Obituary of Michael Sullivan

On the evening of December 6, 2023, Mike passed away under the watchful care of the Hospice House staff in Pinehurst, North Carolina. He was 76 years old.

Michael was born and raised in Schuylerville, New York. He was born on July 21, 1947 and was the eldest child of John J. Sullivan and Joan Sullivan.

Mike was senior class president and graduated from Schuylerville High School in 1965. He kept in touch over the years with many of his classmates who had been his friends all through school.

After almost a year of college, Mike joined the Navy and was assigned as a door gunner in the helicopter division with a group called the Seawolves. This unit was the most decorated unit throughout all of Viet Nam. Their job was to protect the boats with our troops as they traveled down the rivers. They would also answer to the call “Scramble Seawolves” at any time, day or night, to pick up stranded or wounded soldiers that needed to be evacuated.

After the Navy, Mike worked for the US Postal Service in Saratoga Springs for 19 years. From there, he and his wife, Sue, moved to North Carolina. There, he worked for Moore County Social Services and then at the local hospital in patient accounts until he had a debilitating stroke in 2011.

Soon after coming to the Carolinas, Mike became a member of the Baptist Church. He served as a deacon and adult Sunday School teacher and, on October 11, 2009, was ordained as a minister in the church.

The highlight of his life was his participation in three mission trips to the Holy Land. He and his wife were blessed with the opportunity to spend five weeks each year from 2006 to 2008 in Israel to support the missionaries at the Baptist Village Sports Complex in Petah Tikva. They also had the awesome experience of traveling through the Land to visit all of the places Jesus once walked. This was an amazing experience and he loved telling people about it.

Though after his stroke and his mission trips were no longer possible, Mike was blessed to have very special helpers in his day to day life. These helpers helped get him through his day to day routines. They were his monkeys.

First there was Buddy, the little marmoset that used to ride on his shoulder as he drove around the driveway in his golf cart. After Buddy passed, there was Ziva, the sweet little tamarin who was just a joy to play with. But, finally, his most precious little one, a squirrel monkey named Joshua, became the best buddy he ever had. Josh loved his dad and his dad loved him. There was a bond between the two that was incredibly sweet and strong. He kept his dad smiling and made his days joyful.

But, the most important person in Michael’s life was the Lord, Jesus Christ. Mike gave his life to Him thirty years ago and never looked back. He served in any way he possibly could. Even after his ability to read and focus diminished over the last few years, he continued to write a post on Facebook almost every day trying to lead anyone who might read them to find Christ and receive the gift of salvation. Even through his confusion from the first stroke and all of those that followed, he loved God and did all he could to bring others to Him.

Michael was preceded in death by his father, John J., and his mother, Joan, and his step-daughter, Jennifer Myers.

Mike is survived by his wife, Sue, his son, Sean, his step-daughter Stacey Chriscoe, and his three grandchildren Megan and Ashley Chriscoe, and Jovanna Nelson. He is also survived by his brothers Pat and Bobby Sullivan and his sister Debbie Charbonneau and several nieces and nephews.

Mike’s last wishes were not to “fuss”. Therefore he wanted to be cremated and sprinkled in the Sea of Galilee in Israel. His wife is hoping to fulfill that wish as soon as it is possible in light of the country’s situation.  If anyone wishes to make donations in his name, please contact one of the reputable organizations that are assisting those who are suffering in the conflict.

Special thanks to the staff at Hospice House for their tender and exceptional care of Mike in his last hours. There are no words to express the depth of appreciation for the job that they did.

Michael was my husband for almost 40 years. I’m looking forward to the day when I see him again in heaven with our beloved Jesus.