Robert Joseph Sullivan

Robert Joseph Sullivan passed away on September 7th in Milton, MA at the age of 90.

Son of Hattie Mae Wade and Andrew Jackson Sullivan, he was born May 26, 1934 in Mize, MS. He joined the Navy in 1953 where he served as a boiler operator in multiple postings including aboard the USS Ajax. Upon completing his service, his love of fixing things led to positions ranging from running his own Texaco service station, to working as a machinist for Ferry-Morse Seed Company, and finally as the long-time electrician for the Union School District in San Jose, CA.

While in the Navy, his duties brought him to San Francisco, CA where he met his first wife, Irene, at a Navy dance on Treasure Island. California would remain his home for the next 40 years. He quickly became a beloved member of his adopted La Rosa family where he was variably known as Uncle Bob, Bobbie, and Bobby Joe. After Irene died in 1985, he and Christopher, their son, filled their evenings and weekends with baseball, fishing, and making model rockets; becoming the best of friends. Robert met his second wife, Carole, several years later while making repairs at the school where she worked. In 1996, retirement took them to Houston, TX where they would live (and travel extensively in his red Chevrolet Astro) until moving to Missouri in 2016. Carole's passing in 2017 brought Robert to Massachusetts to live near Christopher and his family where he spent the next seven years watching his grandchildren's activities and fishing with his buddies, Paul Leary and Jon Grimm.

Robert was preceded in death by his mother, father, step-father, brothers, sister, first wife Irene La Rosa Sullivan, and second wife Carole A. Sullivan. He is survived by his son, Christopher Sullivan of Cohasset, MA, Christopher's wife Alexandra Sullivan, and their children: Noah Sullivan and Phoebe Sullivan; granddaughter Christina Williams of Poughkeepsie, NY and her son Phelan; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews in California and Mississippi.

Robert will be dearly missed as a father, grandfather, uncle, brother, and friend. Everyone fortunate enough to have known him, even briefly, will forever remember his smile, warm and welcoming personality, sense of humor, and kindness. He was always happy to lend a hand, especially to those that he loved, and could "Bob Sullivan" (fix) anything (usually while whistling one of his favorite tunes).

A celebration of Robert's life will be held in his adopted home of the Bay Area of California in the near future.