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James M. Sullivan, 79, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2026 at home with his family in Herndon, VA following a battle with cancer.
Born in Philadelphia, PA in 1947 to Joseph Sullivan and Ruth Hollenbeck, Jim was raised in Columbus, OH. He was a graduate of Kent State University and Central Michigan University. He later completed the Senior Officials in National Security program at Harvard University. Jim was an Army veteran serving in Okinawa as a Provost Marshall Investigator. Jim was a career CIA employee serving in a variety of operational and management assignments in the Agency and National Reconnaissance Office. After a thirty-two year career, he was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal. He also served as the Secretary of the SIGNA Scholarship Foundation.
Jim enjoyed gardening, roto baseball in which he participated in three leagues, and golf where he led an annual group to Myrtle Beach and he participated in numerous tournaments. Jim was also an avid Washington Nationals fan, previously held a single engine pilot's license, and was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church.
Jim was a devoted husband, father, and grandad. He is survived by his wife of 51 years Barbara Keith Sullivan, sister Carol Stapler of Concord, NH, two sons Michael (April) of Sterling, VA and Alex (Stephanie) of Newton Grove, NC and six grandchildren: Sarah, Noah, Hannah, Hunter, Norah Cate, and Asa. He was extremely proud of his family.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on May 16th at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon, VA. The family will receive visitors one hour before the service in the chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the CCF Foundation (Cholangiocarcinoma), 5526 West 13400 South, #510, Herriman, Utah 84096.