Day 55: Valentine's Day

A Tribute to my Father’s 100^th Birthday

Born on Valentine’s Day

            My father, Joseph Lynn Sullivan was born February 14, 1911 – Valentine’s Day. He was born on a day of love, loved all his life and everyone in it and left with a whisper of love on his face. I was lucky enough to see it.

            My father was born in Ft. Collins, Colorado to William and Grace Sullivan. He grew up on a dairy farm in Ft. Collins, and graduated from Colorado State University in Veterinary Medicine. Shortly after, he headed west and first lived in Venice, California where started his veterinary practice, married, and had his first son in August 1942. His wife sadly passed away after their son’s (my brother) birth.

            A few years later, in 1946, Dad met my mother, Mary Marcine Hines. Yes, our parents’ names were Joseph and Mary. They married, and the family grew to 4 boys while living in Venice. In September 1950 we all moved to Culver City, California. It was there that 4 girls were born and brought the Sullivan family to ten. The last and his eighth child were born in 1960.

            He fathered 8 of us, raised us better than he was raised, and provided all the necessary supports to allow us to grow up healthy and safely, educated, and as viable contributing citizens. While raising a large family, he kept a thriving dog and cat hospital operating until he retired; he served the community and his church, as well as participating in various social community-oriented service clubs. He had a wide circle of friends that he maintained throughout his life.

            He was a competitive swimmer in college and was an avid outdoorsman with hunting and fishing the majority of his life. He provided half of our protein from what he hunted and fished. He was also an avid golfer. His last round of golf and hunting (shot a deer) was when he was 80. Other than a quadruple bypass in his late 60’s, his health was strong enough to keep him enjoying life from an early age. He was active mentally, physically, and spiritually. I rarely saw him sick.

            His work ethic was remarkable, yet he had a very different outlook on how one should enjoy their life. I remember him taking vacations at various times throughout the year to go hunting or fishing or take our mother traveling somewhere in the world, or take us to Lake Tahoe or Ensenada, Mexico or somewhere locally in their motor home. He and my mother would go off, on their own, for a weekend away. He enjoyed life. And lived it to its fullest.

            In August of 1988, my mother passed away from lung cancer. He was lucky enough to have all of us around to keep him standing, as he didn’t really have much trouble going forward. About a year later he was dating someone who was 25 years younger. They went out to dinner and dancing a lot. He was 78, then. I guess he continued enjoying life! Unfortunately, in 1991, he had a stroke. Remember, he was hunting deer a few months before this. The next three years he declined in health, and in spirit. He had lost 2 wives and all his friends. He outlived them all. He wanted to go and I heard him at night, say so. Earlier in the day, on his last day, while having lunch he told his day nurse, “I’m gonna kick the bucket tonight.” Hours later he did just that.

            I lived with him during his last 6 years, and I was there at the time he crossed over. It was sad and difficult to watch this vibrant man become more and more dependent in his last years. His mind still sharp, he watch his body fail him. His heart stopped just as purposeful as it started on Valentine’s Day 1911. Now, he was gone and free to love again, but from the other side. He’s still playing out that father role even in his absence.

            My father was born on a day of love; he loved the two women he married and outlived. He loved his 8 children, his many friends, his extended family, and he loved his life. His heart was big, enough for those he cared for and still had plenty for strangers. Everyone loved him back. His heart was full, had experienced a broken heart twice and damaged heart twice. His heart sadly gave out that second time and left at age 83 on May 28, 1994, late at night in the quiet of his home, the one he had lived in for 44 years.

            He started on a day of love, on Valentine’s Day 1911, and he shared that love for 83 years.  He had a very full life and left that love as a great legacy for all his eight children, many grandchildren and now great-grand children. He will not be forgotten.

Congenital heart disease is the world's most common major birth defect, affecting one in every 120 children. Congenital heart defects are the #1 cause of birth defect related deaths.  Congenital heart defects are the leading cause of all infant deaths in the United States.  Each year approximately 40,000 babies are born in the United States with a congenital heart defect. Thousands of them will not reach their first birthday and thousands more die before they reach adulthood.

Today’s donation helps the youngest with heart disease through The Children’s Heart Foundation. Motivated by the needs of children, the goal of The Children’s Heart Foundation brings health, hope and happiness to children impacted by congenital heart defects, the number one birth defect in the United States. They accomplish this goal by funding the most promising research to advance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of congenital heart defects. The Children’s Heart Foundation is the only organization that was created to exclusively fund congenital heart defect research. It relies on the support of individuals, corporations and foundations to fund vital, life-saving research.

Donation: $17  -  for the 17 years we’ve missed him.

To support The Children’s Heart Foundation, please visit: http://www.childrensheartfoundation.org