George Sullivan Obituary

Born on June 27, 1936, in Pasadena, California, to Wimbert and Lucille Seidel Sullivan, George soon moved to El Paso, Texas, where he shared a close-knit childhood with his four beloved brothers: Sully, Eddie, Donnie, and Bobby. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from Texas Western University (now UTEP) and served two years in the military through ROTC, attaining the rank of Second Lieutenant at Fort Bliss in El Paso. His early career included work at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico before he joined IBM in El Paso and helped usher in the computer age. In 1971, he relocated to Denver, Colorado, where he fell in love with the city and mountains—he never wanted to leave. He built a successful career in sales and marketing at IBM before retiring in 1992.

A fiercely patriotic man, George embraced an active and adventurous life. He exercised every day. He was an early runner at the forefront of the fitness craze in the 1970s and later became a dedicated cyclist, completing rides across Colorado (Ride the Rockies), New Mexico, Vermont, Montana into Canada, California, Utah, and Iowa (RAGBRAI), as well as regular weekend outings from home. He was an avid backpacker, embarking on countless trips with the RMX, a cherished group of friends through Colorado, Utah, and even the Grand Canyon. He took up cross-country skiing upon arriving in Denver, crafting skis for the family from surplus 10th Mountain Division skis, and later became a downhill skier. Winter and spring break trips in Aspen, Crested Butte, and Steamboat with family and friends were regular occurrences.

For many years, he played guitar and sang at the 5 pm Saturday mass at St. Thomas More Church, slightly pushing the decorum of the time with folk songs by John Denver and others. George was super handy, always working on the house, building furniture, and fixing things. Later in life, he became an accomplished cook, carefully planning, shopping for, and cooking dinner every night with care and consistency.

George is survived by his devoted wife of 35 years, Joan Elizabeth Sullivan; his son Gregory Kevin Sullivan and wife Edyta Sullivan; grandchildren Peter Fitzgerald Sullivan and Lauren O’Neill Sullivan; his daughter Kathleen Sullivan Dale and husband Morten Dale; granddaughter Emeline Sullivan Dale (preceded in death by grandson Steffen Sullivan Dale); his son Matthew Fitzgerald Sullivan and wife Ania Gorkiewicz Sullivan; his brother Donald Barrett Sullivan; and his stepsister Sonja Hansard Weiner.