[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S7874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO JOHN J. SULLIVAN

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, earlier this month, the American flag 
was flown proudly throughout Connecticut and across this great land, as 
we celebrated our Independence Day. But the previous Friday, Old Glory 
was flying at half-staff in the town of Fairfield, CT, as the town 
mourned the passing of its longest serving first selectman--John J. 
Sullivan.
  John Sullivan came to Fairfield from Salem, MA, in the 1930's, and 
for more than 20 years, he was known throughout town as the owner and 
operator of Sullivan's Flower Shop on the Post Road. But in 1959, John 
Sullivan ran for public office for the first time in his life, and he 
was elected as the town's first selectman. His election was 
particularly significant, because it broke a 51-year Republican hold on 
Fairfield's top job. Although John Sullivan was a Democrat in a town 
dominated by Republicans, he was reelected 11 times, and his 24-year 
tenure stands as the longest in the town's history.
  I think that a large reason John Sullivan was so successful in 
reaching across party lines to be an effective leader is because his 
first concern was people, not politics. When describing his management 
style as the head of the board of selectmen, John Sullivan said, ``I 
don't tell them how to vote * * * I tell them it's good for the 
community.''
  One of the most notable battles of his political career came in 1965, 
when John won reelection over a popular young challenger named Stewart 
B. McKinney. After this defeat, Mr. McKinney went on to serve seven 
terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, and John Sullivan often 
joked that if it weren't for him, McKinney would have never been a 
Congressman. The two of them went on to form a close political 
friendship. In fact, the only building in Fairfield which bears John 
Sullivan's name is the Sullivan-McKinney senior housing complex.
  During his tenure as first selectman, the population of Fairfield 
increased by 25 percent and the town's annual budget increased 
fourfold. But while John Sullivan oversaw the growth and development of 
Fairfield, the greatest sign of his legacy is the 1,200 acres of land 
that he had set aside as open space. Under John Sullivan's leadership, 
the town of Fairfield was able to secure Federal funds to purchase open 
space land and beach-front property. John Sullivan fought to maintain 
the small-town character of Fairfield, and there are now parks and 
woodland areas in Fairfield that serve as a peaceful refuge in this 
area of rapid urbanization.
  John Sullivan remained active in the community long after his 
political career ended. He worked on behalf of many charitable 
organizations, in particular St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation in 
Bridgeport where he served as associate executive director. A devout 
Roman Catholic, John was a longtime member and trustee of St. Thomas 
Aquinas Church. He went to Mass every day, and in 1984, John was 
appointed a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope John Paul II.
  I think that the one quote that best illustrates what kind of person 
John Sullivan was came in 1983 when he retired from public office. John 
said, ``I am the richest man in the world. I ask for nothing. I want to 
give as much as I can.''
  I attended John Sullivan's funeral, and having known him personally, 
I was not surprised to see how many people came out to pay tribute to 
this wonderful man. John Sullivan was a true patriot, and he will be 
dearly missed by all who knew him.
  John was the husband of the late Mary B. Cahill Sullivan. He is 
survived by his brother Edwin Sullivan, his daughter Mary Donahue, and 
his seven grandsons, John, James, Brian, Robert, Paul, William, and 
Patrick. I offer my most heartfelt condolences to all of them.

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