1919
Roger
2009
Roger Sullivan
September 27, 1919 — January 6, 2009
Roger J. Sullivan, 89, of Tupper Lake and more recently Avon, Indiana died Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove, IN. Born September 27, 1919 in Chicopee Falls, Mass, he was the son of John and Alice (Roy) Sullivan. On April 28, 1945, he married the former Catherine Granfield in Springfield, MA. Mr. Sullivan graduated from Northeastern University in 1953.
A veteran of WW II, he flew over 60 missions as a pilot of B-24 bombers serving as a 1st lieutenant with the U.S. Air Force based in New Guinea. Mr. Sullivan entered the employ of Oval Wood Dish Corp in 1949 as a salesman. In 1964, he and local attorney Adam Palmer purchased the woodenware division of Oval Wood Dish Corp and established O.W.D., Inc. Mr. Sullivan purchased Mr. Palmer’s interest in the company after a few years and grew it from a small regional venture into the second largest plastic utensil manufacturer in the world. Upon his retirement in 2003 he sold O.W.D., Inc. with a provision that the new owners keep the plant operating in Tupper Lake for at least 2 years after the sale.
Mr. Sullivan was a very active member of the Tupper Lake community. He was a member of the Tupper Lake Rotary Club where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a major promoter and contributor of the Tupper Lake Rotary Club’s track and field project. In 1996 he founded the Infant Jesus of Prague, a private foundation, from which thousands of dollars in donations and scholarships have benefited the Tupper Lake community. In 2002 Mr. Sullivan was awarded the Caritas Award by the Diocese of Ogdensburg for devoted and unselfish service to the people or Northern New York. In 2006 Roger was the recipient of the Liberty Bell award for his exemplary community service. He was a member of the Tupper Lake Country Club and served on the board of Saranac Lake Federal Savings and Loan. In recent years he was also a supporter the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks.
He is survived by his wife Kay of 63 years, two daughters, Dianne Bowden (Richard K.) and Maureen Kennelly (William J.), and five grandchildren, Craig, Ryan, and Emily Bowden, and Margaret and William R. Kennelly (Kelly A.). He is also survived by many nieces, and nephews, and their children. He was preceded in death by his sister, Doris Bresnahan (James).
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, January 11, from 4 to 7 pm at the Stuart-Fortune-Keough funeral home in Tupper Lake. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 11 at 11 a.m. at St. Alphonsus church. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, Ill. 60601-7633 (www.alz.org) or Infant Jesus of Prague Foundation, P.O. Box 840, Tupper Lake, NY 12986. Online condolences may be made at www.stuartfortunekeoughfuneralhome.com
Air Force
The insignias listed here may be subject to copyright and / or trademarked. Those copyrights and trademarks are owned by the respective organizations.
A veteran of WW II, he flew over 60 missions as a pilot of B-24 bombers serving as a 1st lieutenant with the U.S. Air Force based in New Guinea. Mr. Sullivan entered the employ of Oval Wood Dish Corp in 1949 as a salesman. In 1964, he and local attorney Adam Palmer purchased the woodenware division of Oval Wood Dish Corp and established O.W.D., Inc. Mr. Sullivan purchased Mr. Palmer’s interest in the company after a few years and grew it from a small regional venture into the second largest plastic utensil manufacturer in the world. Upon his retirement in 2003 he sold O.W.D., Inc. with a provision that the new owners keep the plant operating in Tupper Lake for at least 2 years after the sale.
Mr. Sullivan was a very active member of the Tupper Lake community. He was a member of the Tupper Lake Rotary Club where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a major promoter and contributor of the Tupper Lake Rotary Club’s track and field project. In 1996 he founded the Infant Jesus of Prague, a private foundation, from which thousands of dollars in donations and scholarships have benefited the Tupper Lake community. In 2002 Mr. Sullivan was awarded the Caritas Award by the Diocese of Ogdensburg for devoted and unselfish service to the people or Northern New York. In 2006 Roger was the recipient of the Liberty Bell award for his exemplary community service. He was a member of the Tupper Lake Country Club and served on the board of Saranac Lake Federal Savings and Loan. In recent years he was also a supporter the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks.
He is survived by his wife Kay of 63 years, two daughters, Dianne Bowden (Richard K.) and Maureen Kennelly (William J.), and five grandchildren, Craig, Ryan, and Emily Bowden, and Margaret and William R. Kennelly (Kelly A.). He is also survived by many nieces, and nephews, and their children. He was preceded in death by his sister, Doris Bresnahan (James).
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, January 11, from 4 to 7 pm at the Stuart-Fortune-Keough funeral home in Tupper Lake. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 11 at 11 a.m. at St. Alphonsus church. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, Ill. 60601-7633 (www.alz.org) or Infant Jesus of Prague Foundation, P.O. Box 840, Tupper Lake, NY 12986. Online condolences may be made at www.stuartfortunekeoughfuneralhome.com
Air Force
The insignias listed here may be subject to copyright and / or trademarked. Those copyrights and trademarks are owned by the respective organizations.
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