Thomas Gerard Sullivan, C.Ss.R., a member of the St. John Neumann Community in Timonium, Maryland, died on August 11, 2021, at age 75.
Born in Brighton, Massachusetts on August 5, 1946, to James Michael and Anna (Sheehan), he was baptized on August 18, 1946, and confirmed on March 24, 1958, at the Redemptorist parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Mission Church) in Boston, where he was enrolled in the grammar school.
He attended St. Mary’s College Minor Seminary from 1960 to 1964. He professed first vows on August 2, 1965, at St. Mary’s College in Ilchester, Maryland and pronounced final vows on September 1, 1969, at St. Alphonsus College in Suffield, Connecticut, from which he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1969.
He did theological studies at Mt. St. Alphonsus, Esopus, New York, where he obtained the M.Div. (1972), and M.R.E. (1973) degrees. He was ordained at Mt. St. Alphonsus on June 18, 1972, by Cardinal Terrence Cooke.
Father Sullivan spent his entire priestly ministry in the Baltimore Province. His first assignment was to Sacred Heart of Jesus, Baltimore from 1973 to 1978. He was a professor of English at St. Mary’s College, North East, PA from 1978 to 1982, and then returned to his home parish of OLPH (Mission Church), Boston, between 1982 and 1984. He returned to teaching, this time at St. Alphonsus College in Suffield between 1984 and 1990. He was then stationed at St. Patrick’s, Enfield from 1990 to 2005 and Sacred Heart of Jesus, Baltimore from 2005 to 2007, before returning finally to the Mission Church, Boston in 2007 until 2010.
As his health declined, he was stationed at St. John Neumann Residence at Stella Maris in Timonium, MD.
Father Sullivan had a great love of films, especially Westerns. He also had a passion for novels. He passed that love on to the students he taught. One of them remarked, “Father Sullivan began in me a lifelong passion for reading. One of the greatest gifts anyone has given me in this life. To this day I have three books I am currently reading. I think of him often. He always treated me with kindness, gentleness, and love. Good job in this life Father Tom…may you now rest peacefully in the arms of our Lord.”
Funeral Information for Fr. Tom Sullivan, C.Ss.R.
Friday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. Wake Service at OLPH (Mission Church); Boston, MA
Saturday, August 21 at 10 a.m. Funeral Liturgy and Burial at OLPH (Mission Church); Boston, MA
Please contact Mission Church if you plan on attending.