH, died peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers at the age of 93. Cherished husband of the late Ruth Keane Sullivan, who died in 1998 after sharing 56 years of marriage, he was a retired Salem State College professor. He was born in Lynn, the son of the late John Henry Sullivan and Hanora Gould Sullivan, and was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Lynn and Salem State College, receiving his Ed.M. from Harvard University. Inducted into the U.S. Army prior to Pearl Harbor, he served from 1941 to 1946. A chief warrant officer, he served in London, England and France during World War II. After serving as a high school principal in Sutton, MA, he returned to Salem Teachers College as a faculty member in 1952 in business education. He was Director of Continuing Studies from 1957 to 1965 and in 1965 was appointed as the first full-time Dean of the Division of Graduate and Continuing Studies, a program that nurtured and supported educators all over eastern Massachusetts. He felt fortunate to live long enough to see the college in the 21st Century and he was thrilled to be present at the State House bill signing celebrating Salem State University. Until he was 84, he played tennis while in Peabody and golfed in NH as a member at the North Conway Country Club. He was an active member of Salem State University’s Explorers Institute for Learning in Retirement. He loved opera and was an enthusiastic patron of the South Peabody Library. A loving father, he is survived by his son, John B. Sullivan of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, 2 daughters, Dr. Jo Mary Sullivan, a retired educator, of Lynn, Kathleen Sullivan Head and her husband Norman Head of Bartlett, NH, 2 grandsons, Colin Boyd of Peabody and Peter Boyd of Boston, their father Joseph Boyd of Peabody and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Mary J. Sullivan and brothers Henry, James and Daniel. He will be remembered as a gentle man with a good sense of humor who will be greatly missed by his family, friends and his wonderful caregivers. A memorial service celebrating Joe’s life will be held at Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn Street, Peabody, MA 01960 at 11:00 on Thursday. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend the memorial and may call Wednesday 4-8. As a tribute to his wife Ruth, Joe requested any remembrances be made to the Salem State Foundation, Class of 1940 Scholarship Fund or ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), 215 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02142. www.als.net. For on-line condolences, please visit www.Legacy.com.