James Daniel Sullivan

manner, Sully was born August 18, 1945 to Elita (Farley) and Edward Sullivan. He was raised in Detroit and Harper Woods, and attended St. Joan Of Arc School in St. Clair Shores and Harper Woods Notre Dame High School.

He also attended St. Michael’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico before returning home where he began his business career first as a sales executive with Splane Electric Supply then Madison Electric Co. and finally as an independent contractor in the construction and painting industries. A talented athlete, Sully golfed often throughout his life, but found his first love in ice hockey which was not surprising since his father, Ed “Cyclone” Sullivan, played professionally in the New York Rangers system including a stint in the National Hockey League. Hockey, it turns out, played a major role in his eventual marriage to a winsome young girl, Patricia Marcinkowski, who he met on a trip to a local East Side Detroit Cunningham’s Drug Store.

Captivated by the young girl, Sully found his conversation with her somewhat awkward but pushed on unrelentingly, finally just blurting out: “Would you like to see me play hockey?” Much to his surprise she agreed and thus began their first date in a dank cold ice rink. But there was magic in the air because Jim and Pat were married three years later on September 27, 1968 beginning a close 56 year relationship with a blessed family of two daughters and one son.

Sully was a starter on the Notre Dame High School hockey team and flirted briefly with basketball. But hockey won out. Eventually he became a charter member of the Grosse Pointe Old Devils senior men’s hockey club. He skated for more than 60 years, competing in local amateur leagues in the Detroit area and in tournaments across the United States and Canada. He was particularly fond of the Old Devils annual trip to Quebec City where they competed during the popular Carnaval de Quebec. “Dad was an only child, so the Old Devils were like brothers to him,” said Sully’s son, Bryan Sullivan.

Later in life, he particularly enjoyed playing hockey with son Bryan and grandson Jake Kolk.

A father and family man first, Sully loved family gatherings during the holidays as well as weekend outings and boat rides with his kids and grandkids at their cottage on Long Lake at Hale, MI. Summer brought frequent golf outings with his sons-in-law, Chad Hamilton and Jon Kolk. In retirement, he cherished his role as the “Family Uber Driver” picking up his grandkids from school, taking them to soccer games or school events.

His memory bank of clever jokes was endless and his April Fools Day practical jokes were legendary. He was easily the life of the party. Sully’s trademark smile and infectious laugh made friendships easy for the Irishman. “We could never go anywhere without someone knowing him,” said his daughter Chrissie Kolk. “I don’t know anyone who didn’t like Sully,” added Dr. Chris Lee, an Old Devil Teammate. However, behind that winning smile was a tough, determined personality unrelenting in his battle with cancer not once but twice. “Dad never complained but quietly fought,” said his daughter Kelley Hamilton. “His illness was particularly tough on him the last few months. But he kept that smile through it all.”

Surviving Sully are his wife of 56 years, Pat Sullivan; two daughters, Kelley Hamilton, Chrissie Kolk; his son Bryan; sons-in-law Chad Hamilton and Jon Kolk; daughter-in-law, Ashley Sullivan; and grandchildren: Amanda, Alyssa and Addison Hamilton; Kaitlyn and Jake Kolk; and Finnegan and Lucy Sullivan. Sully was predeceased by his parents, Elita and Edward Sullivan.

Visitation for Jim Sullivan will be held from 2-7 pm Thursday, May 15 at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236, followed by a memorial service at 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to East Side Youth Sports Foundation or the Michigan Humane Society.