Robert F. Sullivan

Robert F. Sullivan (Sully)

Teacher, principal, coach

Robert F. Sullivan 92 of Woodbury passed away on Tuesday, November 15 at St Mary’s Vitas unit with his loving family by his side. He was the husband of the late Marlene (Lauria) Sullivan for 55 years.

Bob was born on November 4, 1930 in Waterbury. He was the son of the late Francis and Loretta (Kehoe) Sullivan of Naugatuck.

Bob is survived by his seven children: Kathleen (Anthony) Troccolo, Robert (Vivian) Sullivan Jr., Nancy (Robert) Kennedy, Laurie Sullivan, Karen (Daniel) Bierce, Michael Sullivan, and James Sullivan. He leaves seventeen grandchildren: Matthew Troccolo; Jonathan Sullivan, Lisa Palladino, Jaden, Jorden, Mia, and Jalen Sullivan; Meagan Brockway, Robert, Sean, and Molly Kennedy; Amanda Casey, Kaitlyn, and Erik LeCuyer, Daniel and Alexandria Bierce, Claudia Richardson and eight great grandchildren.  Bob also leaves his brother in law Ron Lauria, his wife Sandy, and their two children Mark and Gregg.  He was predeceased by his sister Joan (Sullivan) Wright and his sister in law Donna Lauria.

Sully was a member of the class of 1948 at Naugatuck High School. He received a bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University and a master’s degree in education from Fairfield University. He taught in Waterbury before joining the faculty at Hillside Middle School in Naugatuck. He served as principal of Hop Brook Elementary School for twenty years. Upon retirement, he continued to work with beginning teachers for the State Department of education and the University of Bridgeport.He was the founder of the Naugatuck Campership Fund and past president of Naugatuck Project Head Start and Naugatuck Youth Services.

Mr. Sullivan was inducted into the Naugatuck Hall of Fame and Connecticut Officials Hall of Fame.  He received the Naugatuck Jaycees Man of the Year Award, the New Haven County Basketball Officials Sportsmanship Award, the Raymond K. Foley Youth Service Award, and The Exchange Club Gold Medal Distinguished Service Award.

Bob served in the United States Army and was stationed in Japan during the Korean War. He was the first coach of the Waterbury State Technical College basketball team. He later coached the Naugatuck High School basketball team for six years, guiding them to the finals of the Class L State Championship in 1974. He also served as Director of summer playgrounds for the Naugatuck Park Department where he started the morning and evening basketball leagues.

Robert was a long time resident of Naugatuck before moving to Woodbury where he was active in St. Teresa’s Church. He served as a Eucharistic Minister and was a member of the Sanctuary Committee. He was president of the Pastoral Council from 2011-2014.

Calling hours are Sunday, November 20, 2022 from 5-8pm at Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main Street, Naugatuck. The Naugatck Veterans Council will meet on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, November 21 at 9:30 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Naugatuck.  Burial will be at the convenience of the family with military honors in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Watertown

A scholarship will be set up in Robert’s name at Naugatuck High School for outstanding student athletes. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Robert F. Sullivan Sr. Scholarship Fund, C/O Kathleen Troccolo, 13 Tamarack Court, Prospect, CT 06712.

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