Raymond Kenneth Sullivan

Raymond Kenneth Sullivan—beloved husband, father, and grandfather—died Sunday, September 16, 2012, at age 83. Dignified to his last breath in spite of debilitating illness, he slipped peacefully from the care and comfort of his wife and children beside him, who granted his wish that he remain at home surrounded by family. Ray lived his life in much the same way: his wife (whom he called his best friend) at his side and his children and grandchildren never far away. Ever loyal, generous, and caring, he embodied the virtues of a family man: provider, peacemaker, and exemplar of devotion to his Catholic faith as well as his country. He led by example, teaching his sons and daughters not only the lessons necessary for survival, but also by practicing what he preached: working hard, giving unselfishly of his free time to updating our homes, diligently saving his money, and improving his lot (and ours) through self-reliance and resourcefulness. Born on the cusp of the Great Depression, the youngest of four boys in a working-class Denver household, he learned early the importance of sticking together as a family. His parents, Joseph and Agnes Sullivan, struggled during the 1930s to feed, clothe, and shelter their growing sons, who also included Gene, Joe, and Tom. ""Waste not, want not"" became a recurrent theme of his boyhood, resulting in his frugal nature and uncanny ability to thrive in the face of obstacles. Through it all, he learned the strength of family ties, which often required self-sacrifice and adherence to a common good. In spite of hard times, he saved most of the money he earned from his paper route, paying his own tuition at Regis High School, where he distinguished himself by serving on the student council and graduating in 1947 with honors. He continued his education at Regis College for a year, then followed a calling to the priesthood, entering St. Thomas Seminary, where he studied theology and philosophy. But a vocation was not to be, and he left the seminary to join the U.S. Air Force as an assistant to the chaplain at Lowry. He met his future wife, Mariana, while she attended his terminally ill mother as a nurse at St. Joseph Hospital. Together, Ray and Mariana started a family (which eventually grew to include ten children), first in Denver, and later in Cañon City, where he began his longtime career with the Colorado Department of Corrections and later with the Division of Juvenile Parole (known today as Youth Corrections). Given opportunity to advance, he rose to the level of supervisor in Pueblo, a position he retained after moving to the Denver area. He retired from state employment in the mid-1980s, though he continued to work during his second career as a driver for CAP trucking, a position that enabled him to pursue his love of cross-country treks on the open road. In addition to raising a family of two boys and eight girls, Ray volunteered regularly as a lector at churches in Pueblo and Aurora and in many unpaid positions at St. Thomas More parish in Littleton. Though not a skier in his adult years or snowmobile enthusiast, he loved the mountains of his native Colorado, finding in them the perfect retreat from the clutter and chaos of civilization. On numerous camping trips, he taught his children and grandchildren how to appreciate wilderness, sharing with them long hikes and spectacular vistas along favorite trails. That is how we wish to think of him now, smiling and happy as he scales the next peak. May God grant him peace for eternity. Ray is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mariana (née Moran), sons Peter, of Castle Rock, Colo., and John, of Middletown, Calif., and daughters Kathleen Snyder, of Albion, Mich., Mary Theresa Bialick, of Beverly Hills, Fla., Anne Sullivan-Norungolo, of Tierra Verde, Fla., Roberta LaPlante, of Hancock, N.H., Mary Agnes Wisentaner, of Grand Rapids, Mich., Monica Javorcic, of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Ruth Saout, of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Christine Martinez of Aurora, Colo. He is also remembered by a daughter-in-law (Rhonda Sullivan of Castle Rock, Colo.), eight sons-in-law (Daniel Snyder, Robert Bialick, Tony Norungolo, Daniel LaPlante, Jay Wisentaner, Bob Javorcic, Hassan Saout, and Adrian Martinez), 23 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. A public visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm followed by a Recitation of the Rosary at 7:00pm at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 East County Line Road (one block west of South Holly Street) in Centennial, Colorado 80122. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 11:00am at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 8035 South Quebec Street, in Centennial, Colorado 80112. Graveside Service will follow at Ft. Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family asks that donations be made to the Order of Carmelites Discalced c/o St. Thomas More Church (8035 South Quebec St., Centennial, CO 80112) or to the American Cancer Society, 2255 S. Oneida St., Denver, CO 80224 in memory of Raymond Sullivan. Please share your memories of Raymond and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook.