Obituary of Richard Sullivan

Richard A. Sullivan, 79, beloved husband, father, uncle, and friend, passed away on September 14, 2021 of cancer. Rick was a New Year’s Day baby in 1942, the eldest son of Celeste and Francis R. Sullivan, a US Army officer. They, along with Rick’s brother Bill and sister Pam, traveled wide and made their home in Connecticut, China, Massachusetts, Kansas, France, Germany, and Virginia. Like his father, Rick received an appointment to West Point. He graduated in 1965, and served two tours in Vietnam in the Corps of Engineers. He married his wife, Mary (neé Heckel) on December 31, 1966. He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1971 and pursued a career in manufacturing operations.

Rick’s professional career took him to Connecticut, Ontario, and Ohio as a manufacturing executive, before moving back to Connecticut to open his own business with his wife and son, Business Card Express of Connecticut in Southington and then Cheshire, which operated for 23 years.

Rick was in love with nature, and an avid skier and hiker. As he approached retirement, Rick enjoyed more leisure pursuits, joining the Hartford Bridge Club, and Mount Laurel Skiers. Mount Laurel became the center of Rick and Mary’s social life for many years, and the friendships they formed there were among the most important of Rick’s life. Rick poured himself into service for the club, as Treasurer, also working on the club lodge in Ludlow, VT, and in his favorite role as co-chair of the hiking group with Jeanne Delahanty, leading and organizing hikes throughout New England. Rick had a special love for some of the most challenging trails in the White Mountains, and spent many days skiing Killington and Okemo, as well as regular visits to Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico with his extended family.

Rick was a rock for people who knew him, always ready with support, help, and love. In his final days, Rick talked mostly about skiing, hiking, family and his 54 year partnership with Mary. Rick is survived by his wife Mary H. Sullivan, his son Michael Sullivan and wife Kristen Dunn, his sister Pam, and her children Kelly McCloskey Romero and husband Ricardo Romero and children Celeste, Felicia and Gabriela; Dan McCloskey and wife Priscilla and children Keith and Helen; Tom Tumolillo Jr.; Amedeo Tumolillo; Beth Marr and husband JD and children Sydney and Trevor, his deceased brother Bill’s family: Nance Crow-Sullivan and children David Tod and wife Charity and children Zelda and Roland; Malli Saunders and husband Mike, Mary’s sister Ann Oppenheimer and brother Richard Heckel, his cousins Noel Dardani, and wife Mary, and Marty Dardani, and wife Linda and their families.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Habitat for Humanity, Doctors without Borders, or a charity of your choice.