Paul Orr Sullivan

Paul Orr Sullivan, known as Jake to friends and Bampa to family, passed away on May 20th at the age of 86 at his home in Arlington, Virginia. Paul will forever be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and little brother. He was the youngest of nine siblings: Dale, Ken, Margaret, Dick, Tom, Harry, Mae, and Bob. Being the youngest made him independent and eager to make his own way, giving him the cantankerous charm and charisma of being the youngest child.

Born on October 4, 1939, Paul grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, and attended Dubuque Senior High School, graduating in 1957. An active and curious spirit, he was a member of many clubs and organizations, including the varsity basketball team, Grounds Club, Journalism Club, and the school choir. In 1962, he graduated from the University of Dubuque with degrees in Economics and Sociology. He spent his summers as a lifeguard, becoming the first in a line of three generations of lifeguards, including both of his children, Shawn and Heather, and his youngest grandchild, Katherine. With his fair skin and red hair under the hot summer sun, he could claim to have given Katherine the full toolkit for the job.

He met his darling wife of 63 years, Judy, at the pool where he was lifeguarding. Always a stickler for the rules and yet a little mischievous, the story goes that he got Judy's attention by blowing the whistle and making sure she and her friends were behaving themselves. He knew what he was doing that day.

Shortly after they married, Paul answered the call to serve and joined the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era. Always a devoted patriot, Bampa would take his grandchildren to the Route 66 overpass to cheer and wave as the veterans of Rolling Thunder rode by every Memorial Day. The couple moved to Arlington, Virginia, where they put down roots, started a family, and built an extended family of friends, neighbors, and members of their church community who were so close-knit that they became a second family.

Paul, Judy, Shawn, and Heather often vacationed with the Hrynkow family and their neighbors, the Yowells, going camping, skiing, and to the beach, creating lifelong memories with Tom, Cupie, and their sons David, Ted, Topher, and Danny, as well as with their neighbors Bing and Marlene and their children, Melanie and Jimmy.

After completing his military service, Paul spent much of his career working in finance at the National Academy of Sciences and was active with the Radiation Effects Research Foundation, collaborating with his counterparts in Japan.

Paul was a devout Christian who was deeply engaged with his local church. He was a longtime member of Trinity Presbyterian Church and served at various times as a deacon, elder, treasurer, chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee, Sunday school teacher, member of the Landing Room Class, and participant in the church bowling league. He proudly encouraged the Christian education of his children and grandchildren, relishing opportunities to attend services with his grandson Ryan, who served as an acolyte at Saint Michael's Episcopal Church, and Christmas pageants featuring Ricky, Lexi, Ryan, and Katherine playing little sheep, Mary, Joseph, and other roles over the years.

He started each morning by reading his Bible and, in his later years, was known to virtually attend multiple services every Sunday. Although he was unable to attend in person, his spirit remained ubiquitous.

A sports enthusiast, Paul was an avid golfer who played with a regular foursome over the years. He was also active in Arlington youth sports, serving as treasurer of the Better Sports Club of Arlington and coaching Little League baseball and youth football. His devotion to serving the community also extended to his role as a Third Degree Mason.

And, of course, he was a devoted lifelong Redskins fan. During the RFK Stadium era, he was a season ticket holder who loved attending games and tailgating with family and friends. He was known for leading everyone in singing "Hail to the Redskins" after every touchdown, accompanied by a special clapping sequence of his own creation. After RFK Stadium closed, he and Judy continued to proudly wear their Redskins/Commanders gear on every game day.

Paul is survived by his loving wife, Judy; his son, Shawn, and daughter-in-law, Lara; his daughter, Heather, and son-in-law, Rick; his grandchildren, Ricky, Lexi, Ryan, and Katherine; his brother, Tom Sullivan; his in-laws, Alice and Tom Prochaska, Susan Dillon, Kathy DeMuth, Cindy and Bruce Grether, Ann and Chuck Vandermillen, and Janet and Kevin Clendenen; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Paul was predeceased by his parents, Richard and Kathleen Sullivan; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, John W. and Viola Kaufman; his siblings and their spouses, Dale Sullivan, Maureen Sullivan, Dick and Janet Sullivan, Bob Sullivan, Margaret and Glen Howell, Ken and Bernita Meisenberg, Harry and Vera Sullivan, and Mae and Al Dilworth; and by his in-laws Carolyn Kaufman, Jack Kaufman, Mark DeMuth, Joseph Dillon, and his beloved niece, Trisha Clendenen.

A service celebrating Paul's life will be held Friday, June 12th at 11:00am at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5533 North 16th Street, Arlington, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Capital Caring Health (Hospice) or the Wounded Warriors Project.