Brian Thomas Sullivan

Brian Thomas Sullivan, 45, of Boston, MA, passed away on July 2, 2024.
Brian was a community builder who loved bringing joy to people. He went above and beyond in each moment, actively demonstrating his life mission "to give hope" to people he met socially or served through his professional and charitable work. Brian built biopharmaceutical companies, ran health-focused public awareness campaigns, raised funds for cancer research, and served on the board of advisors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts.
Most importantly, Brian was a really great friend. He had a gift for connecting people and had a wide circle of friends whom he considered family. Expert bread maker and salmon smoker, "Uncle Yully" creatively organized group vacations, meals, and games. He enjoyed gathering with his neighbors to beautify their award-winning gardens and transform their Beacon Hill neighborhood into Diagon Alley on Halloween.
A life-long ocean enthusiast, Brian enjoyed sailing and open water diving. He was also an avid skier, camper, and travel adventurer. Brian rode the Pan-Mass Challenge and ran the Boston Marathon.
Born on October 7, 1978, in Brockton, MA, Brian spent most of his childhood in Chelmsford, MA and graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1996. In 2000, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of New Hampshire, where he conducted an independent research project focused on the design and construction of a solar-powered, self-sustaining sea urchin aquaculture system. In 2004, he received his Master of Science degree in Reproductive Immunology on mechanisms of tumor development and resistance to therapy in cervical and breast cancer.
Founder and Principal of Primus Advisors, Brian was a specialist in company building, fundraising, business development and asset evaluation, and communications. Throughout his career, Brian helped to advance the scientific development of numerous novel therapeutics, but he did not stop there. His passion was in lending the platform, network, and skill sets cultivated throughout his career to advocate for patients and to champion mission-driven initiatives that could lead to industry advancing impact. Previously, he was Vice President, Corporate Development for Elevation Oncology, a founding employee and Senior Director, Corporate Development for Verastem Oncology, and a member of Longwood Fund, a healthcare venture capital group. Prior to Longwood Fund, Brian held scientific, operational, and development roles within private and public biotechnology companies, and at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Brian is survived by his wife Alaine Kiera Fredericksen, mother Cynthia "Cindy" (FitzGerald) Sullivan of Plymouth, MA, sister Tracy Sullivan of Burlington, MA, and brother David Sullivan of Washington, D.C. Brian was predeceased by his beloved father, Dennis B. Sullivan Jr. in 2019.
A private ceremony and interment will be held at Mayflower Cemetery in Duxbury, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (dana-farber.org/gift), The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (lls.org), or Community Boating, Inc. (community-boating.org).
Funeral arrangements are by Cartmell-Davis Life Celebration Funeral Homes, Plymouth, MA. For more information, visit www.cartmelldavis.com.