Thomas Sullivan Moderates a Panel, 1947

The Lake Delton, Wisconsin, newspaper in 1947 ran this article about Tom Sullivan and his work on a panel discussing industrial relations management issues.

Source: Margaret Carmody Sullivan's album, "Prior to 1950" currently (2014) held by Thomas D. Sullivan.

Thomas Sullivan Changes Profession, 1948

Thomas A. Sullivan (1908-1996) changed professions in 1948 as this article in an unidentified newspaper indicates.

Here is an announcement on a business card:

Source: Margaret Carmody Sullivan photo album entitled "Prior to 1950" currently (2014) held by Thomas D. Sullivan.

Thomas D. Sullivan - Eulogy

Thomas Desmond Sullivan

August 14, 1930 - March 16, 2016

Eulogy

March 21, 2016

Click on image to enlarge

“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

Thomas D. Sullivan 1930-2016

Thomas Desmond Sullivan, 1930-2016

Son of Thomas A. Sullivan and Margaret Carmody

Was buried today at All Saints Cemetery in DesPlaines, Illinois

March 21, 2016

Death Notice:

Thomas D. Sullivan, age 85, late of Oak Forest, IL. United States Army Veteran. Beloved husband of Elayne Sullivan (nee Bergin). Loving father of John (Sally) Sullivan, Joseph Sullivan and William Sullivan. Cherished grandfather of John (Ashley), Stephen, Thomas, Daniel, Shannon and Lillian Sullivan.

Funeral Monday, March 21, 2016 at 9:15 a.m. from the McKENZIE FUNERAL HOME, 15618 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Forest to St. Damian Church, Mass 10:00 a.m. Interment All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, IL. Visitation Sunday 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For information: 708-687-2990

Published in a Chicago Tribune Media Group Publication on Mar. 18, 2016.

Christmas, c1934

Boy scout, 1943

In Winona, Wisconsin, c 1950-51, Brother Sixtus, with his mother Margaret

Graduation from basic training, February, 1956

With parents at wedding, 1957

Tom with sons, July, 1972

Thanksgiving, 2007 with wife and two youngest sons

Tom at grandson's wedding, 2014

Photos from the album of Thomas A. Sullivan, Poster board at Thomas' wake, Elaine M. Beaudoin Album, and wedding album of grandson.

Dinner in White Fish Bay, Wisconsin, c early-1960s

Tom and Margaret Sullivan had a beautiful home in White Fish Bay, Wisconsin over looking Lake Michigan.  I remember attending a dinner where Tom Sullivan brought a beautiful, large turkey to the table and carved it to the pleasure of everyone.  Not sure it was this event, but it does look like there is turkey on the plates.  And, from the center piece, I believe we are celebrating Christmas.

This dinner gathering included both sides of the family.  From left to right: Unknown-possibly Ruth Rooney, Nan Madigan Rooney, Nell Madigan Sullivan, Larry McIntyre, Jr., Margaret Carmody Sullivan, Laura Desmond Carmody, John Sullivan, Elayne Bergin Sullivan, Tom Desmond Sullivan, Larry McIntyre, Sr., Helen Sullivan McIntyre and Tom Sullivan (Sr.).  My guess is that Elaine McIntyre is taking the photo.


Photo courtesy: Elaine Beaudoin from the collection of Helen McIntyre

Sullivan Memorial Scholarship, 1984

Unitrust gift to fund Sullivan memorial scholarship

Thomas Sullivan, an Oak Brook resident, has made a generous gift of stock valued at approximately $51,000 to Illinois Benedictine College.  Sullivan, former director of the Institute of Management at IBC and long time friend of the college, has created a charitable remainder unitrust by transferring appreciated stock to the college.  This gift will ultimately endow a scholarship fund for students in severe financial need, according to David Bow, director of planned giving.  The scholarship will be named in memory of his late wife, Margaret Mary Sullivan.

"The charitable unitrust allows the donor to make a substantial gift to IBC while retaining the income from the transferred property of life," Bow explained.  "The income payments may be sent to the donor or to whomever the donor specifies.  The donor benefits from the unitrust because he or she is able to realize the satisfaction of doing good for others by giving."

At the same time, the unitrust guarantees that needed income will continue to be paid for life.  This give the donor the opportunity to make very substantial commitments to the programs he or she is interested in at IBC.

