Joseph Cronin Sullivan, 69, of Manchester, died September 23, 2013 at Hackett Hill Health Care Center in Manchester after battling many illnesses including Muscular Dystrophy.
He was born in Manchester on February 14, 1944 to Francis and Doris (Hogan) Sullivan. He graduated from Bishop Bradley High School, St. Anselm College and was a lifelong resident of Manchester.
Joseph taught English and Creative Writing at West High School for many years. He was a winner of the Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical during which time he taught a class at every high school in the state of New Hampshire and published a book called “The Grand Poobah of Creative Writing”. He also wrote “Column as I see ‘em” for the Union Leader sports department for many years.
He was an avid supporter of youth athletics in Manchester including Manchester Regional Youth Hockey Association and Catholic Youth Organization basketball. He also coached Trinity High School girls softball. He is a member of the Manchester Athletic Hall of Fame and the major league field at West Little League is named after him.
Joseph was president of the Raphael Social Club and a member of the Intervale Country Club.
He was predeceased by his wife, Denise G. (Desrochers) Sullivan in 2002, his daughter, Jennifer L.S. Boldwin in 2012 and two brothers, Jim Sullivan and Frank Sullivan.
The family includes two children, Sean M. Sullivan of Manchester and Gary Geiger Sullivan and his wife, Susan-Anne Cosgrove, of Port Chester, NY; eight grandchildren, Brendan, Ryan, Nicholas, Erin, Sydney, Shannon, Daphne, and Scott Cooper; a sister, Sue Simpson and her husband, Gary, of Manchester; and cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff of the VNA Hospice and Hackett Hill Health Care Center, especially, Samantha and Chante, for the care they provided to Joseph.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, September 26, 2013 at St. Catherine Church, corner of Webster and Hemlock streets, Manchester.
Memorial donations may be made to Families in Transition, ATTN: Development Office, 122 Market St., Manchester, NH 03101.
Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, Manchester assisted the family with arrangements.