Brother Robert J. Sullivan, C.F.X.
November 9, 2013
Brother Robert J. Sullivan, C.F.X., 85, a member of the Xaverian Brothers community in Melrose, died on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 following several years of declining health. Born in Somerville on Dec. 14, 1927, he was the son of the late Robert W. and Clare (Rodgers) Sullivan. He graduated from Malden Catholic High School in 1945 and then entered the Congregation of the Brothers of St. Francis Xavier. After graduating from Catholic University in 1951, his teaching apostolate first brought him to Flaget High School in Louisville, KY, which was followed by a return to Catholic University where he completed graduate studies in theology and philosophy. In 1975, he received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Boston College. His manifold career included teaching at the Xaverian Brothers Novitiate and at Ryken High School in Leonardtown, MD. He then served as Director of Studies at St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers from 1960-1963. He was appointed first Headmaster of Xavier High School in Middletown, CT and led the school through its first four years. Bro. Robert then served for several years as Novice Master and Scholastic Director at Newton Highlands. He also taught philosophy at Newton College of the Sacred Heart before returning to St. John's Prep where he taught philosophy and psychology for five years and advanced placement physics for ten years. From 1986 until his retirement in 1992, he served as Headmaster of Malden Catholic High School. In addition to his Brothers in religion, Brother Robert is survived by siblings Margaret Eisenhaur, who was active in Brother Robert's care in his later years, and her husband Gerald of Stoneham, Virginia Wilson of North Andover, and Donald Sullivan of Somerville, two sisters-in-law, Julie Sullivan of Kenya and Rosemary Sullivan of Winchester, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings Sister Mary Sullivan, FMM, Edward Sullivan, and A. Eugene Sullivan. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013 at 11 a.m. at St. Richard Church, 90 Forest St., Danvers. Burial will follow in the Xaverian Brothers Cemetery, on the St. John’s Prep campus in Danvers. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Friday from 3-8 p.m. in the Chapel of St. John's Preparatory School (Administration Building), 72 Spring St., Danvers. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sullivan Family Scholarship fund at Malden Catholic High School, 99 Crystal St., Malden, MA 02148.
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RIP Brother…a life well lived…Kevin Dolan ’75
The loss of a great teacher, gentleman and humble man of God. Bother Sullivan made every day in class a lesson in striving for excellence. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Brother Sullivan was a perfect balance of kindness and discipline. I can honestly say the only science class I ever enjoyed, high school or university, was taught by him. I have a love of physics to this day because of his teaching. I can remember his words of encouragement and praise as I solved equations that would have seemed impossible to me in any other setting. His love of learning will stay with me as long as I live. He also taught me to tuck in my shirt, which nobody until then had convinced me to do with any consistency! God bless his memory.
As a skinny sophomore from Lowell trekking daily to St Johns Prep it was in the fall of 1973 that I first met Brother Sullivan as my teacher of an Ethics class. My life was changed forever. Brother Sullivan became one of my cornerstones, a pillar upon which I continued to grapple with the concepts he presented in the philosophy and psychology classed I took from him my junior and senior years at the Prep. Through the thinkers, the literature, the ideas and opinions he exposed us to over those years, he did what only the greatest of teachers are capable of doing, taking course material and turning it on the student to confront them with who they are and to take responsibility for what you were expected to become. My relationship continued with Brother Sullivan into my adult years as a young parent and now an older parent. He attended my wedding and I last saw him at my father’s wake in mid September. To all the Sullivan family and Prep community I am forever thankful for the opportunity to call him my friend, it was the most important thing a person could be and he taught us well. Know that he is at peace, and that the questions he posed as a teacher are now all revealed to him…
I feel very fortunate to have had Br. Sullivan as a teacher many years ago, and I am sad to hear of his passing. The lessons Br. Sullivan imparted on collecting ‘insights’ reached far beyond the physics classroom where they were delivered and have stayed with me to this day. My greatest sympathies to his family and friends. Sincerely John Hamilton ’82
Dear Brothers and Sullivan family members. Brother Robert was my brother in religious life, and a wonderful friend and mentor. His influence on me as on many others was to make Christ more visible. I am saddened by his departure from this life, gladdened by his arriving at the object of his love. My prayers are for all of us who have lost him. I will direct prayers to him that we may find his wisdom and love in a difficult time. Peter Castaldi (Brother Luke)
Brother Sullivan was one of the best!! Ethics: sophomore year – loved that class (still have some of those papers somewhere)! Physics: junior year – he taught me a LOVE for physics! May he rest in peace knowing that he inspired probably thousands of students in many different ways! My condolences to all his family and friends. Jay Cameron, P.E. SJP ’79 BSME, Engineering Mechanics MS Metallurgy father, robotics mentor former: sports coach, religious ed teacher/director, Lector
Brother Sullivan hired me 27 years ago as a first year teacher at MC. His advice to me was “there is good in every kid and it will be your job to find that good”. As an administrator, teacher and coach, I have always tried to live up to his challenge and his example of leadership. God bless you Brother Sull.