The donor is also benefited by receiving income tax advantages, Bow said. The gift creates a charitable deduction against income taxes which yield significant tax savings.  If the donor transfers appreciated stock or bonds to a unitrust, capital gains taxes also are avoided.

"Mr. Sullivan's generous contribution will do great good for future students at IBC.  This opportunity to invest in quality education is appropriate for many donors," Bow said. ...


The Illinois Benedictine Magazine, April, 1984 page 2
Copy of article from Helen McIntyre's Album "Clippings and Stuff."

Tom and Margaret in Mexico, 1970

At the bottom of the typed letter from Margaret Sullivan, Helen McIntyre writes:

Tres Vidas

Margaret & Tom went to this very

Posh new place in Mexico in 1970

Margaret wrote and told us all

about it!

To read the letter, double click on the image.  When it opens in a separate window, you can click on the image one more time to increase it more.

Source: Helen McIntyre's Album "Clippings & Stuff - 2"

Tom Recounts his Work Years 1950 - 1971

Excerpt from Thomas A. Sullivan's Memories, March 4, 1994.

Milwaukee The First Time, A. O. Smith

"By 1950 I had joined A. O. Smith and eventually became a vice president and division manager.  Studying evenings, I got a masters degree in economics at Marquette by 1955.  We had a nice apartment on Lake Shore Drive [in Milwaukee].  Although much of Margaret's life was involved with her cousins (daughters of the Desmond girls0 she seemed to welcome the opportunity to break away and make new friends.  It was strange, she never complained about the entertaining she had to do in my various management jobs or travels, but upon retiring years later announced she had had it and was through entertaining for business and she meant it.  There wasn't much variety beyond A. O. S.  So not much to writ about this era.

Granite City

"In 1954 I became manager of a troubled automotive frame plant in Granite City, Illinois, across the river from St. Louis.  There had been lots of labor unrest there and I felt that the previous management had made a mistake living in St. Louis - and I decided to live in Granite City, a true blue-collar town, to stay close to the action.

"This assignment was a watershed in our lives.  Being manager of a plant employing several hundred people put me among the leaders of the community, on the board of directors of organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, United Fund, etc.  Margaret was sought after by womens' groups where her natural leadership ability became apparent.  Tommy was in the army.  This was a union town but the company didn't hook up with the local steelworkers when it came in, instead signing with the boilermakers.  We hired people from distressed towns miles away, and did other strange things to avoid being "sucked into the local union power structure."  As a result, when our boilermakers' leaders began to be unreasonable neither the local managers nor union leaders were helpful.  How it was resolved is another story, but the plant became profitable and I was promoted back to Milwaukee in 1960.  Unfortunately, I'm convinced this location was the cause of Margaret's cancer.  While we couldn't see anything, we were downwind of a coke plant and a starch factory both of which polluted our air.  Before we left Margaret had serious respiratory problems which went away quickly in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee: The Second Time

"We moved to a home on Lake Michigan, Palisades Drive, and loved the sunrise over the lake.  Laura, Margaret's Mother, moved in with us and had her own suite, joining us for meals, etc. until she died in 1963.  Margaret made friends with some couples at church and we did lots of things together.  My first assignment was to straighten out a 500-man maintenance department at A. O. S. Milwaukee Works.  This worked out extremely well and I was promoted to Vice President and General Manager of our heavy equipment division about the time we finished a reactor for a nuclear submarine.  It worked out well and Admiral Rickover offered us more reactors and other nuclear sub components which we took. This large percentage of Navy business gave them a clout over our commercial business when it came to delivery.  Then the Navy decided to put in new welding inspection standards.  We didn't know how to price them, and under pressure named a nominal increase.  Unfortunately, the many in-process weld inspections delayed our production cycle and we lost our shirts.  This, coupled with the delay in domestic business, put the division in a loss situation and it was decided to sell out to Chicago Bridge.  I was put on the staff to wait for a new assignment.  Laura Died, and we took a vacation to Hawaii and Las Vegas.  I received a wire telling me to report to the president when I returned.

Erie and Tommy and Family

"I was offered the management of a petroleum division in Erie.  Obviously, this was an offer I couldn't refuse.  Margaret balked.  She like our home, its location and the friends we had made.  I told her I had to go and left for Erie.  When I returned home the next weekend I found she had sold our house and was ready to join me.

