Michael Benedict Sullivan's Obituary
Our Friend Mike Sullivan
On November 20, 2024 we lost a great friend and good man, Mike Sullivan. Mike--also known as "Sully" and "Buck" by his many friends and co-workers--will be sorely missed.
Buck loved sports. As a child, his team won the "B" League championship in the Beltsville Boys Club, Beltsville, Maryland. He played men’s softball at the highest level, winning several championships as a pitcher for the Jewel softball dynasty in suburban Maryland. He was a track and basketball star at the Hong Kong International School, which he attended in the early 1970s. While there he set the school record in the 1500-meter race.
Mike had a great mind for numbers. At the end of a 3-on-3 basketball game, he could tell you the precise shooting percentage of all six players.
His greatest love in the world of sports was golf. He spent many happy afternoons with his friends, playing courses throughout the Washington metro area and the entire mid-Atlantic region. Duke, BoBo, Glue, Farmer, PupPup, Long Man, Julio, Wally and many others will think of Buck every time we play the great game. One of his favorite courses was Packsaddle Ridge in Keezletown, Virginia--a course known for its amazing hills, valleys, and natural beauty. He also possessed encyclopedic knowledge of the history of golf.
Mike also loved working with his friends during his career as a warehouse supervisor in the building-supply trade. He worked for a number of well-known companies, including MidSouth, RCM, Washington Roofing, Bradco, and ABC Supply Company. He brought two of his trademarks to his working life: extremely hard work and an unfailing sense of humor.
Buck had a knack for surprise. At one Christmas gathering he arrived with a delicious cheesecake he had made himself. No one in attendance knew he was quite an accomplished cook. Instead of swapping sports stories he spent that evening swapping recipes!
He loved Thai food, especially the Yindee Thai restaurant in Springfield, Virginia.
Finally, our friend Buck was generous. Generous with his time. Generous with his spirit. And generous with gifts--things like golf balls and shirts from the legendary Packsaddle Ridge. These small gifts were a reflection of a very big man with a very big heart.
We will all miss him.
(Instead of flowers, please make a contribution to the American Cancer Society.)
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