G. Douglas “Doug” Sullivan, III

G. Douglas Doug Sullivan, III

Beloved brother, uncle, in-law, cousin, teacher, and friend

It is with profound sadness that the Sullivan family announces the unexpected passing of their dear brother Doug on January 12, 2023, after a brief illness, in Cape Coral, Florida. Doug was born in Lowell on October 14, 1957, a son of the late G. Douglas Sullivan, Jr. and Mary (Coakley) Sullivan, and was educated in the Lowell Public Schools. After graduating from Lowell High School in 1975 Doug obtained a bachelors degree in Special Education at Westfield State College and a masters degree in Counseling Psychology at Tufts University.

After graduating from Tufts, Doug moved to New York City where he worked as a counselor for several years. He eventually returned to Lowell to work as a teacher and counselor. The last twenty years of his career were spent working as a Special Education teacher and administrator in the Lawrence Public Schools. Doug was an active Union member serving as Vice President of the Lawrence Teachers Union and was a member of the American Federation of Teachers.

Throughout his life Doug strove to serve, especially the less fortunate. He was an altar boy in his youth, cared for significantly disabled children, counseled young men dying of AIDS, taught special needs children, and stood up for working class teachers who deserved a fair wage for one of the most important jobs on earth. In retirement, he organized shelter for neighbors when a category 4 hurricane was approaching and took neighbors to chemo treatments and medical appointments.

Upon his retirement in 2020 Doug moved to Fort Myers, Florida where he enjoyed the endless sun and acquired a wide circle of new friends. Doug was known for his quick wit and ability to tell a good story, a trait he inherited from our Dad. He was a sharp dresser who loved a good book, musical theater, and a succession of beloved canine companions who were very dear to him, including William who traveled to Florida with him and joined him in heaven three weeks after he passed.

Doug is survived by his siblings: Patricia Sullivan Talty and her husband, Frank Talty, of Fort Myers, FL; Sean Sullivan and his wife Janice, of Clearwater Beach, FL; and Michael Sullivan and his husband Karlu Vito-Sullivan of Los Angeles, CA. He also leaves three beloved nieces: Shelagh (Sullivan) Collins and her husband James of Dracut, MA and their children Declan, Teagan and McKenna; Shannon (Sullivan) Gillis and her husband Walter of Tewksbury, MA; and Meghan Sullivan also of Tewksbury, MA. He also leaves many dear cousins on the Sullivan and Coakley sides of the family.

Friends are invited to his Memorial Visitation to be held on Friday, March 31 at the ODONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL from 4:00-7:00 PM, Relatives and friends are invited to his Funeral Mass which will be celebrated on Saturday April 1, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Holy Family Parish/Ste. Maries Church, 75 Chamberlain Street, Lowell (Please meet at church). His internment will follow at St. Patricks Cemetery in Lowell. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing to remember Doug are asked to make a contribution to the G. Douglas and Mary C. Sullivan endowed Scholarship at UMass Lowell to support students and teachers in the Lowell and Lawrence Public Schools studying education, c/o UML Office of Advancement, 1 Lawrence Drive, Lowell, MA 01854. Arrangements by the ODONNELL FUNERAL HOME LOWELL MA - (978) 458-8768.

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