Eli Bridge’s Lee Sullivan passes at the age of 91
By amusementtoday | October 27, 2016
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Lee A. Sullivan Jr., 91, of Jacksonville, IL died Tuesday, October 25, 2016, at his home.
He was born July 12, 1925 in Jacksonville, the son of Lee A. Sr. and Nell Griffith Sullivan. He married Barbara Bienemann on March 29, 1949 and later married Betty Miller Kinnett Deem on October 25, 1975 and both have preceded him in death.
He is survived by five children, William A. Sullivan of Jacksonville, Patricia Sullivan of Jacksonville, Robert Sullivan (wife, Sue) of Bethalto, Susan Sullivan-Tuncan (husband, Erdal) of Omaha, NE, and Paul Sullivan of Springfield; five grandchildren, Jas Sullivan of Woodriver, Reya Tuncan Christensen (husband, Nicholas) of Lincoln, NE, Erin Tuncan and Sanya Tuncan, both of Omaha, NE, and Connor Sullivan (wife, Alexis) of Naperville; a niece, Julie Gaines (husband, Tom) of Jacksonville; two nephews, Larry Littler (wife, Kathy) of Jacksonville and David Littler (companion, Linda Hack) of Largo, FL; two cousins, Marian Russell McDaniel of Shawnee Mission, KS and Henrietta Doss of The Villages, FL; and his personal caregiver, Ava Sparrow of Jacksonville, whose care allowed him to continue residing in his home. He was preceded in death by his parents and two siblings, Peggy Littler and Liam “Bud” Sullivan.
Lee was a 1942 graduate of Jacksonville High School and a 1950 graduate of the University of Illinois, College of Engineering where he was named to the Bronze Tablet, the university award for academic achievement. He served with the US Navy from 1945-1946 and from 1951-1952.
A licensed professional engineer, Lee served as president and board chairman of Eli Bridge Company where he was involved in its leadership from 1950 until his death. He was nationally known throughout the amusement ride industry and an advocate of raising safety standards. He was a member of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association which named Lee to their industry Hall of Fame. He was a past president of the American Recreation Equipment Association where he was instrumental in the creation of safety seminars. He was also a member of the Showman’s League of America and ASTM International, an organization charged with establishing industry-wide safety standards. ASTM awarded Lee the “Jimmy Floyd Award” for his outstanding service to amusement industry safety. Lee was also a founding and 19 year member of the Illinois Carnival-Amusement Safety Board.
Lee was a life-long member of Central Christian Church in Jacksonville where he formerly served as a deacon and choir member. He was a former member of the board of directors for both Jacksonville Savings and Loan Association (now Jacksonville Savings Bank) and Farmers State Bank and Trust Company in Jacksonville. He was a former board member and treasurer of the Sherwood Eddy YMCA and a member of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Memorial services will be held 10:30 am, Monday, October 31, 2016, at Central Christian Church in Jacksonville with interment at Diamond Grove Cemetery in Jacksonville. The family will meet friends from 4:00 to 6:00 pm Sunday at the Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested to the Central Christian Church Memorial Fund. Condolences may be sent online at www.buchanancody.com.
