Robert J. Sullivan

Brother Robert J. Sullivan, 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 doing 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 Prep in Danvers from 1960-1963, before founding serving as first headmaster at Xavier High School in Middletown, CT. This was followed by several years as Novice Master and then Scholastic Director at Newton Highlands, teaching 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 then advanced placement physics for ten years. From 1986 until his retirement in 1992, he served has Headmaster at Malden Catholic High School. In addition to his brothers in religion, Brother Robert is survived by siblings Margaret Eisenhaur, who was active in Bro. Robert’s care in his later years, and her husband Gerry 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 several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings Sister Mary Sullivan, FMM, Edward Sullivan, and A. Eugene Sullivan.