SULLIVAN, Mary Malone Co-founder of the New England Patriots Football Club and Matriarch of the Sullivan Family, died on Sunday at her Cape Cod home. She was 92.
The daughter of Katharine Gildea of East Boston, and Dr. Charles Malone, an Irish immigrant who became the doctor of choice in Jamaica Plain, Mary learned early to greet all kinds of patients at their home office and to respect the unique importance of each individual.
A graduate of Notre Dame High School and Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, Mary earned her Master's Degree at Boston University in Remedial Reading. She was a volunteer teacher to students with learning disabilities in Brookline, Dorchester, and Lake Worth, Florida.
Mary Sullivan joined with her late husband, William H. "Bill" Sullivan, Jr., in founding the Boston Patriots franchise in the American Football League. Mary brought her intelligence and support to assist Bill with all of the major transactions affecting the Patriots during the Sullivan years. Were it not for her unwavering belief in Bill and his dream of a football team in Boston, the Patriots Franchise might never have been.
She also strongly supported her husband when he co-founded the Jimmy Fund in 1948. The Jimmy Fund supports research and treatment of children with cancer at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
Mary will be honored and remembered for her brilliant mind, unending kindness, fierce loyalty, passionate commitment to education, and unconditional love of her extensive family.
She is survived by her six children: Charles Sullivan of New York City, Dr. Kathleen Sullivan Alioto of San Francisco, Jean Sullivan McKeigue of Jamaica Plain, Nancie Sullivan Chamberlain of Chestnut Hill, William H. Sullivan III of Boston and Patrick J. Sullivan of Newton; 15 grandchildren: Katy Sullivan, John William Sullivan, Patrick Alioto, Domenica Alioto, Patrick McKeigue, Heather McKeon, Michael McKeigue, Joanna Cruz, Miceal Chamberlain, Ryan Chamberlain, Conor Chamberlain, Colman Chamberlain, Garrett Sullivan, Kyle Sullivan, and Terrance Sullivan; and 16 great-grandchildren: Jackson McKeigue, Olivia McKeigue, Patrick McKeigue Jr., Theodore McKeigue, Cecilia McKeigue, Connall Chamberlain, Aidan Chamberlain, Declan Chamberlain, Larkin Chamberlain, Finlay McKeon, Addison McKeon, Amelia McKeigue, Lauren McKeigue, Georgia McKeigue, Brayden Cruz, and Keegan Chamberlain. She was predeceased by her husband, Billy Sullivan, and her grandson, Liam Chamberlain.
Funeral from the Doane Beal & Ames Funeral Home 160 West Main St., HYANNIS, MA 02601 on Friday, July 6th, at 8am. Funeral Mass in Our Lady of Victory Church, 230 South Main St., Centerville, MA 02632 at 9am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours in the Doane Beal & Ames Funeral Home on Thursday, July 5th, from 5-8pm. Interment Mosswood Cemetery, Cotuit.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mary Malone Sullivan Osher Scholarship Fund, Foundation of City College of San Francisco, PO Box 40488, San Francisco, 94140 or to www.FoundationCCSF.org/donate or The Jimmy Fund.