Sullivan, Leonard J. (Brother)

Jesuit Brother Leonard J. Sullivan died on Feb. 8, 2017, at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos, California. He was 90 and had been a Jesuit brother for 72 years.

Br. Sullivan was born in San Francisco on Nov. 2, 1926, and after graduating from St. Ignatius High School in 1944, he entered the Jesuit Novitiate at Los Gatos. As a young brother, his assignments were varied: maintenance and painting at the Novitiate, secretary to the principal at St. Ignatius High, bookbinder at the Jesuit bindery at Alma College, Los Gatos, and infirmarian at Bellarmine Prep, San Jose.

In 1954, he returned to St. Ignatius, where over a 20-year period, he served as librarian, history teacher, and, after establishing a television studio, instructor in television production and broadcasting. He later served as librarian at Serra High School, San Mateo, and in the public library systems of San Mateo, San Francisco, and South San Francisco.

Over the years, balancing work obligations with studies, Br. Sullivan earned degrees from the University of San Francisco (BA, history, 1963, and library certificate, 1968), San Francisco State (MA, education, 1973), San Jose State (MLS, library science, 1977), and state teaching credentials.

He was an avid Giants fan, coached St. Ignatius’ freshman and junior varsity baseball teams for many years, and worked as an umpire at the high school level. He was also a model railroad fan.

He is survived by many nieces and nephews, including Cathy McAvoy of San Jose.