Owen Sullivan

Owen Sullivan emigrated to Canada from Ireland in 1963 or 1964, with his friend, Tom Cosgrave. He lived with his cousin Noel and his wife Tessie in Toronto for a bit before moving in with roommates. He had accepted a job at a jeweller’s, having apprenticed in Dublin, but his cousin Noel convinced him to take a better paying job at Chrysler. He worked there until his retirement in 1996. Tom and Owen would head to Montreal every weekend, camping in the outskirts and heading to the nightclubs in the evenings. It was at the Talisman on Sainte-Catherine Street that he met Charlotte. They married in 1967 and raised three children on Fallingdale Crescent in Bramalea: Michelle, Christine and Philip. When Owen died of cancer in 2000, he was only 58.

Owen loved music, loved to dance, and loved to laugh. He was good with children and a patient husband. He loved his mother and went back to Ireland every couple of years, until he couldn’t travel anymore. He excelled in sports – played football (soccer), golf, hockey and swam – and was scouted for Manchester United. There is a photo of him at Old Trafford, as a young man of about 15 or 16. The club signed another promising player who tried out at the same time as Owen: Johnny Giles. Owen’s future was across the ocean.

Tribute:
Owen lived by the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.
He was a loving son, brother, husband, father and friend.
He was kind, respectful and generous with everyone, especially with the vulnerable.
He was supportive of his wife’s militancy and encouraged her to stand up for what she believed in.
He told his children that they could be anything they wanted, as long as they were happy.
He also told them that they could always come to him – all he asked in return was that they be truthful with him.
He never showed up late to an appointment, out of respect for others.
He loved life, and was always good for a laugh.
He took care of himself, playing sports and indulging only his sweet tooth.
He played with his children and spent time with them, as few fathers of his generation did.
He was a rock of strength.

One summer day, laughing and riding with his hands off his bike’s handlebars he told his three children following behind him like a row of ducklings « Do as I say, not as I do. »
We knew then, as we know now, that following our father’s example, as well as his words, makes us better human beings. He was the best role model a child could ask for.