Beloved husband, father and friend passed away unexpectedly on June 7, 2010 at 69 years old. Rick, as his friends knew him, was born in Holyoke, MA, on May 2, 1941 to John Patrick and Leonie Montcalm Sullivan. After spending time working as a plumber for his father, and serving in the Air Force Reserves, he followed his sister to Washington, D.C. He went on to graduate from American University in 1967, and from Catholic University of America Law School with a Juris Doctorate in 1971, all while working on the Capitol Police Force under the patronage of Congressman Peter Rodino.
Rick was admitted to the Bar in 1971 and spent his entire professional career in New York City, first as a litigator for Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and for the past 36 years working in the Legal Department at PricewaterhouseCoopers. It was while working for Sullivan & Cromwell that he met his future wife, Marilyn, who was a paralegal at the time.
After residing in Manhattan, Bethel, CT, Bedford, NY, and Mt. Kisco, NY, he became a resident of Old Greenwich in 1986. Rick was very active in the community as a member of the Old Greenwich Association, Representative Town Meeting, and served on various committees as a member of the Innis Arden Golf Club.
One of his greatest joys was following his sons’ youth, high school, college and professional athletic careers at Greenwich High School, Indiana University, Bucknell University, The University of Notre Dame, Union College, and the Minnesota Vikings. He rarely missed a game and could be found disagreeing with any call that went against his team. Rick was an avid reader, having finished 121 books on his beloved kindle in the last year alone. His true passion, however, was in the relationships he had with his family and friends around the country. He was known for making friends wherever he went, whether on the street, at a tailgate, or a barbecue in the backyard, and often with a glass of wine.
He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Marilyn Sims Sullivan; his four sons, Ulric T. Sullivan, Samuel S. Sullivan, John A. Sullivan and Robert S. Sullivan; siblings Rev. John L. Sullivan, Dr. Leonie Watson, Anne Burke, Thomas Sullivan, Esq., and Mary Donah; mother-in-law Grace Sims and sister-in-law Janet Sims; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Daughter, Eleanor Francis Sullivan, predeceases him.
Visitation hours will be held for family and friends at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home located at 31 Arch Street, Greenwich CT, 06830, from 4 - 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15th and 4 - 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16th. Funeral services will be held at The First Congregational Church of Greenwich located at 108 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich CT, 06870 at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 17th.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Albertson Memorial Church, 293 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich, CT, 06870.
To send the family an online condolence, please visit www. leopgallaghergreenwich.com.
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