Eight Bells: Jere Sullivan

Jere Sullivan

Jere Sullivan died peacefully at his home surrounded by all of his loving family on January 27, 2018. Jere lived an amazing life, born on September 4th, 1925 in Lakewood, Ohio. He started sailing boats in Clifton Lagoon at a very young age and sailing continued to define his entire life.

He won many sailing titles at the Cleveland Yacht club, where he also served as Commodore in 1970. He even spent his honeymoon with his bride, Chris, the love of his life, on a Star Boat, 71 years ago, sailing up to Put in Bay in the dead of night. He was named Sailor of the Year at both the Cleveland Yacht Club and the Milwaukee Yacht club.

He played the saxophone and clarinet in clubs around the downtown Cleveland area with a band that filled in for the Glen Miller Band when Mr. Miller was serving in WWII. Jere was a veteran of WWII and was awarded a purple heart with double clusters. He then came home to finish college at the University of Michigan. He later got his MBA at the University of Chicago.

He started the Sullivan Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1971 where he and Chris made their permanent home after moving from Rocky River. In Milwaukee, he continued his sailing adventures by winning the Chicago Mac and the Queens Cup more than once on his 64-foot Bacchant. He was inducted into the Lake Michigan Sailing Hall of Fame in 2016.

He and Chris enjoyed their winter home in Vero Beach, FL for 40 years. He was on a Senior Olympics Volleyball Team and was active in the YMCA in Milwaukee. His infectious laugh and zest for life will continue to be a shining example to all who knew and loved him.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Christine, brothers Frank and Denis. He is survived by his adoring daughter, Jane Marquard and her husband Richard, their children, Dana Bacardi, her husband Anton, children Abby and Jesse, and their son Jesse Marquard, his wife Nancy, their children Emily and Kelsey, and his sister Jane Esther Sullivan Barth.

Source: cleveland.com