John Leo Sullivan

He was born May 14, 1944, in Jacksonville, IL; the son of James J. Sr. and Marjorie Cox Sullivan. He married Nancy L. Sullivan on May 28, 1977, at American Lutheran Church in Rantoul, IL, she survives.

He is also survived by one daughter, Kristie Lynn Betson (husband, Chris) of Bloomington, three sons, Charles of Champaign, Carl (wife, Lisa) of North, South Carolina, and Gerald (wife, Nikki) of Minot, ND; seven grandchildren, Tyler Sullivan of Chicago, Sean Sullivan of Seattle, WA, Nicholas Almanza of Ojai, CA, Peyton, Alexandra, and Maddux Betson, of Bloomington, and Emily Sullivan, of Minot, ND. and numerous nieces and nephews around the country. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother J.J. “Bud” Sullivan.

Mr. Sullivan graduated Routt High School in Jacksonville before continuing his education at Illinois College and earning his Master’s degree in Education from the University of Illinois. A lifelong educator he taught ten years in the classroom before serving 23 years as a school administrator, finishing his career at Parkside Junior High School in Normal.

He was a dedicated basketball and football official spending 22 years officiating high school and college basketball working 3 state high school championship games in that time. 43 years officiating football both on the field and as a replay official in the booth. During that time he officiated 1 state high school championship, several FCS playoff games, and 5 post-season bowl game assignments in the replay booth. His proudest accomplishment in officiating was refereeing the 2006 FCS national championship game between Appalachian State and UMass. In 2009 Mr. Sullivan was inducted into the Bloomington-Normal Officials Associations’ Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and has received numerous awards for outstanding achievement in officiating.

Cremation services have been entrusted to East Lawn Funeral Home in Bloomington. A visitation will be held on May 21, 2021 from 10-11:30 am at the funeral home, with services to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested to Routt High School in Jacksonville, IL, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.