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January 10, 2007

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Brother J. Stephen Sullivan, F.S.C., Former President Of Manhattan College, Dies At 86

 

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Brother J. Stephen Sullivan, F.S.C., the former 17th president of Manhattan College, died on Tuesday, Jan. 9. He was 86.

Born Jeremiah Thomas Sullivan in Boston, Mass., on June 25, 1920 to Bridget Quirk and John Joseph Sullivan, Brother Sullivan entered the order of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the Roman Catholic teaching order, in 1938 and was given the religious name Brother Casimir Stephen.

Prior to his arrival at Manhattan College, Brother Sullivan instructed classics and theology at De La Salle College in Washington, D.C., and was the recipient of a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (1957). He served as dean of studies and pro-director at De La Salle and guided the intellectual preparation of many of the Brothers teaching in New York and New England.

Appointed assistant professor of theology at Manhattan College in 1959, Brother Sullivan’s teaching and scholarly activities led to his promotion to associate professor in 1963, and that same year he was named the College’s academic vice president. He was appointed executive vice president and provost in 1970, and in 1975 was named president, a position he would hold for the next 12 years.

Under Brother Sullivan’s leadership, the College constructed a new athletic facility, Draddy Gymnasium, which at the time featured the largest indoor track in New York City. He also oversaw the building of Maurice F. Granville Residence Hall, as well as the creation of a new research and learning center that opened in 1985.

During Brother Sullivan’s tenure, Manhattan College established new programs for teaching and rehabilitation of the handicapped, professional ethics, biotechnology, robotics and computer sciences. The College’s peace studies program, one of the first in the nation, was established along with a graduate program leading to the master’s degree in business administration.
In addition, community outreach activities were sharply enhanced with programs directed to the handicapped and senior citizens.

Brother Sullivan is credited with fully implementing the transformation of Manhattan College into a co-educational institution, insuring the integration of women into the entire College curriculum. During this time, the College experienced significant growth in enrollment and began the transformation into a residence institution.

On his retirement from the presidency in 1987, more than 600 guests gathered at a banquet in Draddy Gymnasium to honor Brother Sullivan’s accomplishments.

Throughout his long career in higher education, Brother Sullivan served as an officer or member of the Catholic Theological Society of America, National Catholic Education Association, American Association of University Professors, American Council on Education and the American Association of Higher Education.  He was given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from La Salle University in Philadelphia in 1979 and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the College of Mount St. Vincent in 1987.

He was also the recipient of numerous awards, including the Alpha Phi Delta Award in appreciation of devoted service to Manhattan College (1987), and was an honorary member of Delta Mu Delta in recognition of high scholarly achievement.

After leaving Manhattan College, Brother Sullivan served as director of development for the New York Province of the Christian Brothers. He revitalized the quarterly publication of the Lasallian Notes newsletter, and he fostered a personal touch in his relationship with donors. One of his priorities was the proper memorializing of departed Brothers.

Brother Sullivan received his bachelor’s degree at The Catholic University of America, a master’s degree in classical languages at Manhattan College, a master’s in philosophy at Boston College and a doctorate in sacred theology from The Catholic University of America.
 
Brother Sullivan was pre-deceased by his brother, Rev. John Sullivan, S.J., and a sister, Margaret Sullivan. He is survived by his sister, Sr. Margaret de Sales Sullivan, S.C.

Visitation will be on Friday, Jan. 12 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in The Rotunda in Memorial Hall on the Manhattan College campus.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers. Interment will follow immediately at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, N.Y.

Founded in 1853, Manhattan College is an independent, Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning offering more than 40 major programs of undergraduate study in the areas of arts, business, education, engineering and science, along with graduate programs in education and engineering. For more information about Manhattan College, visit www.manhattan.edu.