Donnell Robert Sullivan's Obituary
Donnell Robert Sullivan was born in Dearborn Michigan on June 16, 1930 and graduated to the kingdom of Christ on November 25, 2011. Raised with loving parents, two brothers (Larry and Tommy) and a sister (Patty), Donnell excelled in music and mechanics.?áHe built his first car, a hot rod, by hand and was known for drag racing all comers on Telegraph road.?áHis teen years were spent in the heyday of Dearborn?ÇÖs ascendance as the center of the Ford Motor Company?ÇÖs successful, world-wide reshaping of manufacturing and industry. He was a graduate of the Edison Institute overseen by Henry Ford and his wife, Clara and started the school?ÇÖs first big band orchestra.?áAfter receiving his diploma from Clara Ford he went to Albion College where he achieved his bachelor?ÇÖs degree and went on to become an engineer at the Ford Motor Company.?á?á Shortly thereafter he migrated into the boating and marine industry. His father was an engineer for Ford and the head of Special Vehicle Operations for that company so Donnell and his brother?ÇÖs grew up steeped in the grit and excitement of power plant mechanics.?áDonnell?ÇÖs dad was the chief engineer of the original design team for the 1932 mono-block V8 so discussion of the latest in power plant mechanics was standard dinner table conversation. Donnell found his first love, boats, while building a race boat, modeled on a popular Chris Craft at the time, with his brothers, and racing it officially and unofficially on the Detroit River in the late 40?ÇÖs and 50?ÇÖs.?á?á Boats and boating became a lifelong passion as he owned and operated numerous kinds of boats and yachts throughout his entire adult life. He met the love of his life, Marilyn, in 1955, and after their wedding in 1957 in Trenton Michigan, they cruised a wooden trawler through the great lakes, the Erie Canal, Hudson River and down the intra-coastal waterway to Miami.?áThey lived on this vessel in Miami city Yacht Basin for two years.?áDuring this time Donnell sold marine engines for Dearborn Marine while Marilyn worked as a nurse at Mercy Hospital. Their love affair with each other was evenly matched with their love affair with water and boats.?áTheir time living on Biscayne Bay was one of the finest of their lives despite the fact that Donnell lost a significant portion of his hearing after contracting Asian flu in 1957.?á Turning to new, electronic hearing aids to compensate for his hearing loss Donnell decided to change careers and sell hearing aids and became a passionate advocate for their ability to help others in situations similar to his.?áHe became a successful salesman, dealer and advanced steadily in the hearing aid industry until finally being promoted to National Sales Manager for Dahlberg Electronics.?á?á Throughout his life Donnell was a patriotic American committed to the American dream and the hard work that he believed made attainment of that dream possible for anyone.?á?á He founded a company that owned and operated restaurants and mobile home parks in Ohio and Florida.?áAfter leaving Dahlberg in the 1970?ÇÖs he focused on these entrepreneurial ventures for the rest of his life. Along the way Donnell and Marilyn became dedicated Christians and committed countless hours to volunteering in causes that provided real help to real people in need.?áThey were members for 25 years at the First Baptist church of Leesburg where in their retirement they both volunteered at the church?ÇÖs Benevolent Center and Community Medical Care Center.?áDonnell also played the clarinet for 25 years in the church?ÇÖs orchestra. He was a lifetime member of the United States Power Squadron (power boating organization), the Coast Guard Auxiliary and boat clubs from Michigan to Florida.?á?á He has gone to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ, mother, father and little brother, who all preceded him crossing the bar and into the presence of the Lord.?áHe is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn, sons Donnell and wife Dena; Brian and his wife Belinda; and grandchildren, Safa, Donnelle, Katherine and Sara. Marilyn Sullivan would like to especially thank all of her dear friends at the First Baptist Churches in Tavares and Leesburg, the Alzheimer?ÇÖs support group and the caring staff at Snug Harbor, Somerset in Tavares.?áShe also wants to thank the dedicated care team at Cornerstone Hospice: Kelly, Linda, Lea, Christian, Kathleen, Jessie, Peter and Diane.?á?á The care provided by these organizations, for Donnell, during his long struggle with Alzheimers, Pancreatic cancer and Pneumonia was compassionate and exceptional.?áMarilyn would like to especially thank Beth, owner of Somerset, for doing everything possible to make Donnell and his family comfortable during his final days. Interment will take place Tuesday November 29, 2011?áat 1:00 PM at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens.?áArrangements have been entrusted to Steverson, Hamlin & Hilbish Funerals and Cremations in Tavares, FL.?áOnline condolences may be left at www.fortmyersmemorial.com.
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