Longtime Cockeysville deacon dies at 86

Deacon Edward Conway Sullivan Jr., who served at St. Joseph in Cockeysville for more than 20 years, is being remembered for his “generous, generous heart” and his devotion to his parish.

Deacon Sullivan died after a long illness July 27. A funeral Mass was offered Aug. 5 at Immaculate Conception in Towson. He was 86.

“He was beloved,” said Monsignor Richard Hilgartner, pastor. “He made an impression on young people and young couples.”

Deacon Sullivan was called upon to officiate at many weddings and baptisms, according to Monsignor Hilgartner, who said his contributions to the parish were many. He led marriage and baptism preparations, served as a pastoral associate once he retired from Bethlehem Steel and worked as an advocate on the Marriage Tribunal. 

Deacon Sullivan was ordained in 1996, according to Monsignor Paul Cook, now retired, who was the pastor at St. Joseph much of the time the deacon ministered there. 

“He was a valuable member of the parish staff,” he said.

Deacon Sullivan worked as a full-time pastoral associate on a volunteer basis for many years, according to Monsignor Cook. He loved to give homilies and was devoted to social outreach projects, including United Churches Assistance Network, and prison ministry at the Baltimore County Jail.

In addition, Deacon Sullivan was active with United Churches Assistance Network. He not only volunteered with the organization serving those in need, but was also a founding member and served on the board and as a volunteer coordinator, according to Tom Miciche, UCAN’s board president and a St. Joseph’s parishioner.

“He was very involved with the clients,” Miciche said. “He was full throttle into it.”

UCAN, with the support of about 15 Cockeysville-area parishes, serves some 60 clients with help for everything from eviction notices to referrals for specialized services, according to Miciche.

Monsignor Cook said Deacon Sullivan was a team player, very sociable and proud of his Irish heritage. 

“He had a good sense of humor,” he said. “He enjoyed being Irish. That carried into his sense of humor.”

When Deacon Sullivan and his wife moved to Mercy Ridge in Timonium, he served as a homilist at services in the chapel and as part of Bible study there.

The youngest of nine children, Deacon Sullivan was born in Boston Oct. 1, 1936.  After graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he moved to Baltimore as an executive in training at Bethlehem Steel in 1958. By the time of his retirement, he had attained the rank of assistant superintendent of steelmaking.

He and his wife, Kathy, were married 61 years, and had four children and 10 grandchildren.

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