William J. Sullivan

FALL RIVER — William J. Sullivan, age 68, of Fall River, Massachusetts, and North Palm Beach, Florida, died Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at his residence on Sawdy Pond. He was the husband of Margaret Mary (Nawrocki) Sullivan. They were married for 46 years. William "Bill" was a prominent area funeral director and avid yachtsman.

He was born in Fall River, a son of the late William S. and Rose E. (Harrington) Sullivan, both past members of the Fall River School Committee. Mr. Sullivan was a life-long resident of Fall River, with a summer residence at Sawdy Pond. For the past seven years, he and his wife, Margaret Mary, were winter residents of North Palm Beach.

A graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School, class of 1956, he received a B.A. degree from Providence College in 1960. In 1964, he received a M.A. degree in Education from Bridgewater State College, and taught English at Morton Junior High School in Fall River.

In 1965, Mr. Sullivan and his wife both graduated from the New England Institute of Anatomy and Mortuary Sciences, and joined the family funeral home founded by his grandfather, the late Jeffrey E. Sullivan. With his wife, mother and brother, the firm expanded with acquisition of the C.P. Harrington Funeral Home, which became the Harrington-Sullivan funeral home. In 1980, they continued to expand with the opening of the Rose E. Sullivan Funeral Home in Somerset, Massachusetts. In 1997, the Sullivan's joined the Waring family and Affiliated Family Homes of Service Corporation International. The new firm became known as the Waring-Sullivan Homes of Memorial Tribute, serving the South coast area at six locations. Mr. Sullivan, and his wife, Margaret Mary continued to serve the firm as Senior Service Counselors.

Mr. Sullivan has been a member of the Board of Directors for Slade's Bank since 1985. He served on the Executive Committee, Chairman of the Community Reinvestment Act and was a member of the Compensation Committee.

Mr. Sullivan was a Lieutenant in the United States Army. He served as a Mortuary Officer at Fort Leslie J. McNair, in the military district of Washington, D.C. In 1962, he was transferred to the inactive army as a First Lieutenant. He was a member, past President, and former Treasurer of the Fall River Funeral Directors Association. He was also a member and former Director of the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association and a member of the Clover Club, serving as past President and member of the Board of Directors. He was also a member of the Quequechan Club in Fall River, and the Westport Fisherman's Association.

During his youth, he summered in the Hummocks with his mother Rose and brother Jeff. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Parish in Fall River, where he was past President of its Men's Club, and former Chairman of the parish phase of the Catholic Charities Appeal. He later became a communicant of the Holy Name Parish, and served as past President of its Men's Club, a founder of the 1923 Club, and a member of the Holy Name School Committee. In 1996, Cardinal Bernard Law installed Mr. Sullivan and his wife Margaret as Knight and Lady of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. While wintering in North Palm Beach, Florida, he was a communicant at St. Patrick's Church.

Mr. Sullivan was a lifelong, avid, and accomplished sailor. His vessel, the Irishwake, a Pearson 424 Ketch, was a familiar fixture in the surrounding waters of Buzzards Bay, Narragansett Bay, Newport, and the Elizabeth Islands.

Mr. Sullivan was predeceased by his oldest son, William S. Sullivan. He is survived by five children, daughter Kellyann Frank and her husband Steven A. of Westport, MA, son Christopher J. Sullivan of Houston, TX, daughter Margaret Sullivan M.D. and her husband Timothy J. White of Lakeville, MA, son Stephen E. Sullivan and his wife Wendy L. of Swansea, MA, and daughter Kathryn S. Davis and her husband Jeffrey M. of Somerset, MA. Mr. Sullivan has fifteen grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Jeffrey E. Sullivan.

His Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday September 8, 2007 at 10am in Church of the Holy Name 709 Hanover St., Fall River. Relatives and friends are invited. His visiting hours will be held on Friday from 4 to 7pm in the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Cherry Place 178 Winter St., Fall River.

Flowers welcome or memorial contribution may be made to The William J. Sullivan Memorial Fund, proceeds of which will benefit Lung Cancer research c/o John E. Saulino, Esquire, Saulino and Silvia, P.C., 550 Locust St., Fall River, MA 02720. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Fall River. For directions or to send a tribute visit: waring-sullivan.com.