John E. Sullivan

John E. Sullivan Retired Lowell Police Captain, 56 LOWELL John E. Sullivan, a retired Lowell Police Captain, died on September 15, 2008 after a courageous 20 year battle with Huntington's Disease. He was 56 years old. Born in Lowell, MA on April 20, 1952, John was the son of the late Lowell Police Sergeant John F. Sullivan and Eileen (Fagan) Sullivan. John graduated from Lowell High School in 1970, where he was a Boy Officer. John earned both a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Criminal Justice, graduating from Westfield State College in 1974 and Northeastern University in 1980. In 1976, John became a Correctional Officer at MCI Concord, where he worked until 1978. In April of 1978, he was appointed to the Lowell Fire Department where he served until October of that year. John was then appointed to the Lowell Police Department, and became a Patrolman in September of 1978. John was proud of the fact that he was a third generation Lowell Police Officer. He was promoted three times: in March of 1984 to Sergeant, in October of 1986 to Lieutenant, and in October of 1992 to Captain. Due to his battle with Huntington's Disease, he retired in February of 2000. John was an avid runner, having belonged to the Greater Lowell Road Runner's Club. Since 1982 he ran in many of the area's local road races. The Boston Marathon was his passion and he ran and completed 12 of them from 1987 through 1998. Always celebrating his Irish heritage, to the fullest, John belonged to the Ancient Order of Hibernians. John's favorite activity was spending time with his daughters Kaitlin and Meghan. He loved taking them camping, fishing, canoeing, to Hampton Beach and to the White Mountains. He was their most ardent fan, cheering for them at their dance and baton recitals, or at gymnastics and swimming/diving meets. He was very proud of all of their academic and personal accomplishments. John was diagnosed with Huntington's Disease in 1989. In the early 1990's, he participated in many clinical and research studies to advance the knowledge of HD. In 1996, he became only the second person to undergo a fetal pig tissue transplant, to determine if that could improve or cure HD. John was the former husband of Cheryl A. (Colbert) Sullivan of Chelmsford. He was the devoted father of Kaitlin E. Sullivan-Freimuth and her husband John Freimuth of Plainville, CT, and Meghan E. Sullivan of Chelmsford. He was the brother of David J. Sullivan and his life partner, Faith Travis and uncle to Shawn and Amanda Sullivan, all of Tyngsboro. John was also the God Father to Walter J. Poirier, the missing Lowell Peace Corps Volunteer. John is also survived by his former in-laws, William and Claire Colbert of Chelmsford, and his brothers and sisters-in-law, William C. Colbert, Michelle C. Desrosiers, Jeanne P. Carter, and James E. Colbert and their families. He is also survived by his loyal friends, Lowell Police Captain Kevin E. Staveley and Lowell Deputy Fire Chief Patrick R. McCabe, Jr. SULLIVAN In Tewksbury, September 15, 2008. John E. Sullivan, 56, Retired Lowell Police Captain. Friends may call at the FAY McCABE FUNERAL HOME, 105 MOORE STREET, LOWELL, on THURSDAY from 2 until 4 and from 7 until 9 P.M. John's Funeral will take place FRIDAY MORNING at 9:30 A.M. from the Funeral Home, followed by his Funeral Mass at 11 A. M. at ST. MARY'S CHURCH, 25 NORTH ROAD, CHELMSFORD. Burial will follow in Pine Ridge Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, please send donations in John's memory to THE HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE SOCIETY OF AMERICA/NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL OFFICE (HDSA), 6 COURTHOUSE LANE, UNIT 12, CHELMSFORD, MA 01824 OR www.hdsa-ne.org or www.hdsa.org. ARRANGEMENTS BY FAY McCABE FUNERAL DIRECTORS, 978-459-9222.