Frank J. Sullivan Jr.
...Retired Tewksbury Police Inspector; 83
TEWKSBURY - Frank J. Sullivan Jr., age 83, a member of a large family, well known throughout
the Merrimack Valley, died Friday morning, July 29, at Sunny Acres Nursing Home, from
complications of a fall in his home on Father’s Day. He was the husband of Theresa D. (LeBel)
Sullivan, with whom he had celebrated a 57th wedding anniversary this past October 11th.
He was born in Somerville, July 4, 1922, a son of Frank Sullivan Sr. and Catherine (Mullin)
Sullivan. He had lived in Tewksbury throughout his life.
During WWII, he enlisted into the U.S. Navy, and served aboard mine-sweeper ships in the
Aleutian Islands, Philippines, and China. He was the recipient of numerous medals and
decorations for his Naval service.
He was named as a permanent Patrolman to the Tewksbury Police Department on Nov. 7, 1954,
named as Evidence Officer on Dec. 9, 1974, and promoted to Detective on July 21, 1975. He
retired as Inspector in 1986, after 32 years of service to the community.
He also served the Town as the Inspector of Weights and Measurements for over 34 years, and
served as a Tewksbury Call Firefighter from 1948 to 1954.
He was a communicant of St. William’s Church in Tewksbury, and was a former member of the
Tewksbury V.F.W.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Barry Ware of Lowell;
eight sisters, Eleanor Edge of Chelmsford, Catherine “Kay” and her husband Earl Doak of FL,
Marie Nolan of Tewksbury, Jean and her husband William LaMarre of New Ipswich, NH, Patricia
and her husband Edward Duffett of Hudson, NH, Carol and her husband Victor “Sonny” Chartier
of Londonderry, NH, Janet and her husband Richard Martin of Litchfield, NH, Rita and her
husband Michael Hassett of Chelmsford; three brothers, David and his wife Linda (Sullivan)
Sullivan of Tewksbury, Patrick Sullivan and his companion Paul of Wakefield, NH, James and his
wife Kathy Sullivan of Tewksbury; two sisters-in-law, Mary (Hunt) Sullivan, and Theresa
(Backoff) Sullivan both of Tewksbury, and numerous nieces and nephews, including a special
niece and nephew, Ruth and her husband Charles Schramm of Chelmsford.
He was also brother of the late Richard Sullivan, Daniel Sullivan and Charles Sullivan; and
brother-in-law of the late William Edge and William Nolan.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated Monday, Aug. 1, in St. William’s Church, Tewksbury.
Interment with Police and Navy Honors was at
Tewksbury Cemetery. Memorials to the Tewksbury Police Benevolent Assn.,
c/o Michael Sheehan, 918 Main St. Tewksbury, MA 01876 will be appreciated.