Obituary of Francis David Sullivan

Francis David Sullivan age 83 of Midland Park, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on September 18^th, 2018.  Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts. David lived in Midland Park for the past 57 years. He was a cadet at United States Military Academy for two years before completing his degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1960. He went on to receive his Master’s Degree from Seton Hall University and continued to become certified as a school administrator. His professional career started as a math teacher at Fort Lee high school, continuing on to become Mathematics department chairman at both Saddle Brook and Waldwick high schools. He then completed 31 years at Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale as School Administrator.

David was a charter member of the Church of the Nativity in Midland Park where he served as a Eucharistic Minister. As a member of the Board of Education in Midland Park for more than 18 years, he fulfilled a life focus of championing children’s growth and development. He was a gentle leader, teacher, shepherd and believed strongly in the importance of faith and family. Sharing so generously with all those who touched his life, he modeled what was truly important to him. His family expanded and he found himself following his children and their friends onto sports fields, church activities and town functions with accommodating grace. He was the guy who showed up for all of his kids. He filmed every one of his four son’s football games, which became the prototype for reviewing games by the team coaches. He and his wife Betty spearheaded the first refreshment stand up at the recreation field attracting many willing volunteers. Character counts, and David had plenty of it. Quiet, with a big smile, he made everyone feel as though they were the most important person in his life. That was his gift. So many are blessed to be part of his legacy.

Surviving is his loving wife of 61 years, Betty (nee Polisse), his children, Marybeth and her husband Craig Reid, David Sullivan and his wife Helena, Stephen Sullivan and his wife Christine, Maryellen and her husband Malachy Noone, Peter Sullivan and his wife Mary, Maryclaire and her husband James Kraft and Daniel Sullivan and son-in-law Chris Gates and his brothers, Stephen, Paul, Michael and Peter. Dave is also remembered and adored by his 23 grandchildren, Caris, Claire (Lloyd), Lucy (William), Talia (Ryan), Oliver, Samantha, Joseph, Mattias, Niklas (Libby), Maria, Rosemary, Madelaine, Callan, Audrey, Tess, Elizabeth, Juliana (Joseph), Alexandra, Peter Jr., Zachary, Owen, Beatrice and Delia, and his 4 great grandchildren, Eleanor, William, George, Teddy and so many more extended family members plus friends who he treated just like family.  Dave was predeceased by his daughter Marysue Sullivan Gates in 2010 and his brother Joseph Sullivan in 1999.  The Sullivan family will receive friends on Sunday, September 23rd from 3:00 until 7:00 PM at the Church of the Nativity, 315 Prospect Street, Midland Park, NJ. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, September 24th at 10:00 AM at the Church of the Nativity.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Midland Park Children’s Love Fund, P.O. Box 327, Midland Park, NJ 07432 (mpchildrenslovefund.org), an organization dear to the Sullivan family as Betty Sullivan was the founder of the fund in 1977.  Arrangements by the Vander Plaat Funeral Home of Wyckoff (www.vpfh.com).