JAMES LEO SULLIVAN

SULLIVAN, James Leo 86, former Lowell and Cambridge city manager and retired president of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at the University Health Center of Princeton/Plainsboro New Jersey. Born December 11, 1925 to the late James C. Sullivan and Anna Agnes (Kilmartin) Sullivan, James grew up in Somerville. After graduating in 1942 from St. John's High School in North Cambridge, he enlisted in the Navy, completed radio school in Boston and was assigned as Radioman Second Class on the USS Runels. James was one of several men sent ashore at Nagasaki, Japan shortly after the atom bomb exploded to evacuate Allied POWs from Japanese camps. After honorable discharge, James enrolled at Boston College, graduating in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in history and government. He worked for the Social Security Administration in Willamantic, Connecticut from 1950-51, then returned to Somerville to teach in the Somerville Public Schools. He also earned a master's degree in public administration at Boston College, becoming a "Double Eagle". In 1957, he entered the field of public administration as Assistant Town Manager in Arlington. He became the first Town Manager of Watertown, Connecticut in 1962 after the hiring committee decided he had the "perfect temperament" for the rigors of town management. Returning to Massachusetts in 1966, James accepted a new position as the first Executive Secretary in Milton. From 1968 to the spring of 1970, he served as City Manager in Cambridge until he was ousted by a 5-4 vote of a new City Council. A grass roots effort called SOCM (Save Our City Manager) drew 1200 supporters to the June public hearing but he was not reinstated. James taught at the Sloane School of Management at MIT, while the late Senator Paul Tsongas, then a freshman Lowell City Councilor, called him daily all summer to convince him to manage the City of Lowell. Due to Tsongas' persistence, James became Lowell's first professional city manager in Lowell in September 1970. He secured many federal grants, lowering taxes three times during four years, delighting taxpayers. In 1974, Cambridge asked him to return as city manager. Robert Healy, whom he mentored in Lowell, joined him as assistant, and succeeded James upon his retirement in 1981. James became president of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce until retiring from the private sector in 1991, when he also received an honorary doctorate from Suffolk University. A lifelong Democrat, James enjoyed radio and television shows about politics. He also loved watching sports, especially the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, and Boston College football, as well as his children's and grandchildren's activities. He enjoyed golf at Mount Pleasant Golf Club in Lowell, and enjoyed playing cards frequently with his friends at "the Club". James was most proud of his wife, children, and grandchildren, although he tended to exaggerate their accomplishments. He leaves his wife Anne, an award winning artist and signature member of the Copley Society and New England Watercolor Society. He also leaves four children and their spouses: Dr. Maura Ammendolia and her husband Anthony of Conway, New Hampshire; Mark Sullivan and his wife Elizabeth of Acton, Massachusetts; Lianne Sullivan-Crowley and her wife Julie of Princeton, New Jersey; and Christopher J. Sullivan and his wife Kristin of Concord, New Hampshire. In addition, he leaves seven grandchildren: Cara (Ammendolia) Faria and her husband Adam of Westford, Massachusetts; Erin and James Sullivan of Acton, Massachusetts; Annie and Elizabeth Sullivan-Crowley of Princeton, New Jersey; and Jake and Quinn Sullivan of Concord, New Hampshire. He also leaves a great grandson, Wyatt Faria, and a great grandson expected in February 2013. On Monday, October 1, at 2 pm, a private service will be held in the chapel at New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. A Memorial Mass to which all are invited will be held on Saturday, October 20 at 9 am at St. Mary's Church in Chelmsford, MA. A reception and celebration of life will follow at Mount Pleasant Country Club, Staples Street, Lowell, MA from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. All are invited to share their memories of James and his extraordinary life. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the NH Veterans Cemetery Assoc. Inc. PO Box 626 Concord, NH 03302-0626. E-condolences may be sent to the Kimble Funeral Home websiteat www.thekimblefuneralhome.com