Edward Francis Sullivan

Edward Francis Sullivan (Mr. Ed) passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, July 19, 2004 surrounded in body and spirit by all of those who loved him. He lived in Portsmouth at the Rockingham House. Born in 1913 in Medford, MA, Ed lived around the Boston area until 1984 serving first in the US Navy during WWII and later as a Supervisor with the US Postal Service. A few years after his retirement he and his wife Vesta moved to Florida where they spent many wonderful years as active members of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Melbourne. Vesta Sullivan died in 1994 after 57 years of marriage. In 2002 he moved north to Portsmouth in order to be closer to his family. In February of this year Ed married fellow Rockingham resident Nancy S. Elwell. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Judith A. Sullivan of Durham, NH and Nancy E.Sullivan of Newburyport, MA; brother-in-law Russell Hatch and sister-in-law Ruth Flanigan of Madera, CA; four grandchildren, Jonathan Hartl of Wakefield, MA, Kevin Hartl of Gainesville, FL, Abigail Cox of Durham, NH and Memphis, TN and Vanora Sullivan of Durham, NH. A gentle yet complex man, Ed led an exemplary life. His abiding grace, kindness of heart, great wisdom, selflessness and dry humor endeared him to all who were fortunate enough to cross his path. He spent the days of his retirement learning to play the organ, reading and writing poetry and pondering the world as he experienced it. He frequently attended Sunday services at the Unitarian-Universalist Church in the city.Ed’s final illness was sudden and unexpected and the family is deeply grateful for the incredible help and support received from Ellie, Bonnie and Wes at Seacoast Hospice. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his name to Seacoast Hospice, 10 Hampton Road, Exeter, NH 03833 A gathering of family and friends to celebrate his life will be held soon.