Ed Sullivan
OBITUARY
Ed’s life began humbly in Providence, Rhode Island, as an “Irish twin” born just ten months after his brother, Jim. Raised by a textile mill worker mother and a Boys Club of America employee father, the family later moved to Fall River, Massachusetts, with baby sister, Pat. At age 17, Ed enlisted in the Navy, serving two years aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway and two more at the Argentia Naval Air Station in Newfoundland. In civilian life, he worked as a milkman and an insurance agent before entering the printing business, where he eventually founded his own thriving company, West Foils Inc.
For 49 years, Ed shared his life with his late wife, Sue Sullivan. They loved boating and lived dockside in Oxnard, California’s Mandalay Bay, where Ed served as Commodore of the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club in 1982. An avid golfer with three holes-in-one to his name, he greatly enjoyed living course-side at the Vista Valley Country Club in Vista. In later years, his passion turned to the USS Midway Museum. As a dedicated donor and docent, he brought his beloved ship to life for guests for over 20 years. Upon his retirement this year, he received the high naval honor of being ceremonially “piped ashore.”
Ed loved his country, its veterans, politics, history, chardonnay, storytelling, Frank Sinatra, cruises, card games with his pals, fried Spam, cherry pie, and so much more during his 93 wonderful years. He will be forever missed by his daughter Nancy, sister Pat and her husband Bill, granddaughter Alex, niece Stacy, and countless friends, always greeted by his signature smile and positive flair.
So raise a glass to Ed; as per his wishes, in lieu of a memorial service, his ashes will be scattered privately at sea. Donations in his memory may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation (t2t.org).