Raymond C. Sullivan

Raymond Carter Sullivan, 80, of Sherwood Road, Middletown, RI, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, MA.He was the husband of the late Ruth (Davison) Sullivan who passed in 2003. Ruthie and Ray were high school sweethearts who began dating when they were 15 yrs. old. They were married in 1958 at Saint Lucy's Church. Born on January 22, 1935 in Newport, RI, he was the son of the late Raymond Fitzgerald and Eleanor (Flowers) Sullivan.Ray was a graduate of Rogers High School Class of 1954. During his tenure, he was a star basketball and football player. He was Captain of the Rogers High School football team in 1953. In 1954, he was all-county in both football and basketball. He was a member of the RI State Champion basketball team, which lost in the New England finals at Boston Garden in 1953. He attended Boston College on a football scholarship and played wide receiver on the team for four years. He graduated with a bachelor's of arts degree in 1958.He started his teaching career in 1959 at the Susan B. Anthony School in Portsmouth, then to Ft. Butts School which eventually became Portsmouth High School in 1963. He spent the rest of his career teaching Social Studies at PHS until his retirement in 1990. He was the first head coach of the Portsmouth High football team, retiring from that position in 1977 after 14 years. His team won the state championship in 1968. He also received the R.I. Coach of the Year award in 1977. In 1980, he was inducted into the R.I. Coach's Hall of Fame. He was a popular teacher and respected coach. In the early 1970's, he was instrumental in helping to form the Newport Youth Hockey Association and became a "hockey dad" and coach for all three of his sons. He also ran the Middletown Recreation Department's summer program for several years during this time.In the summer, he loved going to Second Beach with his family and also the annual summer camping trips to Maine with his wife and children in a trailer towed by a station wagon with no air conditioning and five kids in the back seat. He was a football fanatic who watched football almost 24 hours a day. Later in life, he enjoyed wintering in Naples Florida with his wife. They also traveled often, visiting Ireland among many other European countries and domestic sites. After his wife's passing, he joined his brother Henry at Hutchinson Island in Florida where he met many wonderful friends who became his second family.He was a proud family man who was extremely dedicated to and supportive of his five children and seven grandchildren and remained very active in their lives tirelessly attending all of their events. He was a true legacy amongst his family and friends who are extremely proud of him and will miss him tremendously. Mr. Sullivan is survived by his five children, Kevin Sullivan and his wife Pam of San Diego, CA, Raymond J. Sullivan of Newport, RI, Colleen Weaver of Middletown, RI, Carrie Hambleton and her husband Mark of Middletown, RI, and Sean Sullivan and his wife Denise of Middletown, RI; his brothers and sisters, Henry Sullivan of Newport, RI, Joanne Phillips of Portsmouth, RI, Gerald Sullivan of Madera, CA. and Ellin Kidd of Santa Fe, TX; his seven grandchildren, Shane Sullivan, Ryan Weaver, Robb Weaver, Mollie Sullivan, Jessica Sullivan, Kevan Sullivan and Emily Hambleton. He also leaves his loving sister in law Claire Nugent Sullivan and many nieces and nephews.Calling hours will be held on Monday, December 28, 2015 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, RI.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. in St. Lucy Church, 909 West Main Road, Middletown, RI. Burial will follow in Middletown Four Corners Cemetery, Middletown, RI.In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to VNS Hospice of Newport Bristol Counties, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871. Cemetery Details Middletown Four Corners Cemetery Turner and Wyatt Roads Middletown, RI, 02842 Visitation DEC 28. 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI, US, 02840 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.memorialfuneralhome.com Service DEC 29. 09:00 AM St. Lucys Church 909 West Main Road Middletown, RI, US, 02842