William Joseph Sullivan, Jr., 83, of Milton, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on June 7, 2021 following a brief illness.

Bill Sullivan is survived by Barbara Sullivan and their six children, including William and Susan Sullivan of Milton, Mark and Tricia Sullivan of Milton, Peter and Jennifer Sullivan of Newburyport, Stephen and Lauren Sullivan of Milton, Amy and Tom Ellis of Milton, and Kathryn and Michael Sutphin, of Milton. He will be missed by his twenty-one grandchildren, including Jacqueline, Seanna, Elizabeth, and Christina Sullivan, Hailee, Grace, and Christopher Sullivan, Olivia, Finnegan, Maeve, and Mairead Sullivan, Colin, John, and Daniel Sullivan, Brendan, Caitlin, and Bridget Ellis, Molly, Emma, Ryan, and Sara Sutphin. Although predeceased by his brother Jeffrey Sullivan, he is also lovingly remembered by his sister-in-law Martha Sullivan and his siblings Robert and Jane Sullivan of Milton, Midge and Robert Durgin of Hingham, Margo and Kevin Delaney of Cambridge, and Sally and Frank Conahan of Milton. He is also survived and loved by many nieces and nephews.

Bill was the first born to Dr. and Mrs. William J. Sullivan, and he lived in Milton most of his life. He graduated from Boston College in 1960 and served in the US Air Force and the Massachusetts Air National Guard from 1960-1967. In 1974 he founded William J. Sullivan Insurance Agency on Central Avenue in Milton, where his four sons continue to work. Active in a variety of civic organizations, Bill was on the Town of Milton Warrant Committee, Insurance Committee, Rink Study Committee, and he devoted many years of service as President of the Board of Directors of Milton Residence for the Elderly (MRE). As a member of the Boston College Alumni Association, Bill was on the Alumni Board of Directors as Secretary, Treasurer, and Nominating Committee Member and received the Phillip J. Callen, Sr. Award for distinguished service to Boston College.

Bill loved the game of golf and was proud of his many accomplishments on the golf course. Over the years, he was a member of the Milton Hoosic Club, Wollaston Golf Club, Pocasset Golf Club and Palm Aire Country Club. He loved the fact that he, his father, and one of his sons all experienced a hole in one on the 5th hole at the Milton Hoosic Club. He also cherished the many friendships he gained from the game of golf.

A longtime friend of Bill W. and others who are committed to sobriety, Bill was devoted to the cause and generously gave his time to help others. He showed an unwavering dedication to recovery fellowship for most of his life.

The family expresses their gratitude for the care Bill received at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and at the Newbridge Long Term Care Facility, especially during the challenging days of the pandemic.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Agatha Church, Adams Street at Brook Road, Milton, Saturday, June 12 at 10:00 am. To view the live stream of the Mass, https://vimeo.com/561052465 Relatives and friends invited. Burial will follow at Milton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory may be sent to Milton Residence for the Elderly (MRE), 600 Canton Avenue, Milton, MA 02186 or The Every Child Fund at Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215 or bostonchildrens.org/givenow