ROBERT E. SULLIVAN
ROBERT E. SULLIVAN
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ROBERT SULLIVAN Obituary
A prominent Boston attorney, died at home on July 30, 2012 after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Anne Gavett Sullivan; his five children from a previous marriage, Barrett (Maryanne) Sullivan of Rochester, NY; Patrick Sullivan of Hawaii; Katherine (Jeff) Warming of Newton; Christopher Sullivan of Wellesley and Sara Sullivan of Cambridge; six grandchildren, Ryan and Paige Sullivan; Rachel Sullivan, Robert, Kevin and Stephen Warming; a sister, Barbara (Winsor) Chase of New London, NH and a brother, Thomas (Jane) Sullivan of Ledyard, CT. Bob was born in Norwich, CT on December 9, 1935 and graduated from Andover, Yale, and Harvard Law School. Bob's distinguished legal career began at Herrick, Smith, Donald, Farley & Ketchum where he became a partner in 1970. He was also a partner at Palmer & Dodge before starting his own firm, Robert E. Sullivan & Associates, later known as Sullivan, Weinstein & McQuay. There he was able to combine his passion for outstanding legal service with innovative law firm management. A visionary litigator and brilliant strategist, Bob preferred to settle matters out of court knowing that the best solution for his clients was to find a creative solution to a problem that would allow both sides to move on. Known for his keen intellect, his quick wit and his warm demeanor, Bob will be sorely missed by all who knew him. A memorial service to celebrate Bob's life will be held at 2:00 pm, on Saturday, August 4, 2012, at First Parish Church, 349 Boston Post Rd, Weston, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob's honor to Circle of Caring, Hospice of the Good Shepherd, 2042 Beacon St, Newton, MA 02468 would be most appreciated. Arrangements were made by the Nardone Funeral Home, 373 Main St. WATERTOWN, MA 02472.
Nardone Funeral Home
(617) 924-1113
www.NardoneFuneralHome.com
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Peter Sessa
July 24, 2024
A truly great man and friend. Miss you dearly!
Peter Sessa
Peter Sessa
July 24, 2023
We met in a MIT litigation. He was brilliant and kind. I miss my friend. But, I treasure the many times we had together!
Peter Sessa
August 23, 2012
Thank you Bob( I called him affectionately Dirt...a long story) for all of the wonderful times we spent together. We met during a case involving MIT and to watch Dirt work was an amazing experience. He was brilliant,compassionate and had a great sense of humor. I became friends with Anne and Bob over the next few years and I consider one of the great gifts of my life.
I can assure you,I will carry the good memories with me forever.
Anne,no one could have been a better companion for Bob. We will continue our good friendship knowing when we are together,Dirt is with us.
Maggie Hassan
August 20, 2012
Annie, thinking of you so much right now. I have so many memories of Bob -- as a mentor and then, gradually as a friend. And memories of you too -- you have always been such a straightforward and generous presence at Bob's side.
Please know that Bob's supportive presence stays with me as I move forward with this campaign for Governor. One of Bob's most memorable pieces of advice to me happened early in our working relationship. I had realized that I had miscalculated a litigation deadline and that my mistake would put our client's position in the case at a disadvantage. I went with trepidation to confess this to Bob. He just looked up at me briefly and said, "In this business, it's not whether you make a mistake. It's what you do when you make one that matters." He was the first person in a professional setting to remind me that you have to be able to shrug off the unimportant and move forward, something I return to every day.
I also told a Globe reporter that Bob was the supporter of women in the law that he was because he saw the practice of law as being, more than anything, the practice of good judgment in whatever context you were in. And he believed that women's experiences -- and their multiple roles -- added to their ability to have good judgment. The other demands on us -- family and children-- added to that experience base, so he saw it as adding to our capacity as lawyers.
Peace and love to you my friend. I hope to visit with you when it's a good time for you. Please let me know.
Maggie
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Carol Lembo
August 10, 2012
Dear Anne,
I just wanted to express my deepest sympathy for your loss. Bob was an extraordinary man. I have such wonderful memories of the times you and Bob and Vin and I spent together. I can still see us sitting at an outdoor restaurant in Hawaii bowled over in laughter about the "can, can, can." And our 3:00 AM drive up the crater. May all of the wonderful memories of your life together bring you some comfort. You both will be in my prayers.
