Obituary of Robert F. Sullivan

Robert F. Sullivan, 83, of Rome, NY, went to be with the Lord on April 27, 2010, with his family at his side. Born on January 7, 1927, in Elmira, NY, to Eugene H. Sullivan and Rose (Hayes) Sullivan, he was pre-deceased by his brother Donald E. Sullivan and his sister, Mary Helen (Sullivan) Michalko. He attended St. Patrick's School and Elmira Catholic High School in Elmira, NY; entered St. Andrew's Seminary in Rochester, NY in 1943; and graduated with his BA in Philosophy from St. Bernard's Seminary in Rochester, NY in 1948. Later that year, he entered the United States Air Force, enrolling in a course of post-graduate studies at Syracuse University. In 1951, he married Dorothy Jane Whyland. He completed his military service in September, 1953, returning to Elmira, NY. In 1970, he married Rose (Caccia) Spencer. He is survived by his children, Kathleen Sullivan of Geneseo, NY, Therese (Sullivan) Caccavale of Hopedale, MA, Maureen (Sullivan) Steigerwald of Rutland, VT, Michael Sullivan and Timothy Sullivan of Elmira, New York, Robert Spencer of Waldorf, MD, and Marianne (Spencer) Passmore of Corning, NY; beloved grandchildren Jessica (Sullivan) Rutledge; Joseph Sullivan, Melanie (Sullivan) Burge, Samuel, Brian and Peter Caccavale, Jill and Molly Steigerwald, Megan Bassett, Paul and Patrick Spencer, and John Paul and Spencer Passmore; nephews, Louis and Donald Michalko, five great-grandchildren, various nieces and nephews by marriage, close personal friend Carmel A. Herrin of Rome, NY and lifetime friend Fr. Robert C. MacNamara of Elmira, New York. Known to his friends as "Sully", he was employed by Levalley McLeod in Elmira New York, where he worked as an accountant, and the EOC, where he served as an On-the-Job Training Counselor. He retired in 19___ from the Rome DDSO, where he served as a Developmental Disabilities Counselor. He was a lifetime member of Elmira Lodge 62 BPOE, a member of The Ancient Order of Hibernians, and a member of the Leadership Team of the Charismatic Renewal of the Eastern Region of the Syracuse Diocese. He was a frequent presenter at Life in the Spirit Seminars in the surrounding area, addressing the topic of Discipleship. He was a communicant of The Church of St. John the Baptist in Rome, NY and a member of The Bread of Life Prayer Group. A frequent contributor to Christian publications, he was the author of a book of spiritual inspirations entitled Embrace My Heart. Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 3, at 8:15 AM from the Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street, and at 9:00 AM at the Church of St. John the Baptist. Interment at St. Basil's Cemetery in Dushore, PA will be arranged at the convenience of the family. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 3:00-6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. John's Memorial Fund, 210 E. Dominick St., Rome, NY 13440.