We called him "Sully". He was a bright, outgoing, friendly classmate, loved by all who knew him. So energetic, full of life. He was a star football player for the Bulldogs, and went on to play for the Fighting Ilini at University of Illinois. I never knew what happened to Sully, other than he died at a very young age. I last saw him in the 1970s when he was in Washington, D.C. Over drinks at the legendary bar called Nathans, we reminisced about our high school days. I would appreciate knowing more about Sully so if any of my classmates have anything to add I would appreciate it.
Wasn't it Sully who went to California (?) for a summer internship and brought what he thought to be a computer programming error to his supervisor's attention? Supervisor ignored him, but later he talked to another management person who looked into it...and Sully, the young summer intern, was right!
I could be wrong...my mind is almost 68 years old.
Sully ended up in Palo Alto california doing research at Stanford when he was struck with a brain tumor. He married Mary jo Donnely from Dekalb, Il. I was honored to have been in their wedding. I believe they had three children. We had many good times together while they lived in Champaign. He told me about a month before he passed that the one thing that kept him fighting cancer was the lessons he had learned while a grade school student at St. Anthony's school in Streator. Just a super person. Sully you are truly missed !
To the best of my knowledge, at the time of his death at age 43 of a brain tumor, Bill Sullivan was living in Cupertino, CA in the heart of Silicon Valley. He was the Vice President of Marketing & Sales for a company that sells radioactive isotopes. Earlier, at the University of Illinois, he had earned a doctorate in nuclear engineering. I wonder if he had experienced radiation exposure while working on his research project for his doctorate. In the 1960s, radiation safety was still in its infancy. Nowadays, much more is known and practiced with regard to keeping nuclear workers safe.
I remember Bill Sullivan sitting next to me in a math class with Mr. Dutler. Sully helped me solve a problem in a very instructive way. I commented on his help and Mr. Dutler said to me in his direct and very matter of fact way, "Sully is smarter than you." I couldn't disagree!
This letter was received from Bill's wife, Mary Jo, after recently finding the class of 1961 website.
It meant so much to my 3 children and me to read the comments made about Bill on the SHS website. Upon graduation, Bill Sullivan earned a scholarship and played football for the University of Illinois. He earned a B.S. and Masters in Electrical Engineering and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Illinois. He married Mary Jo Donnelly (from DeKalb and fellow U of I student)in 1970. In 1972, Bill was recruited and hired by Varian Associates Medical Radiation Division from Palo Alto, California. He and Mary Jo settled in Cupertino (headquarters for Apple Computer). They had 3 children. Bill's dream was to live in California and be at the center of innovation. He traveled the world representing Varian in the infancy of medical imaging technology and radiation treatment of cancer. Bill lost his 18 month battle with brain cancer Thanksgiving 1986. He was known for his outgoing personality, intelligence, inquiring mind, athleticism, and steadfast faith, all nurtured by family, teachers, and friends in Streator. Thirteen priests concelebrated his funeral Mass at St. Simon Church. Bill's family continues to reside in Cupertino.
i brag about my classmates at SHS. Bill Sullivan was the best and the brightest. I can't believe he has been gone so long. To his widow and children. I hope to meet you some day and I can't help but think you know you were blessed with quite a dad and husband.
David Roffman
We called him "Sully". He was a bright, outgoing, friendly classmate, loved by all who knew him. So energetic, full of life. He was a star football player for the Bulldogs, and went on to play for the Fighting Ilini at University of Illinois. I never knew what happened to Sully, other than he died at a very young age. I last saw him in the 1970s when he was in Washington, D.C. Over drinks at the legendary bar called Nathans, we reminisced about our high school days. I would appreciate knowing more about Sully so if any of my classmates have anything to add I would appreciate it.
Bonnie Beall
Wasn't it Sully who went to California (?) for a summer internship and brought what he thought to be a computer programming error to his supervisor's attention? Supervisor ignored him, but later he talked to another management person who looked into it...and Sully, the young summer intern, was right!
I could be wrong...my mind is almost 68 years old.
Bonnie
Dan Daugherity
Sully ended up in Palo Alto california doing research at Stanford when he was struck with a brain tumor. He married Mary jo Donnely from Dekalb, Il. I was honored to have been in their wedding. I believe they had three children. We had many good times together while they lived in Champaign. He told me about a month before he passed that the one thing that kept him fighting cancer was the lessons he had learned while a grade school student at St. Anthony's school in Streator. Just a super person. Sully you are truly missed !
Daniel Danko
To the best of my knowledge, at the time of his death at age 43 of a brain tumor, Bill Sullivan was living in Cupertino, CA in the heart of Silicon Valley. He was the Vice President of Marketing & Sales for a company that sells radioactive isotopes. Earlier, at the University of Illinois, he had earned a doctorate in nuclear engineering. I wonder if he had experienced radiation exposure while working on his research project for his doctorate. In the 1960s, radiation safety was still in its infancy. Nowadays, much more is known and practiced with regard to keeping nuclear workers safe.
Lee Knuteson, MD
I remember Bill Sullivan sitting next to me in a math class with Mr. Dutler. Sully helped me solve a problem in a very instructive way. I commented on his help and Mr. Dutler said to me in his direct and very matter of fact way, "Sully is smarter than you." I couldn't disagree!
Lee Knuteson
Ken Crosiar
This letter was received from Bill's wife, Mary Jo, after recently finding the class of 1961 website.
It meant so much to my 3 children and me to read the comments made about Bill on the SHS website. Upon graduation, Bill Sullivan earned a scholarship and played football for the University of Illinois. He earned a B.S. and Masters in Electrical Engineering and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Illinois. He married Mary Jo Donnelly (from DeKalb and fellow U of I student)in 1970. In 1972, Bill was recruited and hired by Varian Associates Medical Radiation Division from Palo Alto, California. He and Mary Jo settled in Cupertino (headquarters for Apple Computer). They had 3 children. Bill's dream was to live in California and be at the center of innovation. He traveled the world representing Varian in the infancy of medical imaging technology and radiation treatment of cancer. Bill lost his 18 month battle with brain cancer Thanksgiving 1986. He was known for his outgoing personality, intelligence, inquiring mind, athleticism, and steadfast faith, all nurtured by family, teachers, and friends in Streator. Thirteen priests concelebrated his funeral Mass at St. Simon Church. Bill's family continues to reside in Cupertino.
Craig Roberts
i brag about my classmates at SHS. Bill Sullivan was the best and the brightest. I can't believe he has been gone so long. To his widow and children. I hope to meet you some day and I can't help but think you know you were blessed with quite a dad and husband.