Brother William Sullivan, FSC

1925-2009

Eulogy by
Br. William Spellman, FSC

525,600 MINUTES! THIS IS THE OPENING LINE IN A LlTILE KNOWN SONG BASED ON THE THEME OF "HOW TO MEASURE A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A MAN OR WOMAN." THERE ARE 525,600 MINUTES IN A YEAR AND THAT IS ONE WAY TO MEASURE HOW TIME PASSES FOR A PERSON. THE SONG GOES ON TO EXPLAIN THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TOO: SUNRISES, SUNSETS, YEARS LIVED, CUPS OF TEA OR COFFEE DRUNK, MILES TRAVELLED, BRIDGES THE PERSON BURNED BEHIND HIM, MIDNIGHTS AND DAWNS, HOURS AND MINUTES SPENT IN SLEEPING AND WAKING, TIMES HE OR SHE CRIED AND LAUGHED, TIMES SPENT IN EMPLOYMENT OR VACATION, TIMES SPENT IN WORKING FOR OTHERS OR FOR THEMSELVES.

You and I could probably add more ways to this list.

The song ends with the thought that perhaps the best way to measure a year or a life is in terms of seasons of love and it is this thought that we might like to reflect upon when thinking of Brother William today.

I have known Brother William for over 50 years and my memories of this self effacing man fall into three categories or his three seasons of love: his love for his parents and family, his love for the Christian Brothers and his students over his career of over sixty years as a Brother and finally, his deep love of his God and our God.

First, his love for his wonderful parents Marie and Jack as he grew up on Long Island and attended St. Augustine High School in Brooklyn. His love for them just deepened as he became a Brother. He spent as many of those 525,600 minutes with them as the rules would allow and the same could be said for his Brother Jack's family of Pat,his wife, and his nieces and nephew Ann, Joan, Pat and Jack. He was very proud of his nephews and nieces and their children. The love they gave him in return was most supportive and encouraging to him. When his parents began to fail, Brother William arranged for
extended care in one of our local nursing homes. The Sullivan clan was one which thrived on their minutes and hours spent together.

Bill's second season of love was the thousands of hours spent as a Brother. It has been said that “ a life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." That statement pretty well summarizes Brother Willam's life with the Brothers. He was a gifted teacher of science and math: knowledgeable,
thorough and tough. The students he taught did not really appreciate him until later when they realized how much they had learned and how valuable his preparation was. They did not care for his weekly report cards or his frequent calls to their parents when they did not measure up to his standards . At the same time, he was always most kindly and helpful. John Gray, a TV anchor in Fox studios, and a former student of Brother William's, spoke recently of the personal kindness and assistance he received from Bill when john was struggling with Chemistry. He was also an administrator at CBA, Albany, but never really cared for that direction in his life. But he put in many long hours in that role and took the position very seriously.

Probably the most relaxing role he had was as Freshmen Basketball coach. The kids loved him even though he was as thorough with his players as he was with his students in the classroom.

No matter what his academic role was, his unselfishness shone through. He was always among the first to volunteer his help, whether it was as a prefect or proctor, shovellor of snow, cutter of grass, cleaner of dishes or marker of test papers, moderator of the yearbook and taker of pictures (earning him the nickname of "Flash" even to this day) builder of ceilings, fixer of roofs, painter of rooms .AII of these great qualities were recognized by his fellow teachers when they elected him as one of the first winners of the outstanding Teacher award. When he finished 50 years of teaching, he recognized another need in the District and in a move typical of him, volunteered to come here to DeLa Salle Hall and began another phase in his life. In his own quiet style, he has served the Brothers and staff here with great generosity and unselfishness for the past 6,832,800 minutes or for the past 13 years.

Bill's final season of love was the love he had for his God. Before he came to Lincroft, he spent long years in Troy, where I had the privilege of living with him and it was in those years that his life, to my mind, was most admirable and inspirational! Each night, he would disappear quietly to the chapel and spend long periods of time in the presence of the Lord before retiring for the evening. This was the source of his strength, devotion, unselfishness and dedication. Bill had a special brand of holiness. This humble man would never accept that compliment, but all of present here today know that as fact. The millions of minutes he spent here on earth was the preparation for what he now enjoys and what he will enjoy forever: an eternal loving relationship with the Lord. Brother William, your life has been an inspiration to us all! We thank you for affording us the privilege of having known you.