Kathleen Lynn "Kathy" Sullivan

Kathleen Lynn “Kathy” Sullivan, 72, passed away on January 21, 2025; beloved wife of Rose Leininger and the late Jay Vecchio, devoted mother of Shannon (Ash) and loving sister of Rick (Peggy), Dave (the late Joanne), Terri Fitzpatrick (the late Tim), Tim (Calli), DJ, Dennis, and Peggy (Michael Bloom); She was one of eight children of the late Lawrence and the late Florence (Hackett) Sullivan, and cherished aunt of many nieces and nephews and their children. Kathy was a strong, immeasurably kind and empathetic woman, committed to serving family, friends and community in myriad ways, but especially through the power of music. She was born in Toledo, Ohio on September 30, 1952. After graduating from Shaker Heights High School in 1970, she studied music at the Ohio State University and worked in marketing for MCA and RCA Records in Cleveland, OH and Nashville, TN. She earned a Bachelor of Education Summa Cum Laude in Psychology from Tennessee State University in 1995, and worked for many years as a Social Worker and Senior Social Services Supervisor at the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services, building a supportive community for underserved LGBTQ+ teens in the DCFS system. Kathy lived her spiritual mission through music, serving as Music Minister at Unity of Medina Ohio, Music Director at Unity Center of the Heights, and Founding Member and Music Director of Threshold Choir Cleveland. She was ordained as an Interfaith Minister by All Faiths Seminary International and officiated at the weddings of many family members and friends. Kathy loved playing guitar, piano and bodhran while performing original and Irish music with her sisters Terri and Peggy as The Oh! Sullivans, and also sang with Windsong Feminist Chorus. Donations can be made in her memory to The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland and The Kira Sullivan Hernandez Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Music. The Family will receive friends at DiCicco & Sons Funeral Home, 5975 Mayfield Rd., Mayfield Heights, OH on Saturday, February 1 at 1:00 pm with Memorial Service at 2:00 pm.