Philip Sullivan

On the first day of fall, Monday, September 23, 2019, Philip L. Sullivan died peacefully at home at the age of 86. Phil was born to the Honorable J. Leo and Elizabeth Sullivan in 1933 and grew up in Peabody, Massachusetts with his older sister Louise. As a boy he spent many hours at Crane and Rye Beaches on the Atlantic, and clambering among the rocks along the coast at Marblehead, Massachusetts. He loved to swim in water so cold that the rest of us found it painful just to go wading.

Phil attended Georgetown University in 1950-1952 and disliked it enough that he went across town to the Catholic University of America in 1952. Transferring may have been the luckiest decision of his life because that is where he met Joan, his love and wife of 63 years. He was at CUA for one year before being drafted. After Basic Training at Fort Dix, NJ in 1953, Phil completed radio training with the Signal Corps in Augusta, Georgia and served in Korea as a high-speed radio operator. He returned from Korea in time to re-enter CUA in the fall semester 1955.

Phil and Joan were married in St. Paul, MN in 1956 where Phil completed his degree in History at the University of Minnesota under the GI Bill. Phil worked in the insurance industry for 11 years as an underwriter and later as an independent agent. He enjoyed the challenge of designing customized policies for business owners whose needs didn't fit into standard coverages. With 5 young children in tow, Phil and Joan moved to Madison in 1967 where they both completed Masters degrees in Library Science at the University of Wisconsin. Phil found great happiness and many friends over 3 decades as a Reference Librarian at the Madison Public Library. It was an occupation that fit perfectly with his wide-ranging interests and insatiable curiosity, combining his love of the written word, travel, welcoming international students to Madison, and providing information services to businesses. He loved witty conversations and good books.

At various times in his life, Phil was interested in photography, Classical and Celtic concerts, carpentry (building children's toys in his Santa workshop), sailing, skiing, and bicycling. Together, he and Joan planted 4,000 pine and oak seedlings on their managed forest in Vermont Township. He was able to travel to almost every place on earth he wanted to go, but still had a few places on his wish list. In recent weeks he was still pondering how to manage a river cruise and a trip to New Zealand. Phil's particular favorites were often the places he traversed by bicycle including Ireland, France, Italy, Scandinavia, and most frequently Canada, where there were numerous trips from Prince Edward Island all the way to the Yukon Territory. Some included researching family genealogy.

Phil was a kind hearted, gentle man of integrity, dignity and good humor who was proud of his Irish heritage. He possessed a wonderful sense of the absurd and had an extremely contagious laugh. His wry humor scarcely dimmed as he coped with health challenges. He remained a gracious man as he faced both Parkinson's Disease and cancer. Several times in the last few weeks he expressed gratitude for being so well loved. Phil will be deeply missed. We will always remember his infectious smile and his ever-present Tilley hat.

Phil is survived by his wife Joan Sullivan; his children Denise (Bernie Schmelzer) Sullivan, Christine Sullivan, Angie Lucas, Brian (Kristina Mecelicaite) Sullivan, Brendan (Melissa) Sullivan; and his beloved grandchildren Caity, Michael, Lily, Mikaela, Aidan, Traidenis, Alyson (Jeremiah), and Mat. More than anything, Phil loved being Dad and Grandad and relished watching them grow into the incredible people he knew they were. He was predeceased by his parents, his mother-in-law Bernadette, his sister Louise, and his son-in-law Robert Lucas.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Sam Lubner of the Carbone Cancer Center, Dr. Michael Weber, UW Integrative Physician, and Sue Peterson, Exercise Physiologist, as well as fellow participants in the Parkinson's Exercise Class at UW Sports Medicine.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to: The Benedictine Life Foundation of Wisconsin, or the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Madison.

The funeral will be held at Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Hwy M, Middleton, WI on Friday, October 4, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. A visitation will be held at the monastery from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Lunch will follow the funeral.

Cress Funeral Service
Madison, WI 53705
608-238-3434