Rev. James Sullivan died unexpectedly from a heart attack on September 14, 2012. He was born July 1, 1934 in Butte, Montana to Daniel and Hannah Sullivan.
He received his B.A. degree from Carroll College in 1956, and was ordained a priest in 1960. He received a Master’s of Science in Biology from the University of Oregon in 1964 and PhD in Human Anatomy in 1973. In 1974 he completed a Post Doctorate in Neuroanatomy. He graduated from Creighton University School of Medicine in 1986. He became a Psychiatrist/Neurologist at Bergan Mercy Medical Center and founded Psychiatry Outpatient Services in 1993 in Omaha, Nebraska. Fr. Jim retired in 2006.
Fr. Jim loved teaching and taught at Carroll College, St. Louis University, and Creighton University. Among his many honors were The Golden Apple Award from St. Louis University and The Alumni Academic Award from Carroll College.
He said that the Priesthood was the center of his life and he felt privileged to spend his days providing healing of the mind, body, and spirit.
Fr. Jim is survived by his sisters, Eileen Murray (James) and Therese. He was preceded in death by his parents Daniel and Hannah, sister, Marie Haggerty, and brother, Joseph Sullivan.
A Vigil service will be 11:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian burial at noon Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Cathedral of St. Helena. A reception will be held in the Brondel Center located in the lower level of the cathedral immediately following the Mass. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Butte on Wednesday, September 19, 2012, at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Carroll College Scholarship Fund at 1601 N. Benton Ave., Helena Montana 59601. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer the family condolences or share a memory of Father Sullivan.
Service Schedule
Vigil
11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday September 19, 2012
Cathedral of Saint Helena
530 N Ewing St.
Helena, MT 59601
Mass of Christian Burial
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday September 19, 2012
Cathedral of Saint Helena
530 N Ewing St.
Helena, MT 59601
Reception
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday September 19, 2012
Brondel Center of the Cathedral
530 N Ewing St.
Helena, MT 59601
Rite of Committal
3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday September 19, 2012
Holy Cross Cemetery
4700 Harrison Ave.
Butte, MT 59701
Service Schedule
Vigil
11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday September 19, 2012
Cathedral of Saint Helena
530 N Ewing St.
Helena, MT 59601
Mass of Christian Burial
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday September 19, 2012
Cathedral of Saint Helena
530 N Ewing St.
Helena, MT 59601
Reception
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday September 19, 2012
Brondel Center of the Cathedral
530 N Ewing St.
Helena, MT 59601
Rite of Committal
3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday September 19, 2012
Holy Cross Cemetery
4700 Harrison Ave.
Butte, MT 59701
Share
Mary Ann Baumgardner says
Dear Tese,
What a shock it was to learn of Jim’s passing! I was teary-eyed and found it hard to believe. Hope you are doing ok. This must be so hard for you. Hope your sister is with you to help you through this. Prayers and Blessings, Mary Ann
Con & Virginia Healy says
Our deepest sympathy & prayers go out to the family & friends of dear Father Jim Sullivan. What an inspiration he has been to all of us who were so privileged to know him & call him our friend. Father Sullivan will be forever remembered for his great kindness, his respect for everyone, his infectious smile, integrity…& so much more! As chaplains, we both worked with Father Sullivan at St. Louis University Hospitals. Many thanks for all, Father Sullivan!
Sharon Robinson says
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Therese, and family as you gather to fondly remember Fr. Jim and celebrate his life. He was part of lovely family who have many memories to share. Love to all of you.
Charles Peoples says
I remember Father Jim as my classmate and altar boy partner and baseball team mate at the Immaculate Conception grade school and Butte Central high school. Father Jim will
be dearly missed by all whose lives he touched. My prayers are with him and his family.
Ann Marie (Grmoljez) Bushong says
I took Zoology from Fr. Jim my freshman year at Carroll. Great teacher and a greater man. I think he was easy on me due to knowing my brother, Dr. Paul Grmoljez. Regardless, over the years when he would be in Helena, he always remembered me and my family, especially my brother and my parents (Mame and Bo Grmoljez). He often filled in at St. John’s in Clancy for Fr. Tom O’Donnell. As parishioners, we were always grateful for this. We know he is at peace now. He will be missed.
Marie (Mack) Tobin says
Dear Tese,
I was so sorry to hear of Father Jim’s passing. I have such wonderful memories of both of you, and of your Mom, from my growing up years in Butte. Your family was always so kind and so gracious to me. I am happy that I was able to reconnect with you and Father Jim these past few years. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend the funeral service tomorrow, but you and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Father Jim was a truly special man, and I am honored to have known him.
John and Virginia Sullivan says
We are saddened to know of the loss of Jim’s presence in so many lives. He was a great cousin, friend, athlete, student, priest and so very charismatic. It is amazing how many lives he touched in positive ways. We feel fortunate to have grown up knowing him, playing basketball at IC’s gym on Sundays, sitting next to him in high school classes and selling newpapers together. He was always pleasant, never argumentative and always friendly. He was one of the few people in the world who was liked by everyone.
Tese, we are happy for Jim, who is now at peace. We are thankful you took such good care of him but know the loss you will feel.
With love and prayers,
Dirks and Virginia
Anne Dartman (Felstet) says
Dear Tese,
You are in my prayers. Fr. Jim was such an enthusiastic person. I really enjoyed saying hello to you guys when I saw you out and about. Dad called yesterday to tell me of his passing. I’m sorry for your loss and will keep you two in my prayers. Especially when I see the prayer leaf that Mom gave to me. 🙂
God Bless,
~Anne
FR ALAN GILMORE says
I HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING BOTH FR JIM AND FR JERRY SULLIVAN WHEN I STUDIED AT THE JESUIT SEMINARY AT ST LOUIS IN THE EARLY 1-70’S. bOTH WERE MODELS OF THE PRIESTHOOD. i MET EACH ONE ONLY ONCE AFTER I LEFT ST LOUIS. FR JIM I MER WHILE HE WAS HERE AT THE ABBEY OF GETHSEMANI ON RETREAT. I MET FR JERRY IN ROME IN 1989 AT THE CHRISM MASS ON HOLY THURSDAY AT ST PETER’S. i WISH THAT I HAD KNOWN THEM BETTER, FOR THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL MODELS OF THE PRIESTHOOD!