William J. Sullivan

funeral director and owner, Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Directors, Royal Oak, Michigan, died April 4, 2023, at age 82. Sullivan graduated from the University of Notre Dame, attended Wayne State University’s mortuary science program and later completed a master’s degree at the University of Detroit. He also served a year in the Peace Corps in Colombia.

When he returned from Colombia, Sullivan rejoined the family business and immersed himself in a variety of community activities, including Rotary Club of Royal Oak, Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce and Royal Oak Historical Society. He organized park cleanup days and supported countless events over the years, including special dinners for the Historical Society and the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Sullivan also opened a specialty shop, Dos Manos, with his wife in the 1980s, which featured a variety of Latin American handicrafts and hosted a variety of community events over the years, helping Sulivan keep a direct connection with the part of the world he had served during his time with the Peace Corps.

He is survived by sons Brian and Tim, five grandchildren and siblings John, Meg and Marty.