Thomas D. Sullivan - Eulogy

Thomas Desmond Sullivan

August 14, 1930 - March 16, 2016

Eulogy

March 21, 2016

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“Agent 99 this is Maxwell Smart, get me the chief immediately!” (as he talks through the phone in his shoe)----my dad let’s out a big roar of laughter. This is the way some of my family and friends remember my dad---he had a big laugh when he thought something was funny.

Like all of us he was different things to different people.

My dad grew up on the west side of Chicago on a tongue twister of a street--Massasoit--as he taught me how to pronounce it. He was an only child so he lived in a small, tight and loving family. He played football in high school at Fenwick two years ahead of Johnny Lattener. He attended the seminary and for a while he was Brother Sixtus. He went to a few different colleges--one of them being Marquette where he met my Mom. He was a man of deep faith as my Mom is; part of which attracted them to each other.

He tried his hand in different professions. He was not a tinkerer he was more of a philosopher. He taught for a while when he lived in Alton, IL near St. Louis. He later studied correspondence courses and became an accountant at a steel company on Chicago’s South east side.

He was a loving father of three sons and grandfather to six.

A favorite childhood memory was when he took us exploring on Sunday afternoons-- to give my Mom a break. We went to museums and for walks in the forest preserves. I believe his grandchildren will remember him as always being the adult in the room to get on the floor to play with toys and then later in life to be the one to take time for quiet talks in the middle of a gathering.

My Dad’s father moved several times in the business world. We ventured to Granite City, IL; Milwaukee, WI; and Erie, PA; and, finally back to Oak Brook for family visits. My Dad and his Dad, Tom, enjoyed a lively game of ping pong.

He struggled with Parkinson’s for ten years. The last year being the worst which brings us to where we are today.

We all miss him very much.

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

May the rains fall soft upon your fields.

And, until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

At St. Damien's Church in Oak Forest, John Sullivan gave the above eulogy at his Dad's service on March 21, 2016. Thank you John for sharing this beautiful remembrance.

Photo courtesy: William Sullivan