John "Jackie" Sullivan, a lifelong resident of Charlestown before moving to Malden 14 years ago, died on Friday, June 20, 2008 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford following an extended illness. He was 63 years old.
Jackie was born in Boston and grew up in Charlestown, where he attended Boston Public Schools and graduated from Don Bosco High School formerly in Boston in 1962. Jackie was a truck driver for Blue Circle Cement Company and was a member of Teamsters Union Local # 25 for over 35 years. Jackie was the founder and president of The "520" Club, located on Main St. in Charlestown which provided for a social atmosphere for the men of Charlestown. Jackie was also the founder and director of the Charlestown Half Ball Tournament in Charlestown which began so many years ago at the origanal Charlestown High School at Monument Square. The tournament featured several teams all of which were young and somewhat older men all of Charlestown, hitting a cut -in-half pimple ball pitched to a batter holding a broom stick handle. The rules were somewhat simple to the regular Charlestown guy and depending which teams were playing at the time. Following the sale of The Charlestown High School, the tournament was moved to Terminal Street or as most townies knew it "The Wiggies" and the tournament was played on the old Nancy Sales Building. Jackie was a proud townie and never forgot were he came from.
Jackie is the devoted father of Karen Considine and her husband Pat, Jackie Sullivan and his girlfriend Suzanne, Michael Sullivan and his wife Lisa Hanlon-Sullivan, Danny Sullivan and his wife Kerry. He is the loving grandfather of Courtney, Patrick, Ryan, Kathleen, Shea and Nolan. He is the beloved son of the late Leo and Catherine (Farren) Sullivan. He is the beloved brother of retired Boston Fire Dept. Captain Leo Sullivan and his wife Fran, the late Marie Novello and Joseph Sullivan. He is the loving uncle of Marie McDonald, Patricia Donahue, Joe Sullivan, Maureen Power and the late Bobby Novello.
Jackie's Funeral will be held on Monday June 23, 2008 at 9 a.m. from The Carr Funeral Home, 220 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown followed by his Funeral Mass in St. Francis De Sales Church, 313 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours Sunday June 22, 2008 from 4 to 8 p.m. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.