James Edward Sullivan

James E. Sullivan, 82, of Westerly passed into eternal life on Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 surrounded by his family.

Jim was the son of the late Edward and Mildred (Breting) Sullivan. He is survived by his brother William Sullivan and his brother’s wife Marilyn and predeceased by his sister Elaine (Sullivan) Brown.

He is survived by his first wife, Genevieve (Kutniewski) Sullivan, and their four children and their spouses: Kathleen (Sullivan) Crawley and her husband Stephan; Celeste (Sullivan) Blackman and her husband Robert; James Sullivan and his wife Beth Alford-Sullivan; and Genevieve (Sullivan) Schies and her husband Daniel. He was also a loving grandfather to Evan, Amanda, Sean, Benjamin, Aubrey and Samantha. He held dear his many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was the loving adoptive father to daughter Elif Fehm-Sullivan and was predeceased by his second wife Saide (Çançar) Sullivan and daughter Saba Fehm-Sullivan.

Born in Providence, R.I., Jim graduated from Hope High School, served for two years in the U.S. Army in Fontainebleau, France, and then went on to Providence College and UCLA, where he earned his master’s degree in fine arts. He taught at California State University, Fullerton, the University of Georgia, UCLA, and in Ireland through the University of Ireland’s Continuing Education Program.

He was a professor at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, from 1969 to 1998 where he was the Head of Academic Programs in the School of Art and Design. During his tenure at SIU, he was President of the Faculty Association, presented at numerous national conventions, and organized and taught community and continuing education programs. After his retirement from SIUC, Jim relocated to Victoria, BC where he taught art history through the continuing education program at SIUC. He returned to his Rhode Island roots in 2014. For a biography of his SIU years visit:

http://cola.siu.edu/artanddesign/faculty-staff/faculty-directory/emeritus/james-sullivan.php

Though accomplished as an educator, mentor, philosopher and artist, he said to all that his proudest accomplishment was his children and their children. He loved full-court basketball, playing into his 80s. He loved the ocean, long walks, fishing, a dramatic sunset or thunderstorm, trips to the zoo, ice cream in a cone and coffee, extra hot. Jim believed that the creative power of art combined with the capacity of people to help each other could transform humanity. He called teaching a privilege and was inspired to turn on the light of self-discovery in others. His belief in the powers of achievement through education led him to create the Hope Through Achievement Foundation in 2014.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 11:00 am at St. Clare Church, 4 Saint Clare Way, Westerly, RI 02891. Burial will be private. Please omit flowers.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Hope Through Achievement Foundation www.hopethroughachievement.org, The Backus Hospital Cancer Survivors Fund, 326 Washington Street, Norwich CT 06360 or a charity of choice. For online condolences visit www.churchandallen.com