Paul Gaither Sullivan, 82, died peacefully in his sleep on February 4, 2009 in Vero Beach, Florida. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 5, 1926 to Paul Truesdale Sullivan and Bonnett Gaither Sullivan and grew up in Scarsdale, New York. Paul graduated with honors from Scarsdale High School where he captained the tennis team and played varsity football. He then spent two years in the US Navy and served as a radioman in Annapolis. After the war, he attended Princeton University and graduated Cum Laude in Economics with the class of 1948. He was a member of the Cap & Gown Club and played on the tennis team and the 150 pound football team. Later in life, he would maintain his Princeton connection with his lengthy work with alumni relations. After graduation, he joined the firm of Hayden Stone in White Plains, New York, which eventually evolved into Citi Smith Barney, and served as Senior Vice President in the Wealth Management division until his retirement after 50 years at the age of 75. During this period, he also served on the Board of Directors of the Home Savings Bank of White Plains, New York.
Paul was an avid and talented competitive racquets player. His affection for tennis led him to become an active member of the United States Tennis Association and, for many years, a USTA Umpire at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. He organized the Comptons Tennis Tournament for well over a decade, which promoted several young tennis players from around the East Coast. Additionally, he co-promoted several professional senior tour tennis tournaments in Westchester County, New York. He equally enjoyed Paddle Tennis and was inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. He also served as President of the Fox Meadow Tennis Club in Scarsdale, New York, where the sport of Platform Tennis was founded.
Paul continued to enjoy football long after college and at age 70, he returned to Princeton University to participate in the 150 pound Alumni Football Game, where he was heralded as the oldest alumnus in the history of the university to play.
An enthusiastic traveler, he also enjoyed trips to locations as far flung as the jungles of the Papua New Guinea, where his daughter is a resident anthropologist, to the savannahs of Africa, well into his late 70s.
Paul was a member or past member of the Basin Harbor Club, Fox Meadow Tennis Club, Shenorock Shore Club, Manursing Island Club, Scarsdale Golf Club, Grandfather Golf & Country Club, Johns Island Club and Quail Valley River Club.
In 1986, he came to the community of Johns Island in Vero Beach, Florida and made it his permanent home in 1994. He is survived by his second wife of 32 years, Joan Brooks Sullivan, his son Jeffrey Sullivan, and his two daughters, Nancy Sullivan and Jean Sullivan. He is also survived by his step-son Harold Johnson and his two step-daughters, Brooks Johnson and Jennifer Johnson Miller, daughters-in laws Elise Wang and Wendy Johnson, son-in-law Wilson Miller as well as many adoring grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by parents, his brother John Sullivan and his sister Joan Wainwright.
Services: A memorial service will be held at the Community Church at 1901 23rd Street on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 2:00 pm in Vero Beach. A reception will be held immediately following the ceremony at Johns Island Golf Club, 3 Johns Island Drive in Vero Beach.
Memorial contributions may be made to the VNA Hospice / Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.