This news struck me hard as Bro. Sullivan was such a bright and buoyant spirit – one of the very few I have ever come across in my life. He was generous with his time and expertise, uncompromising in his desire for his students to excel, and full of encouragement and enthusiasm for inquiry. He was thoroughly dedicated to the success and enlightenment of his many students whose lives he changed utterly by his luminous presence. In a world where the powerful co-opt God for their own purposes and pursue agendas that directly contradict the central message of the Gospels, Bro. Sullivan’s life was an example for us all – dedication to God made manifest in his dedication to those around him. He was a great man and a great spirit.
I thank God for Brother Sullivan. He encouraged us to do our best, to find the good, to have humor and compassion. He’s also the only person I have ever met who could wiggle his ears, a rare talent! I treasure my physics class and other time with him, and feel he has had a tremendously wonderful influence on thousands of people. Thank you, Brother Sullivan!
Not many people know that Brother Robert Sullivan was the founding faculty member and sponsor of the St. John’s Prep Swim Team in 1980. Per his nature, I am sure that his humility would not allow him to take any credit. Therefore, I will mention it. In accepting his role as Head Coach of 11 swimmers, he had to get up everyday at 4:30 a.m. and make his way to Green Village pool on Rt. 1 north in Danvers for 2 years until St. Johns hired the first paid coach and moved practices to the Danvers YMCA. Bro. Sullivan lead us to the State Finals the very first year of his coaching tenure. For those that remember. Bro. Sullivan knew nothing about swimming when he started. He just knew that 11 swimmers needed his support in order to start what is now one of the most dominate high school swimming programs in Massachusetts…with national recognition and expectations of State Championships every year. The St. John’s swim team would not have happened without his personal involvement and on-going commitment in those early years. He continued to attend swimming meets throughout the years. The original 11 swimmers are forever grateful for your presence and your guidance in our lives. Rest in Peace . (Co-Capt. 1982)
I share the sentiments of all regarding Brother Sullivan’s exceptional tutelage. He was uniquely gifted in the ability to connect with students in formative years and mold them into quality people. Beyond the classroom, I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship for four decades. One of his favorite tenets came from St. Thomas Aquinas – “friendship is the highest form of love”. He put this belief into action, by actively willing the best for others, no matter their circumstance. Sometimes this was through his compassion, other times by pushing toward excellence, but always with graceful flair and class. It was an honor to have known him, to have witnessed his vocation in action and to call him my friend. May he rest in peace
As Director of Studies, Brother Robert was the day to day administer during my last 3 years at the Prep. I found him to always be fair, caring, smiling,and welcoming. I consider him to be a true inspiration to me and a person who I thought of a lot during my teaching career. I remember seeing him almost every day and receiving words of congratulations when things went well and words of encouragement when they did not. My condolences to his family.
Brother Robert was a household name growing-up. My Mom and Dad really admired and loved him. I was lucky to meet him and spend time with him a few times growing-up. I know my Dad feels a great loss of a cousin but more of a lifetime friend. Best wishes to all of the Sullivan family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you wish Brother Robert peace and eternal rest.
My first encounter with Brother Robert was in sophomore ethics class. It was a wonderful class, full of insightful topics like how we achieve true dialog with others and the steps to effective decision making. Ethics was dropped from the curriculum the next year (a shame) which was good fortunate for my classmates and me as it meant Brother would teach us physics the following year. I imagine it wasn’t an easy transition between two so different subjects, but Brother handled it, like everything he did, with excellence. The physics lab became my hangout for the next two years. Inside and outside class, every moment spent with Brother was an education.
Brother Robert took me under his wing when I came to St. John’s. Through his guidance, I was able to complete my studies at St. John’s, move on to college and complete law school. I remained close to him as the years went by and always considered him as one of my best friends. He was a great man who had a positive influence on many young men who are now, like myself, old men. He will be missed.
This man changed my life. There is not much more to say
Bruce Akers SJP class of 85
As a proud member of the PINTA award club, I am late, but nonetheless heartened to have seen the lecture series at SJP in Brother Sullivan’s name. I will never forget the story he told about a physics Ph.D. thesis about whether you got more wet if you ran in the rain versus walking or walking fast and that the study found that you got more wet if you ran to your destination! The lecture series in his name gives me a warm feeling because though intimidating at first, he was able to win my respect and that of all of my classmates with his intellect and his fondness for his students. I am thankful and humbled that we have crossed paths.
It has been over 40 years since graduation and I think of Brother Sullivan fondly….he had the down to earth but firm approach and sense of humor to excel in any situation and loved a cigar….God bless.
Salud.