John Patrick Sullivan
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John "Sully" Sullivan passed early Wednesday morning, July 24th, at Providence Alaska Medical Center after a short battle with an aggressive cancer. His life partner, Beth Gagnon, and his mother, Judy Sullivan, were by his side.
Sully was born June 30th, 1968 in Bangor, Maine to John and Judy Sullivan. He spent his early school years in Orono, ME and graduated in 1986 from Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, ME. Sully was a true adventurer. He was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman, and explorer of the Maine woods. His passion for the outdoors led him to some rigorous jobs over 20 years as a raft guide on Maine rivers where he certainly left his mark as a prominent figure in the whitewater community. He was also a snow maker at Sunday River Ski Resort, and worked as a groomer operator for the local snowmobile club in The Forks, Maine.
Sully's love for the outdoors led him to Alaska where he had spent childhood summers with his dad. He was fortunate to work for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium that kept him in the great outdoors working on projects to improve the quality of life in rural communities. For him, this was his dream job. He took pride in his work and his colleagues took pride in him. It allowed him to explore parts of Alaska and learn about local native cultures and customs that few get to experience. From north in Kivalina, to Angoon in the southeast, west to Nelson Lagoon, and to his last assignment in Shishmaref, Sully formed great friendships across Alaska and developed a great appreciation for Alaskan native cultures.
He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Marjorie and Walter Read, who had a great influence on the man he grew up to be. His paternal grandparents, Mary and Harold Sullivan, also predeceased him.
Sully is survived by his life partner, Bethany Gagnon, currently of Nikiski, AK., his mother, Judy (Read) Sullivan and partner Brad Baughman of Orono ME., his father John S Sullivan and wife Clancy of Kasilof AK., siblings Frieda Schoon and husband Phillip of Wasilla AK., Sean and wife Joy of Nikiski AK., Erin Mosher and husband Chris of Marcellus MI., Johnny and wife Jessica of Wake Forest, NC., and Shannon Stevens and husband Thanson of New London, OH. Sully greatly loved his nieces and nephews was looking forward to becoming Uncle Sully to two more in the coming months.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Maine at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the staff of Providence Alaska Medical Center's Oncology Unit is greatly appreciated with gratitude for their outstanding and compassionate care for Sully. (Providence Alaska Medical Center - 5 North, Medical Oncology, 3200 Providence Dr. Anchorage AK 99508)