Richard Thomas Sullivan

He was born to Thomas Leo and Mary Beatrice Sullivan on May 21, 1936.

He was raised in Tiffin, Ohio, graduated from Tiffin University in 1957 and Kent State University in1960.

On January 1, 1961, Dick started what would be a 40-year career in the Investor-Owned Water Utility Industry with the American Water Works Company. He started as a Management Trainee with the company's subsidiaries in Muncie, Indiana and later in Chattanooga. It was during this time that he met and married his loving wife of 62 years, Eileen Claire Tillotson.

In early 1963, Dick went to Cairo, Illinois as Manager of The Cairo Water Company. In 1965, he assumed the role of Manager of the Marion Ohio Water Company, and in 1970, the Muncie, Indiana Water Company. In 1973, he was named Vice President of California American Water Company and General Manager of its Monterey, California District, a position he held until 1984, when he and his family returned to Chattanooga where he became the Vice President and General Manager of Tennessee-American Water Company, the position he held until his retirement in late 1999.

Dick was extremely active in civic and community activities serving on numerous civic boards in each of the communities where he lived and worked during his career. In 1968, he was named Outstanding Man of the Year in Marion, Ohio for his dedication to the community. Of all his involvement, he always cherished the six years he served as President of the Pony-Colt Youth Baseball and Softball Programs for the boys and girls of the Monterey California.

Not content with retirement, Dick immediately went to work part time in late 1999 with Express Shuttle, which later became Groome Transportation. He finally retired for good in 2016.

A lover of all sports and a longtime member of the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, he enjoyed the many rounds of golf, not only there, but on courses all over the country. In his later years, when asked how his golf Game was, his response was "I'm on the downhill side of a mediocre career, but I still swing hard - in case I hit it (the ball)"

Dick is survived by his wife, Eileen, son Kent Richard (Daughter-in-law, April), Daughter Erin Kathleen Otten (Son-in-law, William), son Grant Patrick (Daughter-in-law, Laura), Grandchildren Montana and Nash Hammond Sullivan and Garrett Thomas and Jenna Marie Sullivan. He is also survived by his sister Rhoda Ann Myers.

A family mass will be held at St. Gerard Catholic Church Catholic Church. Interment will be at St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Olean, NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Abbey of Gethsemani 3642 Monks Road Trappist, Kentucky 40051

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