Celebration of Life
Obituary of Joseph Harrold Sullivan III
An angel of the Lord welcomed Joseph (Joe) Harrold Sullivan III into eternal life and God’s loving embrace on January 18, 2025. Joe had a marriage most people aspire to with his devoted loving wife Sheila Thompson Sullivan. Together they enjoyed traveling to 50 countries on almost every continent and also toured many of the US national parks.
Joe is a member of the Long Gray Line, having graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He received a Master’s Degree from Purdue University in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics (rocket science), and worked in a top-secret government research lab in D.C. to correct fuel issues with the NASA Gemini space program. He was also a member of the elite 101st Airborne Quick Reaction Force Division in Fort Campbell, KY, where he was a jumpmaster. During his military career, he was also stationed at Ft. Belvoir, VA and Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Joe also served in the 1st Cavalry Division, famous for the Irish song “Gary Owen” embroidered on the regimental crest; which President Teddy Roosevelt stated was the greatest fighting tune in the world. Joe also graduated from the first class of jungle warfare school in Panama, and served 13 months on the DMZ in South Korea.
In civilian life, Joe served as the General Manager of the Exxon Refinery in Bayway, Linden, NJ and as the General Manager of the Coastal Refinery in Eagle Point, NJ. Joe also taught math at community colleges in Maryland, and after retiring from full-time work, tutored a variety of subjects including math, science, and history in Louisiana and Texas. This is in addition to the blueprints he created for the projects he designed and built including decks, fences, retaining walls, grills, and many other home improvements.
For 50 years, Joe enjoyed starting his day reading the newspaper, and drinking coffee and eating his doughnut at Dunkin’ Donuts (NJ) and Shipley’s (TX). After that, he would swim three times a week to stay fit. His favorite pastime was watching a John Wayne film or another s***kicker western or war movie. Every one of Joe’s children and grandchildren can recite the ending to the movies Shane and Pale Rider. And they can answer the “50 cent” question with the correct answer “Enola Gay”.
Joe and his wife Sheila were avid sports fans, and had season tickets to both the NY Giants and the NY Jets for many years. They also attended multiple Final Four basketball tournaments and the summer Olympics on several continents. Many years, they would take their children to a NY Yankees game. Some of Joe’s favorite memories were attending the World Series when Reggie Jackson (Mr. October) hit three home runs in 1977; attending the 1996 NBA championships to see the Chicago Bulls Dream Team; and attending a Super Bowl game. But of course, the best wins are always when Army beats Navy, or any Army home game at Michie Stadium at West Point. Joe also coached many of his children’s sports teams when they were young, and several of his grandchildren’s sports teams too. Joe and Sheila also took their children to NY each Christmas to see the tree in Rockefeller Center and have dinner at Momma Leone’s restaurant. Later in life, they took several cruises to various countries.
Joe is very proud that he shingled his parents’ house at age 12! He began working at a jewelry store at age 12 as well, to save money to pay his tuition to attend LaSalle High School in Providence, RI, where he took two buses across the city each day. He also joined the National Guard as soon as he was old enough. It was his hard work ethic that helped him prepare to take the entrance exam for the service academies. Getting the phone call from the senator that he was accepted was the day Joe said, changed his life.
Joe was predeceased by his parents Joseph Harrold Sullivan, Jr. and Lena (Farley) Sullivan, and his sister Maureen Sullivan Lopiano. He leaves a legacy of his love in his children Cynthia A. Sullivan and partner Karen L. Hesser; Michael T. Sullivan; Deborah Sullivan Blume and her husband Steven; Stephanie M. Sullivan-Schwartz and her husband Steven; and Samantha E. Cohn and her husband Iain. Joe, as he was also known by his 11 grandchildren, leaves them with his love: Jessica L. Sullivan and husband Eric Lignieres; Joseph M. Sullivan and his wife Victoria; Sean C. Blume and his wife Kristen; Brian A. Blume and his wife Rebecca; Michael A. Blume and his partner Kylie Cronin; Kevin J. Blume; Anna Rose Schwartz and her fiancé Jared Scorsone; Timothy M. Schwartz and his husband Mel Biel; Brendan M. Schwartz and partner Carolyn Muldowney; Caitlin E. Edwards and her husband Brandon; and Kyle J. Twiste and his partner Jordyn Briner; and six great-grandchildren Selene G. Lignieres, Jayce T. Sullivan, Hendrix J. Sullivan, Pierce M. Sullivan, Scarlett B. Sullivan, and Beckham J. Edwards; and his brother-in-law and best friend of almost 70 years, John A. Lopiano, along with many nieces and nephews and close friends.
Joe was a larger-than-life person who had strong opinions and tastes. He had a generous heart and would help anyone who needed it, and never wanted recognition – just to help make a life better. He loved his family, West Point, the constitution, history, sports, movies, Coca-Cola, seafood, ice cream, and blueberry pie. His stories and memories will live on in each of the lives he has touched. From the words of the West Point alma mater: “And when our work is done; Our course on earth is run; May it be said well done; Be thou at peace”.
A celebration of Joe’s life will be held at St. Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church, 6622 Haskell Street, Houston, Texas, on January 24, 2025, at noon. As per Joe’s wishes, there is no wake or viewing prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ALS Association at https://www.als.org