Mary E. Sullivan, 97, of Huntsville, AL, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 24th, in the company of her family, including her youngest great-grandchild, who was born on Mary’s birthday last January. Mrs. Sullivan is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Patrick Edward Sullivan, and her daughter, Nancy Lee Sullivan.
She is survived by four children: David Edward Sullivan (married to Margaret “Maggie” Sullivan) of Gloucester, MA; Carol Sullivan Jackson, PhD (William “Pat” Jackson) of Southwest Harbor, ME; Claudia Sullivan Angelone (Joseph “JP” Angelone) of Arlington, VA ; and Kenneth Patrick Sullivan, PhD (Etsuko Ueda) of Huntsville, AL.
Mary also leaves three grandchildren (Kevin Sullivan, Kelly Sullivan Cashman, and Kay Sullivan Faith) and five great grandchildren (Kelsey, Connor & Caden Cashman, Derik Sullivan, and Victoria Faith).
Mary (Redfearn) Sullivan was born in Island, Kentucky on January 22, 1918. Her family moved to Detroit, Michigan during the Great Depression, where she later met and married her husband, Patrick Sullivan, a graduate Electrical Engineer from the University of Detroit. Mr. Sullivan’s job with the General Electric Company took the family to Upstate New York, Daytona Beach, Florida and eventually to Huntsville in 1966, where he served as manager with the Apollo and International Space Station programs.
Over the course of her long life, Mary Sullivan continuously gave of herself. In her early years her service ranged from Girl Scout leader, to chairman of the GE Wives Club and a strong supporter of The Light House (Syracuse NY), which provided support to the visually impaired.
Her service work continued when she moved to Huntsville. Through her strong leadership roles in the Altrusa Club, she played a major role in the establishment of the Hospitality House (now know as the Blount Hospitality House) and the Books from Kids to Kids programs in both Huntsville and Guntersville. Mrs. Sullivan was also an active member of the Art Council and was instrumental in making the fist Panoply event happen in 1982.
While in her fifties, Mary started a successful real estate career eventually opening her own agency, Mary E. Sullivan Reality, which she ran until her retirement.
After retirement, Mary and Patrick moved to their home on Lake Guntersville, which served as their base for round the world travel – from Fiji to Egypt, and for sailing and boating excursions, which they both loved. After Patrick’s death in 2003, Mary moved into assisted living facilities in Huntsville, where she cultivated friendships over bridge games and other retirement activities.
Visitation will be held in the Chapel at St.Stephens Episcopal Church, 8020 Whitesburg Drive SW, Huntsville, Sunday, June 28, at 11:30 A.M., followed immediately by a Memorial Service there at 12:30. Internment will be at The Church of the Epiphany, 1101 Sunset Drive, Guntersville, at 2:30. Online condolences may be made at hamptoncovefuneralhome.com.
