Jerry Sullivan

Jerry J. Sullivan

Born in Pensacola January 13, 1930, he was christened Jeremiah John, but preferred the shortened "Jerry." With a history of artery disease and diabetes, he died August 8 from cardiopulmonary arrest. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard J. Sullivan, Sr., and Elisabeth Anderson Sullivan, and by his older brother, Bernard J. Sullivan, Jr., and is survived by his younger brother, Edward.

A lifelong member of Sacred Heart Parish, except for college, military service, and several years' employment in Vicksburg, Jerry had a strong religious faith expressed in active participation in Scripture study groups in the parish, a conscientious personal morality, generosity to a fault, even at great personal cost, and strong and active opposition to the taking of unborn life. He was cheerful and witty, was well-liked by those who knew him, and had a circle of loyal friends. He liked to read military history, and to keep up with developments in science, including in particular physics, biology and the medical sciences. He loved to follow college football games, and enjoyed fishing, though in recent years declining health restricted his lifestyle.

Jerry graduated from Sacred Heart School, and Catholic High School, winning in 1943 the first annual K of C tuition scholarship for the freshman year at the latter, and the first CD of A scholarship for the senior year.

Graduating in 1947 as valedictorian, he attended Spring Hill College in Mobile for two years before transferring to Auburn to study chemical engineering.

Following earlier participation in the Naval Reserve, after North Korea invaded the South in 1950 Jerry enlisted in the Air Force for four years, though nearsightedness disqualified him from flying, which he had always wanted to do. After service at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, and in French Morocco, he completed a degree in physics and further graduate study at Florida State. He worked at Eglin Field, and for a number of years as a biophysicist in cosmic ray research at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (NAMI) in Pensacola. Every astronaut from Alan Shepherd through the last of the moonwalkers carried on his person nuclear emulsion plates (specially treated microscope slides) that Jerry sent along, which were later painstakingly examined by his assistants under a microscope for radiation tracks. He later worked for the Corps of Engineers at Vicksburg, Mississippi studying effects of explosives, and in retirement had a partnership in a precious metals business for several years.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Jerry J. Sullivan on Wednesday, January 14, at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral by Very Reverend James Valenzuela, Rector, with interment following at Holy Cross Cemetery.

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WATERS & HIBBERT FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements.

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