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Paul P. Sullivan
December 04, 2024
Brewster - Paul P. Sullivan, 84, much-loved husband, father, brother, son, and friend, died unexpectedly on Oct. 29. He is survived by his wife, Maureen Hourihan, sons Michael S. Sullivan (Anne Marie Mantegani) of Weymouth; Kevin P. Sullivan of Dubai, UAE, and Kerry X. Sullivan (Kendall Knox Sullivan) of Harwich; grandchildren Anisha Uppal-Sullivan, Kendall Sullivan, and Raelyn Sullivan; siblings Larry D. Sullivan (Lou Ann Sullivan), Gail M. Sullivan (Joe LeBlanc) and Jean C. Sullivan (Richard Cane). He was predeceased by his youngest brother, Peter L. Sullivan.
Paul was born on August 8, 1940, in Worcester to the late Paul J. and Bernadine (O’Gorman) Sullivan. He graduated from Worcester Classical High School and earned a degree in business from UMass-Amherst.
The Sullivans summered at the Cape for many years. Paul nurtured two of his passions in his early teens - boating on the family “yacht” - named the “No Problem” - and building two of the four family cottages in North Eastham with his Dad and his brother Larry.
Paul later honored his Dad’s advocacy for vocational education by serving on the school committee of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School for 40 years. He loved the institution and served for many terms as chair, vice chair, and finance committee chair. After he retired from the school committee in 2014, he served as treasurer and board member of the Cape Cod Tech Foundation.
During his first decade after college, Paul worked for Cargill and Pharmaseal, Inc. in executive and sales positions, but the corporate life lost its appeal. He found a much happier career as a builder on Cape Cod. In the early 1970’s, he founded Paul P. Sullivan, Inc., soon earning a strong reputation as a custom home builder. He, Paul Daley, and their crew built scores of homes over more than four decades. His favorite project was the restoration of the historic Beulah Doane House in Brewster. He called it his labor of love for his wife, Maureen. Paul also remodeled and transformed a cabin in Londonderry, VT. This served as a restful and beautiful getaway as well as a source for antique shopping for Maureen.
Paul and his wife shared a love for classic cars. For more than a decade he never quite fully restored a ’47 Ford Pick-up truck, but he was happy to tell you about this project as he tinkered with it in his garage. More recently they showed off their ‘52 Ford Crestline Victoria and ‘57 Ford T-bird at local ice cream stands, car shows and parades.
Sullivan loved the outdoors. He and his brother Pete biked from Cape Cod to Canadian border at Vermont in 1979. He also led the annual Brewster to Provincetown Bike Ride with friends and family for a couple of decades. He was an avid and fearless sailor and captained various generations of boats named the “Blue Moon.” He competed in Figawi races and explored all of New England’s salt waters. His longer voyages included trips to the Bahamas and surrounding Caribbean islands in his early 40’s. In 2001, Paul, Maureen and youngest son, Kerry, sailed the East Coast to Key West and back to Cape Cod. Days before his death he took his latest sailboat - likely also to be named the “Blue Moon” - from Scituate to Cape Cod.
Paul radiated happiness when in the company of family and friends. He deeply and fiercely loved his family. He was comfortable in his own skin and was generous, strong, empathetic, kind, and sentimental. Those who love him likely imagine Paul stoking a wood stove fire fueled with scrap wood from his latest building project, pushing off on the latest sailing trip, doing an odd job or favor (in his retirement) for one of his longtime customers or friends, having coffee with his sisters, or having a Friday night beer while holding court at the Wood Shed.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to: Cape Cod Tech Foundation, Executive Director, Robert Eckel, 351 Pleasant Lake Avenue, Harwich, MA; www.capecodtechfoundation.org (http://www.capecodtechfoundation.org); or The Brewster Memorial Scholarship, c/o Brewster Historical Society, P.O. Box 1146, Brewster, MA 02631
Paul was born on August 8, 1940, in Worcester to the late Paul J. and Bernadine (O’Gorman) Sullivan. He graduated from Worcester Classical High School and earned a degree in business from UMass-Amherst.
The Sullivans summered at the Cape for many years. Paul nurtured two of his passions in his early teens - boating on the family “yacht” - named the “No Problem” - and building two of the four family cottages in North Eastham with his Dad and his brother Larry.
Paul later honored his Dad’s advocacy for vocational education by serving on the school committee of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School for 40 years. He loved the institution and served for many terms as chair, vice chair, and finance committee chair. After he retired from the school committee in 2014, he served as treasurer and board member of the Cape Cod Tech Foundation.
During his first decade after college, Paul worked for Cargill and Pharmaseal, Inc. in executive and sales positions, but the corporate life lost its appeal. He found a much happier career as a builder on Cape Cod. In the early 1970’s, he founded Paul P. Sullivan, Inc., soon earning a strong reputation as a custom home builder. He, Paul Daley, and their crew built scores of homes over more than four decades. His favorite project was the restoration of the historic Beulah Doane House in Brewster. He called it his labor of love for his wife, Maureen. Paul also remodeled and transformed a cabin in Londonderry, VT. This served as a restful and beautiful getaway as well as a source for antique shopping for Maureen.
Paul and his wife shared a love for classic cars. For more than a decade he never quite fully restored a ’47 Ford Pick-up truck, but he was happy to tell you about this project as he tinkered with it in his garage. More recently they showed off their ‘52 Ford Crestline Victoria and ‘57 Ford T-bird at local ice cream stands, car shows and parades.
Sullivan loved the outdoors. He and his brother Pete biked from Cape Cod to Canadian border at Vermont in 1979. He also led the annual Brewster to Provincetown Bike Ride with friends and family for a couple of decades. He was an avid and fearless sailor and captained various generations of boats named the “Blue Moon.” He competed in Figawi races and explored all of New England’s salt waters. His longer voyages included trips to the Bahamas and surrounding Caribbean islands in his early 40’s. In 2001, Paul, Maureen and youngest son, Kerry, sailed the East Coast to Key West and back to Cape Cod. Days before his death he took his latest sailboat - likely also to be named the “Blue Moon” - from Scituate to Cape Cod.
Paul radiated happiness when in the company of family and friends. He deeply and fiercely loved his family. He was comfortable in his own skin and was generous, strong, empathetic, kind, and sentimental. Those who love him likely imagine Paul stoking a wood stove fire fueled with scrap wood from his latest building project, pushing off on the latest sailing trip, doing an odd job or favor (in his retirement) for one of his longtime customers or friends, having coffee with his sisters, or having a Friday night beer while holding court at the Wood Shed.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to: Cape Cod Tech Foundation, Executive Director, Robert Eckel, 351 Pleasant Lake Avenue, Harwich, MA; www.capecodtechfoundation.org (http://www.capecodtechfoundation.org); or The Brewster Memorial Scholarship, c/o Brewster Historical Society, P.O. Box 1146, Brewster, MA 02631
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