Visitation
Mass of Christian Burial
Obituary of Bernard J. Sullivan
Bernie was born in Utica, NY and graduated from Utica Free Academy, where he would meet his future wife, Olive Pierce. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Syracuse University at Utica College. He served two years in the U.S. Army as a radar specialist. In 1955 he married Olive, his wife of 68 years.
After his discharge from the Army, he worked at the Rome Air Development Center and at General Electric on government projects, which included the E2-C (the naval version of the AWACS plane), the F-111 terrain following radar, and on video displays for project Apollo. At General Electric he honed his skills in circuit design and in the design of Cathode Ray Tubes.
In 1965, the family moved to Rochester, where he finished his education with a master’s degree in Applied Mathematical Statistics at RIT. He worked in various companies where he was awarded six patents.
Bernie was a Boy Scout Leader and a Little League coach. In addition, he was active in the choir and the Knights of Columbus at Holy Trinity Church in Webster. He was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and used his expertise to help others whenever the opportunity arose. A lifelong musician, he played the violin from an early age and taught himself to play many other instruments, such as the guitar, banjo, mandolin, accordion, and harmonica. He was an active fiddler in the Irish music community of Rochester. A Professional Engineer, Bernie had a never-ending thirst for knowledge, and a joke or a story always at the ready. He loved woodworking, making things for others, and playing music with his family.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Olive Pierce Sullivan; Children: Kathleen Sullivan (Daniel Gramlich), Daniel (Jane) Sullivan, Kenneth (Carolyn) Sullivan, Sean M. (Melanie) Sullivan, Maureen (Clark) Romeo, and Sheila (John) Buck; Grandchildren: Robert (Julie Christensen) Schreib, Virginia (Zane) Mabry, Lisa (Andrew) Schmitz, Sarah (Quinn Anderson) Sullivan, Paul Sullivan, Pierce Sullivan, Morgan O’Sullivan (James Kautz), Sean P. Sullivan, Brian (Jamie) Romeo, Nickolas (Meaghan) Romeo, Thomas Buck, and Barbara Buck; Nine Great grandchildren: Dylan, Niall, and Aidan Schmitz, Aria and James Romeo, and Dominic, Cameron, Declan, and Brody Romeo; Sisters Eileen (William) Hopsicker and Susanne (Ernest) McMurray; Many nieces, nephews, and friends, including our special friends, the G. Tom Maynard family and Michelle McEvoy Skuse. A loving family man, Bernie was predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Catherine Sullivan, and two brothers, Richard Sullivan and M. Timothy Sullivan.
The family extends our thanks to the health care aides who have lovingly cared for our father during this time.
Friends may call 2-5 PM Friday, Sept 1 at Willard H. Scott Funeral Home, 12 South Ave., Webster. Funeral Mass 10:00 AM Saturday, Sept. 2 at Holy Trinity Church, 1460 Ridge Rd., Webster. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity at www.grhabitat.org.