Roll Call Tribute

John Henry "Jack" Sullivan, COL USA (Ret) 

August 9, 1934 - January 27, 2026 

John Henry “Jack” Sullivan died on 27 January 2026 at his home in Springfield, Virginia. He was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, the younger son of William J. & Edna Mae (Stevenson) Sullivan.

Jack married his high-school sweetheart, Jean Ann Murphy of Taunton and Raynham, Massachusetts, in October 1955. Jean died in 2023, with Jack as her primary caregiver during her last year.

Jack attended Taunton’s public schools, graduating from Taunton High School in the Class of 1952. Following high school, he went to Northeastern University, earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1957. He got a master’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University in 1962. He pursued further studies at the University of Texas, where he was also an Army ROTC instructor. His studies there were cut short by a call to duty in Vietnam.

Jack served in the United States Army for just over 30 years, rising from Reserve Private to Regular Army Colonel. His military career took him and his family to many places: Virginia, Texas, Germany, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Belgium, Missouri, New York, and Pennsylvania. In between family moves, Jack spent time in Alaska (working recovery operations in Seward after the 1964 earthquake), Korea, and Vietnam, where he served with the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion.

Shortly after his military retirement Jack began work as an executive for the American Water Works Association, an educational and scientific organization dealing with water and environmental issues. His time there involved collaboration with Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency to help develop and pass the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. His work with AWWA involved extensive travel within the United States for both he and his wife.

After his second retirement in 2001, Jack spent time volunteering for organizations in the Washington, DC metro area including Traveler’s Aide at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Mount Vernon Hospital, among others.

Jack is survived by his four children: Elizabeth (Denis) Clements of Lewes, DE; Timothy (Kathy) Sullivan of The Colony, TX; Scott (Donna) Sullivan of Fredericksburg, VA; and Maureen Sullivan of Springfield, VA. Other survivors include his sister-in-law, Kathleen Murphy Carpenter; four grandchildren, Michael Clements, Alexis Clements, Connor Sullivan, and Delaney Powell; as well as two great-granddaughters.

In addition to his parents and beloved wife, Jack was predeceased by his brother Lt Col William J. Sullivan, Jr.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jack’s name to the National Museum of the United States Army, a Veterans organization of your choice, or the National Kidney Foundation.