Gene Robert Sullivan

SULLIVAN, Gene Robert, 82, of Richmond, Va., died January 29, 2014. He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna; and his brothers, James and Joseph Sullivan. Survivors include his son, Brian Sullivan and his wife, Tina; and one sister, Mary Christensen.

Born and raised in Newport, R.I., Gene was known to his many friends from the Fifth Ward by his nickname, "Herc". He loved playing sports, especially softball, and around age 10 began a lifelong love of golf when he and his friends would hitch rides to the Newport Country Club to make money caddying. He was an avid reader and music fan, attending many of the historic Newport Folk and Jazz festivals. In 1969 he met his future wife Donna on a blind date in Washington D.C. and they eventually settled in Richmond, along with their son Brian, in 1974. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and beginning in 1951 he served as a Med. Tech. for the 25th Evac. Hospital in the Korean War.

After the Army he earned a B.S. from Bryant University and began a lengthy government career which led him to joining the Small Business Administration in 1966. At the SBA he won numerous achievement awards and held various supervisory positions including Chief, Financing Division, until his retirement in 1994. Gene was a devoted husband and father, loved for his kindness, intelligence and dry sense of humor, and he will be missed greatly by his family, friends and those whose lives he touched.

His remains rest at the Huguenot Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Road, where the family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery, 10300 Pridesville Road, Amelia, Va. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimers Association. Online condolences to WoodyFuneralHome.com.