Walter D. Sullivan

On July 30th, 2023, Walter D. Sullivan passed away at Hartford Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Walter was born on February 4th, 1931, in New Britain, CT where he was one of two children raised by Walter D. Sullivan, Sr., an affable man with a heart of gold, and Delia Sullivan, a tough, quick-witted woman who was a schoolteacher in Waterbury. Walter went to St. Thomas Seminary, where he met a group of friends from West Hartford, including James Brennan, who had a sister named Julianne. They began dating and thus began a love affair that spanned nearly 60 years.

After graduating from Fordham University, where he lettered in track & field and majored in Economics, Walter joined the Army as an officer through the ROTC program. He married Julianne and they moved from one station to another in the United States. After being honorably discharged as a Second Lieutenant, he returned to New Britain and raised six children with Julianne at their residence on Hickory Hill Road, a home that Walt built himself. He joined his father's company, Walter D. Sullivan Mechanical Contracting, on West Main Street in New Britain. Walter grew that small residential plumbing business into a large commercial enterprise, becoming one of the largest mechanical contracting firms in the state. His company installed the plumbing and HVAC into some of the largest buildings in Connecticut.

Walter loved to spend his summers in Black Point, CT where he had many friends and created fond memories. He marched every Fourth of July in the parade with friends called "The Kazoo band." He was part of a rowdy group of friends called the Muffin Men, who attended morning mass followed by a breakfast with spirited conversation. Happily, he was able to attend the 2023 Fourth of July parade before his health declined.

Walter was an avid athlete who was fiercely competitive. He loved playing doubles tennis with friends at Shuttle Meadow CC and Black Point. He was a devoted runner who ran the Manchester Road Race every year as well as the Black Point Road Race where the 70+ category is named in his honor.

Walter was active in the community and served on a number of corporate and charitable boards, including New Britain National Bank and New Britain General Hospital.

Once Walter retired, he moved to Vero Beach, FL with Julianne and continued to play golf and tennis at the Moorings Country Club. He became involved in Habitat for Humanity and consulted on the rebuilding of the Moorings Clubhouse after it was destroyed in a hurricane.

Predeceased by his sister, Katherine Robinson and wife, Julianne, Walter is survived by his children, Jill Coscarelli of West Hartford, Walter D. Sullivan III "Tripp" and his wife Karla of East Lyme, Lee Randall and her partner Jeff Fogg of Farmington, Mary Kate Sullivan and her husband David Pappalardo of Coventry, Jamie Sullivan and his wife Elizabeth of West Hartford, and Carrie Lynch and her partner Malcolm McDonald of Farmington. He also left behind eighteen loving grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, who lovingly referred to him simply as "Walter." He loved his family, he was their hero, and he certainly will never be forgotten.

A gathering of friends and family will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Thursday August 3rd at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas The Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to New Britain YMCA or New Britain General Hospital. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com