Obituary for George J Sullivan
SULLIVAN, DR. GEORGE J. SULLIVAN (age 92), passed away January 3, 2024. He was born on June 20, 1931, in Louisville to Edward and Ethel Sullivan, who are now deceased, along with two brothers J. Patrick Sullivan and Robert Sullivan (Sheila) and a son Brian Sullivan. Spending his childhood years in the Great Depression, at the age of four he decided he wanted to be a dentist, and never changed his mind. Throughout his life he exhibited a similar degree of vision, decisiveness, determination, and resilience.
After the age of 14 and throughout all of his years of education, George and all of his brothers paid for all of their personal expenses except their room and board at home. Mainly due to operating newspaper delivery routes in St. Matthews, he paid for all of his tuition, clothes, meals away from home, books, automobiles and other transportation, social activities, etc. He continued working his paper route throughout high school, college, and dental school, as his route grew to 5,700 newspapers per week and he hired five helpers for the deliveries. George Sullivan graduated from St. Xavier High School, where he was a member of the band and swim team, and earned a B.S. degree from the University of Louisville Belknap Campus and a D.M.D. degree from the University Of Louisville College Of Dentistry. He then served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps for two years. After this he went to Columbia University in New York City, where he graduated from a two-year residency training program in the specialty of Orthodontics. He then opened his Orthodontic practice in St. Matthews, which he continued for 30 years. After retiring from Orthodontics, he worked at Stifel, Nicolaus as an investment broker for another 18 years and became a Vice President of Investments.
He was an active member of the Louisville, Kentucky, and American Dental Associations and the Kentucky, Southern, and American Associations of Orthodontists. He served on many committees and held many offices in these organizations, including serving as President of the Kentucky Association of Orthodontists.
He was also active in his church and as a parent, including serving as President of the St. Margaret Mary School Parent–Teacher Association and as a Webelos Den leader in the Cub Scouting program. He was also active in several hobbyist clubs and served as president of three of them.
He is survived by his cherished wife, June Hayden Sullivan, children Karen Russ, Gary (Fariba), and David (Devon), step-children Brian Kalmer (Angela) and Craig Kalmer (Lisa), his brother Edward, his sister Nancy Leahy, seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Visitation will be from 3:00pm-8:00pm on Tuesday January 9th at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road. Funeral Mass will be Wednesday January 10th at 10:00am at Ascension Catholic Church, 4600 Lynnbrook Dr, Louisville Ky.
In lieu of flowers, Donations in remembrance of Dr. George Sullivan are requested to Kosair for Kids, PO Box 950136, Louisville, KY 40295-0136.
After the age of 14 and throughout all of his years of education, George and all of his brothers paid for all of their personal expenses except their room and board at home. Mainly due to operating newspaper delivery routes in St. Matthews, he paid for all of his tuition, clothes, meals away from home, books, automobiles and other transportation, social activities, etc. He continued working his paper route throughout high school, college, and dental school, as his route grew to 5,700 newspapers per week and he hired five helpers for the deliveries. George Sullivan graduated from St. Xavier High School, where he was a member of the band and swim team, and earned a B.S. degree from the University of Louisville Belknap Campus and a D.M.D. degree from the University Of Louisville College Of Dentistry. He then served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps for two years. After this he went to Columbia University in New York City, where he graduated from a two-year residency training program in the specialty of Orthodontics. He then opened his Orthodontic practice in St. Matthews, which he continued for 30 years. After retiring from Orthodontics, he worked at Stifel, Nicolaus as an investment broker for another 18 years and became a Vice President of Investments.
He was an active member of the Louisville, Kentucky, and American Dental Associations and the Kentucky, Southern, and American Associations of Orthodontists. He served on many committees and held many offices in these organizations, including serving as President of the Kentucky Association of Orthodontists.
He was also active in his church and as a parent, including serving as President of the St. Margaret Mary School Parent–Teacher Association and as a Webelos Den leader in the Cub Scouting program. He was also active in several hobbyist clubs and served as president of three of them.
He is survived by his cherished wife, June Hayden Sullivan, children Karen Russ, Gary (Fariba), and David (Devon), step-children Brian Kalmer (Angela) and Craig Kalmer (Lisa), his brother Edward, his sister Nancy Leahy, seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Visitation will be from 3:00pm-8:00pm on Tuesday January 9th at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road. Funeral Mass will be Wednesday January 10th at 10:00am at Ascension Catholic Church, 4600 Lynnbrook Dr, Louisville Ky.
In lieu of flowers, Donations in remembrance of Dr. George Sullivan are requested to Kosair for Kids, PO Box 950136, Louisville, KY 40295-0136.