John Michael Sullivan

Mr. John Michael Sullivan, 66, of Woodbine, MD, a retired Department of Homeland Security official, died after a long battle with cancer July 12, 2008 at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. He was the husband of Nancy L. Sullivan, his wife of 46 years.

Born on September 7, 1941 in Alexandria, Va he was the son of Delma Madalyn Slagle Sullivan of Alexandria, VA, and the late John Melvin Sullivan. Raised in Alexandria, he was a 1960 graduate of the Takoma Academy in Takoma Park, MD. He met his wife, Nancy Kidney, while attending Columbia Union College in Takoma Park MD. John attended the University of Hawaii and is a 1963 graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Technology where he received a degree in electronic engineering.

He began his career with RCA R&D laboratories where he helped build the first U.S. weather satellite - the Nimbus. He then worked for Page Communications where he worked as a radio frequency engineer in the South Pacific. Mr. Sullivan then joined the Federal Government where he worked for 39 years as a Telecommunication Management Specialist for the Department Homeland Security - FEMA. His expertise was in the areas of communications, emergency preparedness, and disaster relief where he served in various positions of responsibility.

He had a vast knowledge of botany and enjoyed gardening, bird watching, home repair and remodeling projects, and closely followed professional golf. After retiring in 2007, John and Nancy traveled and spent time in the Caribbean and Central America. He was a member of Damascus Road Community Church in Damascus, MD for 40 years. He loved to serve the church, especially when he could use his creative talents.

Surviving in addition to his wife and mother are 2 sons: Chris A. Sullivan wife Kathryn of Westminster and Steven T. Sullivan and wife Stacey of Mt. Airy; 7 grandchildren: Colton, Reilly, Reagan and Brittany Sullivan, and Alexandra, Emily and Andrew Coady; 4 brothers and sisters: Patrick Sullivan and wife Susan of Kansas, AL, Timothy Sullivan and wife Barbara of Colorado Springs, CO, Caren Russell of Leeds, AL and Philip Sullivan and wife Amy of Richmond, VA; as well as special friends Ben Partlow and wife Debra of Gaithersburg and Judy Carroll of Woodbine.

Visitation: See above information

Services: The family will receive friends from 10-11:30 AM on Friday, July 18, at Grace Fellowship Church, 8425 Damascus Rd, Damascus, MD where services will begin at 11:30 AM with Dr. Richard Fredericks officiating. Interment will take place in Parklawn Memorial Park, Rockville.

In lieu of flowers, the Sullivan Family has requested that friends honor John Sullivan's memory through Damascus Road Community Church/Mission Honduras, PO Box 554
Damascus, MD 20872 or Starlight MidAtlantic, 1054 31st Street, NW, Suite 410BWashington, DC 20007. John's granddaughter, Brittany Sullivan, is the Teen Ambassador for this local children's charity.