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 A. Sullivan, Obituary and Poem 1996

Tom died on July 11, 1996 after undergoing open-heart surgery. As his grandson, John, said in response to realizing his grandfather lived to be 88: "It might have been more if he did not go for that surgery which he elected for.  If it was “broke” he always wanted things fixed."
  
The following obituary was pasted in his sister Helen's scrapbook next to a poem she wrote upon hearing that Tom had died. Newspaper unknown, but probably Venice, Florida, date unknown.

Thomas A. Sullivan
Thomas A. Sullivan, 88, Venice, died July 11, 1996.
He was born July 7, 1908 in Chicago and came to the Venice area 11 years ago from Oak Brook, Ill. An engineer registered with the state of Illinois, he was past director of the Institute for Management at Illinois Benedictine College and past vice president and division general manager at A. O. Smith Corp. He graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology with an engineering degree and from Marquette University with a master's degree in economics. He was volunteer treasurer for the Friends of the Library of Jacaranda, and a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Lorraine Evinger; a son, Thomas D. of Country Club Hills, Ill.; a sister, Helen McIntyre of Chicago; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Burial will be private. Farley Funeral Home, Venice Chapel, is in charge.

A second death notice was pasted in another of Helen McIntyre's scrapbooks.  Although no newspaper is noted, I believe it is from a Chicago newspaper, probably the Chicago Tribune.

Sullivan - Thomas A. Sullivan, age 88, formerly of Oak Brook, died July 11, in Venice, FL.  An engineer registered with the State of Illinois, he was past Director of the Institute for Management at Illinois Benedictine College and past President and Division General Manager at A. O. Smith Corp. He graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology with an engineering degree and from Marquette University with a Masters degree in economics.  Survivors include his wife Lorraine; a son Thomas, a sister, Helen McIntyre; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  A memorial mass will be held on Sept 28 at 11 a.m. in the Abbey at Illinois Benedictine College.

TOM - GONE JULY 11, 1996
You always were my Hero
You were the wind beneath my Wings!

I miss you Tom -- I miss your calls
And I really miss seeing you
You were always interested in what I did
And you always said, "What's new?"
You seemed to move from here to there
So we didn't see much of each other
But I have to say just one thing
I'm so glad you were my brother!
(Helen McIntyre, 1996)

Photo of Thomas A. Sullivan c late 1950s

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!