"In 1964 electronics was just beginning to be important in industrial controls.  We fostered this business and sold "systems" rather than just components quite successfully.  We opened plants in Houston, Germany and South Africa, and licensees in Philippines, Mexico, England, and other places.  This gave me an excuse for foreign travel.  On my last trip I took Margaret and we spent time in Mexico, South Africa, Greece, Paris Germany and London.  Meanwhile Tommy's Family was growing.  Johnny was born while we were in Milwaukee and used to stay with us for days at a time.  When Joe and Bill came along we were in Erie and the family would visit us.  On one occasion they brought my Mother along.  We took John to the World's Fair in Canada one year, he was 10 and rather immature in his attitude.  I don't know what caused it, but within the next year he had a mind of his own, was willing to try anything, almost a new personality.  When I became 63 and eligible for social security I got restless and told the company I was retiring.  I had been grooming Bill Thompson as a replacement and announced he was ready to take over.  Nixon had put a wage and price freeze on the economy and no one knew what to expect.  I was sent to Washington as V.P. of Government Relations to protect our interests.  During the next several months I became acquainted with the Erie Congressman, Milwaukee's Senator Proxmire, their staffs and the staffs of the Wage Control Board, the Price Control Board and OSHA, which had just been created.  I felt that the A. O. S. Vice Presidents could do a better job representing their divisions than I, so I introduced them to the key people in these areas in Washington and announced I was ready for retirement.  The company paid my salary until my 65th birthday to maximize my pension.  I was awarded engraved mementos from the City of Erie and A.O.S., a couple of luncheons and was gone."

A postcard received while Tom and Margaret were on one of their "business" trips in March, 1970 prior to Tom retiring from A. O. Smith.

Tom Remembers Margaret When They Were Young

Excerpt from Thomas A. Sullivan's Memories, March 4, 1994.

"Laura, Margaret's mother, and my mother were friends having worked together.  Before I was ten they would exchange gifts for the children. At Christmas time I would take the streetcar down to Gladys Ave., near Garfield Park, with a gift for Margaret and bring home my gift.  Margaret then was a skinny kid with curls. (When we were quite small our mothers would walk together with us.  Margaret had a buggy, and I would have to take turns riding in it so she could take turns pushing it, a routine I resented, after all I was four and she was only two, and a girl besides.) After a couple of years of the trips to exchange gifts at Christmas I rebelled at the futility of it and convinced the ladies to drop the practice.

"I didn't see Margaret until I met her at a dance when she was 17 and I was 19.  I took her home in a cab, she had on a big hat and I had trouble kissing her.  I next met her at a wake and took her for a ride in our car while the grownups visited.  We would date semi-regularly for the next year or so but not on weekends.   One day she announced that I had to take her out on Saturday nights, otherwise she had nothing to talk about at Rosary College with the girls on Monday morning, so she would have to get someone else to escort her.  I was hooked!  I didn't mind it too much as it was time I quite hanging around bowling allies, etc.  Rosary had a dance at which only boys from Loyola could be invited.  There was an accident with a street car and Margaret got $150 cash settlement.  I resented meeting the boy from Loyola visiting her during her convalescence and we decided to go steady.  The next summer I got a job at Western Electric and dropped school.  Margaret quite Rosary and went to Moser Business School.  Before the end of the year we married.  We rented a one-room apartment at 5659 Washington Blvd."

Note: In looking for 5659 W. Washington Blvd, it appears the building has been torn down.

Tom Remembers his Early Marriage Years and Son

Excerpt from Thomas A. Sullivan's Memories, March 4, 1994.

"Margaret and her mother bought about $1,000 worth of furniture for our home.  Laura paid cash for half of it and my mother paid off her half in installments.  I was making $135 per month so we had little money.  The money we got for our wedding was spent entertaining.  When Tommy was born we used the $150 accident money to pay the doctor, I don't know how we paid the hospital.

"In 1932 I went back to LaSalle Street from the fire department job and stared to study accounting by mail order and night school.  In 1935 I got a job as office manager and I was on my way.  When the WWII started I had parlayed my jobs until I was plant manager for Johnson & Johnson. (Classed 4F.)  Tommy was born in 1930 and by high school he developed an interest in theology and we discussed many things at the dinner table, including getting me to quite smoking.  At the end of his second year of college he joined the Dominicans and got a degree in philosophy. The seminary life didn't work out so he went to Loyola for a year and was drafted into the army.  After the army he went back to Loyola and eventually married Elayne [Bergin].  Margaret stayed home and kept us out of trouble."

