Paul Sullivan

Paul William Sullivan. April 7, 1941, of Weston, formerly Wayland, Massachusetts, child of God, father, grandfather athlete, son, and friend died peacefully on December 7, 2024, surrounded by his children. He was 83. Paul Sullivan is lovingly survived by his five children and their families: Todd Sullivan, his wife Stacy, and their children Sydney, Sloane, and John Paul of West Bloomfield, Michigan; Sean Sullivan and his partner Jenny Corlett of Muir Beach, California; Courtney Homer, her husband Chris, and their children Sullivan and Bailey of Bluffton, South Carolina; Alina Sullivan Murray, her husband Richard, and their children Bolton, Logan, and Patrick of Natick, Massachusetts; and Ricardo Sullivan, his wife Jordan, and their son Cedric of Boynton Beach, Florida. Paul was the beloved son of the late Edith and John Sullivan and the youngest sibling of Edythe Ann McGoldrick, Patricia Thompson, Joan Carder, and John Sullivan. Born in Belmont, Massachusetts, Paul graduated from Belmont High School in 1959 and Harvard University in 1963. A remarkable athlete, Paul's accomplishments on the tennis court spanned decades. Paul was ranked #1 in New England as a junior and competed professionally for over 20 years, facing tennis legends like Don Budge, Bjorn Borg, and Arthur Ashe. He claimed five U.S. National Championships partnered with iconic champions such as Billie Jean King and Patti Hogan. He captained tennis teams at Belmont High, at Harvard his junior and senior years, as well as the Harvard-Yale team vs. Oxford-Cambridge at Wimbledon in 1962. In 1965, his family was named the USTA's first National Tennis Family of the Year. Off the court, Paul founded Paul Sullivan Sportswear and invented the first aluminum tennis racket, which later was sold as the Spaulding Smasher. Beyond his athletic and professional accomplishments, Paul is remembered by his countless friends of all ages. His true legacy lies in his kindness, faith, and generosity. A devout Catholic who attended daily Mass for decades, he volunteered at the St. Mary After School Program, supported those in need, and organized a beloved tennis event at Longwood Cricket Club. His warmth, passion, and ability to make everyone feel special will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Visiting hours at the Brady & Fallon Funeral Home, 10 Tower St. (Opp. Forest Hills MBTA Station) Jamaica Plain on Tuesday December 17 from 5-8 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary's Church, 145 School St., Waltham on Wednesday December 18 at 10 am. Interment will follow at St. Joseph cemetery, West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Paul's honor to the St. Mary After School Program, where he shared his passion for tennis, deep faith, and boundless joy with children and others in God's embrace.