In Memory of Dean Emeritus Robert Sullivan

Posted August 3, 2009

Sullivan during his 25 year tenure as Dean of the School of Law

"We will remember Dean Sullivan’s dedication to the law, to people, and to the School of Law. We are saddened by this loss and grateful for his life of leadership." 

—Dean Irma Russell

OBITUARY from www.missoulian.com

Robert “Bob” Edwin Sullivan finished his work on July 25, 2009, and entered into the Lord’s arms, leaving behind a vast legacy of service, faith, and love.

On Aug. 1, 1917, Bob was born into the Catholic home of Stephen and Elma Sullivan in Helena. He was the fourth of seven children. He spent the early years of his life attending St. Helena Parochial School and Mount St. Charles High School. In 1935, Bob attended Mount St. Charles College while serving with the Montana National Guard. After the earthquake in October of that year, Bob was mobilized as auxiliary police and worked every night for three weeks. These overwhelming commitments “shook him out of school,” and he left to work the gold mines in Marysville with his uncles.

In a time when Bob lacked direction, providence came in the form of his own grandmother’s death and his friendship with Bill Jones, the football coach at Mount St. Charles College and former football player under Knute Rockne at the University of Notre Dame. With the help of money left to him by his grandmother, Bill helped Bob gain acceptance to Notre Dame in 1936, an event that would change the course of his life.

At his beloved Notre Dame, Bob played right guard for the Fighting Irish under Elmer Layden, was the junior class president, and developed a profound personal faith and deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Upon graduation in 1940, Bob entered the Notre Dame Law School, where he was a grand knight for the Knights of Columbus and an assistant freshman football coach under the legendary Frank Leaky.

Dean Emeritus Sullivan speaks during the 2004 UM Distinguished Alumni Award reception

During World War II, after completing two years of law school, Bob joined the U.S. Air Force and was assigned to the Troop Carrier Command as second lieutenant. During this time, he met the love of his life, Eleanor “Ellie” Marie Laux of Cleveland. After a short courtship, they were married on July 6, 1943, in the Log Chapel at Notre Dame. While Ellie was pregnant with their first child and only son, David, Bob was promoted to executive officer of his squadron and sent to England. Had he not been promoted, Bob would have left for England on a plane that never arrived and whose passengers were never found. Again, providence intervened and he arrived safely on a boat in February 1944, served the U.S. Armed Forces as a major, survived D-Day and lived in France until the end of the war where he was able to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes multiple times and continue his spiritual development.

After the war, Bob returned to Ellie and David to finish his law degree at Notre Dame. Upon receiving his J.D. in 1946, he practiced briefly in Ohio and Indiana before becoming an associate professor at the law school of Notre Dame. Over the next seven years, he developed a speciality in oil and gas law, wrote and published a book on the subject, and fathered four of his seven daughters.

In 1954, Bob was invited to be the assistant dean of the University of Montana Law School and a professor of oil and gas law. Though it was difficult to leave Notre Dame, he again followed the wisdom of Bill Jones who told him, “You can do more for your faith and for your profession in a public law school than you ever could at Notre Dame.” He accepted the position and returned with Ellie and their children to his native Montana. In 1955, Bob was promoted to dean of the law school, a position he held for the next 25 years. His unwavering principles and values helped build a prominent law school that produced thousands of lawyers.

These years brought great joy and great sorrow, during which he brought his final three daughters into the world; served on the Board of Trustees of Carroll College, where he was decorated with the Borromeo Award and received an honorary doctorate degree; was appointed commissioner and vice president of the Uniform Laws Conference; experienced the grandeur of God in Creation with Ellie during a sabbatical in his ancestral home of Ireland; and very painfully lost his only son, David, in Vietnam on Sept. 5, 1968.

After leaving the University of Montana in 1978, Bob worked as the vice president and general counsel of the Montana Power Co. in Butte.

In 1980, Ellie was diagnosed with cancer. Over the next seven years, he cared for her until she passed on May 16, 1987. Though they were bound by deep love, Bob outlived Ellie by 22 years, dedicating the remainder of his life to the service of others. His commitment to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and ability to share his faith as a spiritual adviser at St. Francis Xavier Parish gave him a deep purpose fueled by the belief that he was contributing to building the Kingdom of God.

Dean Emeritus Sullivan meets Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., during the 2007 Jones Tamm Judicial Lecture Series

Though his career was distinguished, Bob would say that he was nothing more than a “snotty-nosed kid from Helena, Montana.” He believed that everything was God’s plan and all he had to do was say “Yes.” This “Yes” characterized his faith, which ultimately defined who he was as a human being.

Bob said yes to being a servant of God and the Catholic Church throughout his life: he carried the “train” of Bishop John Carroll during Easter and Christmas services when he was in first grade; he attended daily mass for nearly 70 years; he participated in and facilitated numerous retreats, including a 36-day Ignatian silent retreat:, and lastly, he supported countless others in their own spiritual development.

Bob said yes to being a dedicated and caring husband, father, grandfather, and brother. Living by example, he taught his children the importance of love and a strong family bond. He is survived by seven daughters, including Sheila (Jim) Merkel of Rapid City, S.D., Mickey (Ron) Flores of Fallon, Nev., Maureen Dougherty of Missoula, Kitty Sullivan, Bridget (Dan) McGregor and Kerry Sullivan (Dave) Lechner of Helena, and Shannon (Dan) Anderson of Kalispell; 21 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren, all of whom will carry him in their hearts as they continue his work of love and service. He is also survived by his brother, Don (Peggy) Sullivan of Seattle; his sister, Elma Neidermeyer of Beaverton, Ore.; and numerous nieces and nephews. His brothers Stephen and John Sullivan and sisters, Margaret Good and Sister Patricia Sullivan, SCL, preceded him in death.

Finally, Bob said yes to being a witness of Christ in the world. Before he passed, he wrote: “In my life, I have been touched by people, circumstances, events and opportunities. There has been a unifying force and a common thread, the presence of Jesus and the hope that God has for me.” He has now fulfilled that hope and rests in peace with his beloved Ellie and his son David.

A rosary/vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 30, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, July 31, also at the church, followed by a reception in Reidy Hall. Interment will follow at New St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Dean Emeritus Sullivan visits with students at the 2008 Scholarship Brunch

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bob’s name to University of Montana Foundation Lorica Catholic Studies Visiting Speakers Endowment, the University of Montana Dean Robert E. Sullivan Law School Scholarship Fund, or the Loyola Sacred Heart High School Foundation David Patrick Sullivan Memorial Scholarship Endowment at 300 Edith, Missoula, Montana.

Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Garden City Funeral Home.

Photos from School of Law archives and Todd Goodrich.