Carol Lembo
Bishr Haffar
August 6, 2012
Dear Ann,
With grear sorrow I heard the news of Bob Passing. I am sure he is in a better place he was a freind and a gentle man. My thoughts are with you and your family
Allyson Gormley
August 6, 2012
Dear Anne and family,
I am very sorry to hear of Bob's passing. It was a pleasure getting to know the both of you and seeing how much you cared for one another. My thoughts go out to you and your family.
Shirley Picardi
August 4, 2012
To Bob's family and legal colleagues,
I am very sorry to hear this news and I am writing to express my condolences to you all. About 30 years ago when I was a new manager, Bob represented me in a jury trial where the plaintiff said very nasty things about me as her manager. I was so stressed and upset. Bob helped me give professional testimony and he helped me and my boss win our case. Having Bob's support helped me develop as a manager and have a wonderful career at the same institution until I retired in 2004.
Michael Macklin
August 4, 2012
Dear Anne:
I extend my sincere condolences. Many years have passed since you and Bob welcomed me into your home for a small dinner party with a few of your close friends. It was a most enjoyable and memorable evening I have since reflected on from time to time with feelings that remain warm. Bob was a true gentleman. He and you are in my prayers.
William Hecht
August 4, 2012
Dear Anne,
You have my deepest condolences. Bob was a hero to me and many of us at MIT. In my case it was highly personal. He defended me and the MIT Alumni Association in a federal case. We won! More important than the victory was getting to know and dare I say it, love Bob.
We all share in your loss. He was a very good man.
August 4, 2012
Sully, we will be missing you. Fred Guggenheim
John Poppy
August 1, 2012
Dear Anne,
You have all my sympathy for your loss and all my admiration for your devotion to Bob. There's every reason Sully was our class president. He was the best of us, warm and decent and sweet as a man can be, and he will always be with us. You and he are in my prayers.
Shelby Tucker
August 1, 2012
Sully, if you can hear me, I know that I speak for everyone who knew you. You were one of God's special blessings to us all. We knew you when life was golden and were an example to us all.
Peter Lauriat
August 1, 2012
I was honored to have known and worked with Bob at Herrick & Smith, and to have watched him grow and develop Sullivan, Weinstein & McQuay into a unique, talented and interesting firm. He was a partner, teacher and mentor, and a warm, generous and faithful friend. His brilliant legal mind was balanced by a wonderful, relaxed sense of humor - and he never took himself or his myriad successes too seriously. We will all miss Bob, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Annie and their family.
Debbie Bishop
July 31, 2012
Anne,
My prayers for comfort are with you and the rest of your family. Your loving care of your husband is a wonderful example of unconditional love. Peace be with you. Debbie Bishop
Jeff Moran
July 31, 2012
For me Bob Sullivan was an epitome of the fully human. Brilliant in his profession of the law, he was also faithful to its ideals, not merely in the fulfillment of duties to the client but also in the professional obligations of civility, honesty and frankness due to his colleagues of bench and bar. Nor was he so consumed with practice that he lost the fascination, first formed in Yale's law school, with the thinking of legal scholars as found in their books and articles.
But Bob was no narrow pedant. If there was some area of human endeavor in which Bob was devoid of interest or knowledge, it remained invisible. His reading was voracious and covered fiction and nonfiction covering the full gamut of the arts and the sciences. He loved music of all sorts, from rock to the BSO and the Pops and knew much of it well. He was fascinated by all things human, and no one who talked with Bob (one of the world's great conversationalists) came away without knowing that and probably learning something about the subject as well.
I could go on, but for Bob's many friends it would be telling them what they have observed for themselves. I will add only one other thing.
Bob was a man of great character, possessed of great intelligence and humor, always modulated by his innate courtesy that meant neither was used to demean. He was also a man of daring. Not that he took nutty risks but he was not afraid of possible failure in any area nor reluctant to challenge himself professionally or otherwise. How many people, after all, think that the age of 60 is a great time to leave a well established law practice in a great and prestigious law firm (that contained many of his friends as well as colleagues) to found his own firm, which consisted in earliest days of Bob Sullivan but soon enough added a number of excellent lawyers who were glad to have the opportunity to practice with him.
In short, Bob lived life fully and honorably while enhancing the lives of his innumerable friends and acquaintances. It is hard to believe that he is gone.
Faye Tonkonogy
July 31, 2012
Anne,
I am so sorry for your loss. May your wonderful memories bring you peace and comfort during this difficult time.
With Sympathy,
Faye Tonkonogy
Jerry Rath
July 30, 2012
I know I speak for many when I say how lucky I feel to have known Bob, and to have had the good fortune to be his colleague and friend. He was the best of the best, and will be sorely missed.
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