Brother Robert J. Sullivan, C.F.X., 85, a member of the Xaverian Brothers community in Melrose, died on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 following several years of declining health.
Born in Somerville on Dec. 14, 1927, he was the son of the late Robert W. and Clare (Rodgers) Sullivan. He graduated from Malden Catholic High School in 1945 and then entered the Congregation of the Brothers of St. Francis Xavier.
After graduating from Catholic University in 1951, his teaching apostolate first brought him to Flaget High School in Louisville, KY, which was followed by a return to Catholic University where he completed graduate studies in theology and philosophy. In 1975, he received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Boston College.
His manifold career included teaching at the Xaverian Brothers Novitiate and at Ryken High School in Leonardtown, MD. He then served as Director of Studies at St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers from 1960-1963. He was appointed first Headmaster of Xavier High School in Middletown, CT and led the school through its first four years. Bro. Robert then served for several years as Novice Master and Scholastic Director at Newton Highlands. He also taught philosophy at Newton College of the Sacred Heart before returning to St. John's Prep where he taught philosophy and psychology for five years and advanced placement physics for ten years. From 1986 until his retirement in 1992, he served as Headmaster of Malden Catholic High School.
In addition to his Brothers in religion, Brother Robert is survived by siblings Margaret Eisenhaur, who was active in Brother Robert's care in his later years, and her husband Gerald of Stoneham, Virginia Wilson of North Andover, and Donald Sullivan of Somerville, two sisters-in-law, Julie Sullivan of Kenya and Rosemary Sullivan of Winchester, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings Sister Mary Sullivan, FMM, Edward Sullivan, and A. Eugene Sullivan.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013 at 11 a.m. at St. Richard Church, 90 Forest St., Danvers. Burial will follow in the Xaverian Brothers Cemetery, on the St. John’s Prep campus in Danvers. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Friday from 3-8 p.m. in the Chapel of St. John's Preparatory School (Administration Building), 72 Spring St., Danvers. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sullivan Family Scholarship fund at Malden Catholic High School, 99 Crystal St., Malden, MA 02148.