Letter from Tom to Helen, 1995

Helen and her brother Tom wrote letters and cards to each other more often than they called each other on the phone. Before cell phones and long-distance telephone "packages" everyone thought calling long distance was only for emergencies OR the rich!

Tom Sullivan came up to Chicago for Larry McIntyre's funeral service on Saturday, March 4, 1995. He must have written this letter to Helen immediately upon returning to Venice, Florida. I'm sure he was trying to make her feel like she still had a full life ahead of her, noting how he started the letter -- "AT 81 LIFE'S JUST BEGUN"

The letter represents Tom's positive outlook on life and how seriously he took his responsibility to make a difference.  If you double click on the letter image it will enlarge so you will be able to read the content.

Thomas A. Sullivan, July 13, 1996 Funeral

Tom and Lorraine wished a private wake.  The family, Thomas D. Sullivan, John Sullivan, Bill Sullivan, Helen McIntyre and Elaine Watson joined Lorraine at the Farley Funeral Home in Venice, Florida on July 12, 1996.  That evening, Lorraine asked the family members to share stories of Tom.  She said she had only known Tom such a short time and she wished to learn more about him, especially when he was young.  It was a lovely tribute to Tom as we all shared our memories.

The next day, July 13, was Tom's funeral at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 1301 Center Road Venice, Florida.  When we arrived at the Church, it was filled with friends and neighbors. The family shared a moment before Tom's body was taken to be cremated.

Tom's ashes were later scattered in the Church's Memorial Garden.

Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Garden is adjacent to the Church and Chapel on the church property and is Tom's final resting place.  The Garden area is intimate and tranquil and is complete with several beautiful outdoor works of art including The Pieta, St. Anthony, Guardian Angel, and a Memorial to the Unborn.   Individual name plates are placed on a large plaque, on the wall inside the Garden area, identifying those cremains which have been placed in the garden.

John Sullivan and Helen McIntyre are seen in this photo of the Memorial Garden after Tom's funeral service.

Tom and Margaret Sullivan, 1934

Helen Sullivan McIntyre had this photo of her brother Thomas and his first wife Margaret Carmody Sullivan in her album which she titled: Remembering. The photo is dated November 17, 1934 and Helen wrote under the photograph "Night on the Town."

Thomas Sullivan VP Appointment, 1964

In a May 4, 1964 article in the Erie, PA Times, A. O. Smith Corporation announced the promotion of Thomas A. Sullivan to Vice President and General Manager of its Meter and Service Station Equipment Division.  Article courtesy: John Sullivan

Christmas, 1974

Tom and "Mo" with daughter-in-law, Elayne, and grand-children John, Bill and Joe.

At the Saloon, 1940s

On vacation, Tom and Mom camp it up a bit!

Father and Son, 1930s

The "Toms" enjoyed swimming. Here they pose proudly in there "look-alike" swimsuits.

House of Studies, River Forest

Tom and Margaret's son, Thomas, planned to become a Dominican Priest and entered the Dominican novitiate in the early 1950s. This photo was taken at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois.

Margaret Sullivan's Funeral Card, 1982

Margaret Carmody Sullivan died May 27, 1982 after a battle with cancer. Her funeral Mass was at St. Mary Church, Downers Grove, Illinois on June 1, 1982.
Helen McIntyre, her sister-in-law, was unaware of Margaret's cancer for some time. Tom, Helen's brother, would tell her, when asked about Margaret, that she was having "therapy." Helen thought it was some sort of physical therapy and didn't realize Margaret was as ill as she was until only a few months before she died.
Margaret always took pride in her appearance.  She was very attractive and slender.  Having suffered the ravages of cancer, Margaret didn't want anyone to remember her looking sickly, so she selected a picture of herself holding a drink and having a good time.  She instructed Tom to place this photo on her closed casket -- which he did.

Sullivan/Carmody Marriage Record, 1929

I

Written on the July 18, 1908 baptismal entry for Thomas Aloysius Sullivan at St. Agatha Church, Chicago, is a notation of his marriage to Margaret Carmody at St. Mel Church, Chicago, on December 24, 1929. It is common to require proof of baptism when a Catholic is being married in a Catholic Church. When the proof of baptism is being provided, often the priest will make a notation on the baptismal record as shown here for Tom.

Source: St. Agatha Church, Chicago, Illinois, Baptismal Registry, page 169. Family History Library, Microfilm #1704626