Thomas C. Sullivan

Thomas C. Sullivan
1933-2024

Palm City, FL - Thomas Connors Sullivan, 91, passed away Friday (11/22) at his Florida home surrounded by family. Tom was born in Pawtucket, RI on July 27, 1933, to the late Elizabeth (O’Neill) and George Sullivan. He was a graduate of West Springfield High School and received a BS in Chemical Engineering from The University of Maine at Orono, where he met the love of his life, Margaret. An ROTC cadet in college, he served in the U.S. Army for two years. He spent his entire career at Sullivan Paper Company in West Springfield, MA where he worked his way through each department and became co-owner and ‘one of the four pillars of SulPaCo.’ Tom and Margaret established a home on Ohio Avenue in West Springfield that was always overflowing with kids – their own and others (plus the occasional stray animal). They built a summer home on the shore of Otis Reservoir where you might find Tom overseeing the annual Pig Roast, shooting geese off the lawn, or watching his beloved Red Sox. A devout Roman Catholic, Tom was a communicant of St. Mary of the Lake in Otis and Holy Redeemer Church in Palm City, FL and spent many years involved in the leadership at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Springfield. He served for over 10 years on the West Springfield School Committee, supported countless charities, and quietly supported many individuals. Tom enjoyed playing golf and was a lifetime member of Springfield Country Club. For much of his later life, Tom’s (early) mornings were spent behind the counter at a local coffee shop as an unofficial volunteer employee. In the afternoons, he could be found at a card table winning a game of finagle and, in the evening, shared stories with his dozens of kids, grandkids, and friends. Tom was one of nine children and was predeceased by all eight of his siblings. He was the beloved husband of the late Margaret M. (Gray) Sullivan (1999), and loving father of fifteen: Anne Marie Carlson and her husband Craig of West Haven, CT; Michael Sullivan and his wife Christine of Westfield; Thomas Sullivan and his wife Denise of Chicopee; Bob Sullivan and his wife Nance of Venice, FL; Stephen Sullivan and his wife Mary of Windsor, CT; George Sullivan of Northampton; Eileen Sullivan of Savannah, GA; Mark Sullivan and his wife Paula of Arvada, CO; Mary Sullivan of Wallingford, CT; Paul Sullivan and his wife Jenny of Westfield; Kevin Sullivan and his wife Marion of Gardner, MA; Bill Sullivan of Springfield; and Amy Sullivan of Erie, CO. Tom was predeceased by his two daughters, Peggie Loris and Lucy Stoney. He was lovingly known as “Poppy” to his 28 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and many who adopted him as their own “Poppy.” He also leaves numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and his two sons-in-law, Richard Loris and Richard Stoney. The calling hours will be Monday (12/9) from 4 -7 pm at the TOOMEY-O’BRIEN FUNERAL HOME, 1043 Westfield Street, West Springfield, MA. The Funeral Mass will be Tuesday 10 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Burial will follow at St. Thomas Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Tom’s name to the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club, 615 Main Street, West Springfield, MA 01089 or to the Boys & Girls Club of Martin County, PO Box 910 Hobe Sound, FL 33475 or St. Mary of the Lake, 72 North Main St., Otis, MA 01253. For more information, please visit www.toomeyobrien.com .