Obituaries

Obituary: George E. Sullivan, 83

George E. Sullivan, 83, of Wickford, died on Tuesday, December 17, at St. Elizabeth Home in East Greenwich. Born in Hartford, Conn., the son of George and Helen Sullivan, and the brother of the late Joyce Donlon, he made his home in Rhode Island since 1957.

After graduating from Saint Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, Conn., Mr. Sullivan attended Providence College, from which he graduated in 1952. He then served as a Radar Officer with the 2nd Marine Airwing at MCAS, Cherry Point, N.C. After military service, he attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Samuel S. Fels Fellow, earning a masters degree in governmental administration.

He returned to his undergraduate alma matter for two years to teach in the business administration department, during which time he took evening classes at the Boston College Law School.

He then served as the first Finance Director of the City of East Providence during the reform administration of City manager Earl P. Sandquist. His work was recognized by awards from the New England Municipal Finance Association and the Bureau of Governmental Affairs of the University of Rhode Island for best financial reporting for a city of its size.

Following public service, he joined the IBM Corporation in New York City as a special representative in the field of state and local government for the eastern region of the United States. He managed a large scale system study of law enforcement agencies, concentrated in the Boston Police Department.

Next, Mr. Sullivan affiliated with the administration of the University of Rhode Island as director of institutional research and subsequently, Assistant Vice President for Analysis and Planning. He is credited with establishing the first administrative computing center at that university.

He returned to Providence College in 1970 to manage their computing and institutional research functions; positions he held until 1984 when he returned to teaching in the management department. In 1992, he retired.

He leaves nine children: daughters Georgia Garrity of Watertown, Conn., Mary Elizabeth Carey of Warwick, Nancy McDaniel of Winchester, Conn., Grace Costello of Rockwall, Texas, and Kristen Howarth of Barrington; sons Kevin of North Providence, Brian of Coventry, James of Foster and Paul of Canaan, Conn. He is also survived by 20 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Irene Haney, of Centerville, Mass.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, December 21, at 9 a.m. at St. Mark's Church, Narragansett Ave., Jamestown. Visiting hours will be held on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Barrett & Cotter Funeral Home, 1328 Warwick Ave., Spring Green, Warwick. Burial will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield, Conn.

See more at: http://www.barrettandcotter.com/obituary/George-E.-Sullivan/North-Kingstown-RI/1324150#sthash.4NSaY0...


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