John F. Sullivan

September 30, 1933 - October 20, 2018

On October 20, 2018, John Francis Sullivan, loving husband and devoted father, passed away. He was eighty-five years old. John Francis Sullivan was born September 30, 1933, in Brockton, MA.

He was an excellent student and excelled in basketball and baseball. As a boy he loved baseball, and to practice he would spend hours pitching a ball into the center of a tire. During a high school all-star game, he hit a homerun over the big green monster at Fenway Park and was then drafted into the minor leagues. However, a knee injury early on redirected him to the United States Air Force. John was a Korean War Veteran enlisting at age 17 serving as a communications specialist decoding sensitive messages aboard B-29 Superfortresses out of Okinawa. Because he was young, unmarried and Catholic he was often chosen for more dangerous missions. As a young husband and father he used his GI Bill to put himself through college. He earned a master’s degree in business administration, where he then went against his parent’s expectations and taught in the public school system for nine years. In 1968 he was recruited by IBM in Poughkeepsie, NY, for the development of education for its corporate managers. For many years he was a dedicated baseball and softball coach for the Town of Wappinger. He also coached basketball for the CYO. After raising his six children in the Hudson Valley he married his soul mate, Trish, in 1983 and together they moved to Southern Florida. Choosing an early retirement, John and Trish spent their time together flipping houses, dancing, traveling to visit their large combined family in their motorhome and enjoying each other’s company. John was a hard worker who loved sunshine, country music, crossword puzzles and reading his daily newspapers. He would spend three hours every morning outside maintaining his meticulous yard. John was preceded in death by his father, Elmer, his mother, Marion, and his son, John F. Sullivan Jr. He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Trish (LaBree). Although they had no children together they loved all ten of them together.

John is also survived by a son, Eddie Sullivan (Caroline) of Pleasant Valley, NY, a son, Larry Sullivan of Denver, CO, a daughter, Cheryl Roy (Timothy) of Fredericksburg, VA, a son, Scott Sullivan (Michelle) of Port Clyde, ME, a daughter, Seana Stover (Braxton Shafiroff) of South Lee, MA, a step-daughter, Heather Taylor (Jason) of Union, KY, a step-daughter, Deborah Roberts (Lyle) of Poughquag, NY, a step-daughter, Kim Bell (Tom) of Poughkeepsie, NY, and a step-son, David Groves of Pensacola, FL. Together they had twenty three grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. John is also survived by a brother, Donald (Norma), of West Bridgewater, MA, a brother, Robert (Eleanor), of Plymouth, MA, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In honor of John’s wishes there will be no public service.

As an expression of sympathy, donations may be sent to the Gulf Coast Humane Society, 2010 Arcadia St., Ft. Myers, FL, 33916.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.

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