Obituary: Daniel J. Sullivan, 79, of Madison

Information via Swan Funeral Home

Daniel J. Sullivan, age 79, husband of Mary C. Farrell, of Madison, CT, passed away on October 14, 2018 due to complications of pancreatic cancer. His family was by his side.

Dan was born on May 25, 1939 in Boston, MA to Daniel J. Sullivan and Marion Larkin Sullivan. He grew up in Stoughton, MA and attended Stoughton High School where he was class president, captain of the football team, and a representative to Boys State.

In 1961, he graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and earned his law degree at Columbia Law School in 1964. At Harvard he played on the freshman football team, was a member of the DU Club, and acted in student theatrical productions.

He practiced law as a litigator for 50 years in New York City. First working at Paul, Weiss, Rifkin, Wharton & Garrison, he next honed his trial lawyer skills for four years at the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York under Robert M. Morgenthau and Whitney North Seymour Jr.

Thereafter, he practiced law at Lovejoy, Wasson, Lundgren & Ashton, before starting his own firm in 1978, Murray, Hollander, Sullivan & Bass. Finally, he joined Christry & Viener (which merged with European firm Salans).

He loved sailing; in 1978, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Long Island to the Azores off the coast of Portugal in 17 days in a 32-foot sailboat with three friends. He biked, skied, ran, played tennis and gardened in Sharon, CT from 1973-1995. He was famous for his charming Boston accent, quick smile, eagerness to help others, and easy manner. He was also passionate about history.

With his devoted wife Mary, he created a wonderful life in NYC, Madison, CT, and Stuart, FL. Though he retired in 2004, he was an integral member of the Madison Charter Review Committee, and worked on town constitution issues. An avid gardener, his garden was featured on multiple Madison Garden Tours – the last occurring in 2018.

Dan was an active member of the tennis community at Madison Beach Club and Sailfish Point (Stuart, FL). In August of 2018, he and his partner won the over 60s men’s doubles tournament at Madison. His wonderful tennis partners and friends helped motivate him through his battle with cancer. Each morning he woke hoping to get out onto the court.

Dan was incredibly engaged with his children, daughter, Monique Sullivan Lowitt, her husband, Ian Lowitt, granddaughters, Natasha and Sabina, and son Gregory Sullivan and his husband David Riley. He warmly welcomed into his life his stepchildren, Stephen Rahl, Kaitlin Rahl Brandt, husband Nicholas Brandt, and grandchildren James, Lila, and Finn.

He is also survived by sister Jean French of Red Hook, NY, brother David Sullivan and his wife Camellia Sullivan of Andover, MA, brother James Sullivan and wife Sandra Sullivan of Gunnison, CO, sister Jane Smith and husband Richard Smith of Weymouth, MA, as well as nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dan’s honor can be made to E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Road, Madison CT 06443, Attn: Kari Castelli. Please note the contribution is in honor of Daniel J. Sullivan.

Visitation hours will be Sunday, October 21 from 4pm - 8pm at Swan Funeral Home, 825 Boston Post Road, Madison, CT.

A memorial service will begin at 1pm on Monday, October 22 at the First Congregational Church, 110 Broad Street Guilford, CT 06437. Burial will follow at West Cemetery, Boston Post Road (Rte. 1), Madison, CT.