Joseph J. Sullivan, Sr, 84, of Southbury, the husband of Anne Sullivan, died March 4 after a long illness. He was born to Helen (O’Malley) and James Sullivan August 5, 1929, in Chicago.

In addition to his wife, his sons Joseph, Jr, and wife Denise, of Newtown and Michael, and his wife Kelly, of Rowayton; six grandchildren; his sisters Theresa Baines and Helen Martin; and several nieces, nephews, and godchildren survive Mr Sullivan. He was predeceased by his brother, Frank, of Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Mr Sullivan graduated from Fordham University. He served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955 during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant.

He married Anne Tighe in May 1964 and they settled in Danbury, in 1973. They remained in Danbury for 33 years until they moved to Southbury in 2006.

He spent much of his career in sales at Ford Motor Company and in 1981 started Sullivan Auto Parts Co., which the Sullivans operated until retirement in 2003.

He was a longtime parishioner of St Peter Church in Danbury and was most recently a parishioner at St Rose of Lima Church in Newtown.

Friends may call at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, Sunday, March 9, from 2 to 6 pm. A  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St Rose of Lima Church, Monday, March 10, at noon. Interment will be in St Rose Cemetery, in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Disease Research at BrightFocus Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg MD 20871 or Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, 357 Clermont Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11238.