Obituary for Bernard R. "Bernie" Sullivan
Bernie Sullivan of Glastonbury passed away on Tuesday, October 5, after a bit of a Donnybrook with CMML (Leukemia) over a fifteen-year period with his family by his side.
Born in Hartford, CT on January 7,1943 in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of the late Arthur F. Sullivan and Kathryn (McAloon) Sullivan He was proud of his Irish heritage and the fact that he was raised along with his seven brothers and sisters in a cold water flat on Albany Avenue in Hartford's Clay Hill section of the North End and graduated from the “Old” Hartford Public High School in 1960.
Bernie had a long and multi-faceted career. First joining the ranks of the Hartford Police Department in 1964, having graduated the Academy at the top of his class. During his tenure he received numerous awards and commendations including the department’s Medal of Valor. He worked his way up to the position of chief in 1982 - the youngest to be appointed to that rank at age 39. He implemented many innovative programs while maintaining a reputation as a tough but fair old-school Irish cop. He believed in community police support and crisis intervention, as well as mental health support for the department staff and his mark on the HPD reflects that. Bernie was a leader to collaborate his law enforcement team’s efforts with other government and law enforcement agencies.
He “retired” in 1989 to become Director of Security for ITT Hartford but was shortly thereafter asked by Governor William O’Neill to step into the position of Commissioner of the Connecticut State Police, where he served until a new governor was elected in 1991. He was then employed as Acting Chief of Police for Central Connecticut State University and assisted in the process of selecting a permanent Chief. In 1992, Bernie served as the Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House, Tom Ritter, and stayed through two speakers until retiring from the public sector in 2000. He then took a position with the Tomasso group and retired as an Executive Vice President in 2006. In 2018 Bernie was once again called back into public service when he was appointed as assistant to the President at Central Connecticut State University to update that police force’s policies and procedures.
Bernie actively served on many Boards and taskforces, and continued to share his expertise, especially in law enforcement matters, well past retirement. These groups include The Hundred Club of Connecticut (Past President), the Connecticut Police Chief’s Association (Past President), the Connecticut Law Enforcement Memorial Committee, the Connecticut Justice Education Center, the Urban League of Greater Hartford, the Hartford Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA of Greater Hartford, corporator for The Institute of Living, Hartford and St. Francis Hospitals, and in 2013 served as Vice-Chair of Governor Dannel Malloy’s Sandy Hook Commission.
He is survived by his much beloved wife, Elaine (Violette) Sullivan of 58 years, his son, Brian and his wife Holly (Steele) Sullivan; his daughter Kathleen Sullivan and her partner Steven Breault; his grandchildren Ian Sullivan, Austin Sullivan and Erin Ely and her partner Avgoustis Tiniakos; his sister Kathleen (Kay) Sullivan; and brother Neil and his wife Dori (Taylor) Sullivan. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by siblings Sheila, Eugene, Francis, Maureen and Timothy. Bernie’s personal life included much time and travel with Elaine, hiking, fishing, boating and much time at their cottage in the Berkshires. He leaves no regrets and no bucket listas up to the end he felt blessed to be surrounded by amazing family, friends and colleagues from many backgrounds, and fortunate to have had so many enriching experiences in his lifetime.
Bernie and his family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to the amazing staff at Saint Francis Hospital, and the Visiting Nurse and Health Services of Connecticut, with special thanks to his hospice care nurse Darcie.
Friends and family may call on the family Friday, October 8, 2021 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 50 Naubuc Ave., Glastonbury. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Bernie’s life will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. in Saint Paul Church of Ss. Isidore and Maria Parish, 2577 Main Street, Glastonbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be to the Hundred Club of Connecticut, PO Box 419 Glastonbury, CT 06033. or the House of Bread, 1453 Main St. Hartford, CT 06120. To leave condolences, please visit FarleySullivan.com.
Born in Hartford, CT on January 7,1943 in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of the late Arthur F. Sullivan and Kathryn (McAloon) Sullivan He was proud of his Irish heritage and the fact that he was raised along with his seven brothers and sisters in a cold water flat on Albany Avenue in Hartford's Clay Hill section of the North End and graduated from the “Old” Hartford Public High School in 1960.
Bernie had a long and multi-faceted career. First joining the ranks of the Hartford Police Department in 1964, having graduated the Academy at the top of his class. During his tenure he received numerous awards and commendations including the department’s Medal of Valor. He worked his way up to the position of chief in 1982 - the youngest to be appointed to that rank at age 39. He implemented many innovative programs while maintaining a reputation as a tough but fair old-school Irish cop. He believed in community police support and crisis intervention, as well as mental health support for the department staff and his mark on the HPD reflects that. Bernie was a leader to collaborate his law enforcement team’s efforts with other government and law enforcement agencies.
He “retired” in 1989 to become Director of Security for ITT Hartford but was shortly thereafter asked by Governor William O’Neill to step into the position of Commissioner of the Connecticut State Police, where he served until a new governor was elected in 1991. He was then employed as Acting Chief of Police for Central Connecticut State University and assisted in the process of selecting a permanent Chief. In 1992, Bernie served as the Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House, Tom Ritter, and stayed through two speakers until retiring from the public sector in 2000. He then took a position with the Tomasso group and retired as an Executive Vice President in 2006. In 2018 Bernie was once again called back into public service when he was appointed as assistant to the President at Central Connecticut State University to update that police force’s policies and procedures.
Bernie actively served on many Boards and taskforces, and continued to share his expertise, especially in law enforcement matters, well past retirement. These groups include The Hundred Club of Connecticut (Past President), the Connecticut Police Chief’s Association (Past President), the Connecticut Law Enforcement Memorial Committee, the Connecticut Justice Education Center, the Urban League of Greater Hartford, the Hartford Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA of Greater Hartford, corporator for The Institute of Living, Hartford and St. Francis Hospitals, and in 2013 served as Vice-Chair of Governor Dannel Malloy’s Sandy Hook Commission.
He is survived by his much beloved wife, Elaine (Violette) Sullivan of 58 years, his son, Brian and his wife Holly (Steele) Sullivan; his daughter Kathleen Sullivan and her partner Steven Breault; his grandchildren Ian Sullivan, Austin Sullivan and Erin Ely and her partner Avgoustis Tiniakos; his sister Kathleen (Kay) Sullivan; and brother Neil and his wife Dori (Taylor) Sullivan. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by siblings Sheila, Eugene, Francis, Maureen and Timothy. Bernie’s personal life included much time and travel with Elaine, hiking, fishing, boating and much time at their cottage in the Berkshires. He leaves no regrets and no bucket listas up to the end he felt blessed to be surrounded by amazing family, friends and colleagues from many backgrounds, and fortunate to have had so many enriching experiences in his lifetime.
Bernie and his family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to the amazing staff at Saint Francis Hospital, and the Visiting Nurse and Health Services of Connecticut, with special thanks to his hospice care nurse Darcie.
Friends and family may call on the family Friday, October 8, 2021 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 50 Naubuc Ave., Glastonbury. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Bernie’s life will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. in Saint Paul Church of Ss. Isidore and Maria Parish, 2577 Main Street, Glastonbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be to the Hundred Club of Connecticut, PO Box 419 Glastonbury, CT 06033. or the House of Bread, 1453 Main St. Hartford, CT 06120. To leave condolences, please visit FarleySullivan.com.