Longtime resident Mary W. Sullivan, a beloved family member, extraordinary teacher and cherished friend, passed away October 20 at the age of 89. Born Mary Harriet Ward in Brookline, Massachusetts on August 16, 1929, she earned a B.S. in education at Framingham State College, a master’s degree in education at Harvard and a master’s degree in special education at Chapman College.’ In 1947, Mary married Arthur F. Sullivan, and proceeded to live in Solvang, Cheyenne (Wyoming) and Santa Monica before moving to Pacific Palisades in 1961. She had three daughters, Nancy, Debbie and Cary, before the marriage ended in 1972.’ Mary taught elementary school for more than 35 years in Massachusetts and California, including several years at Corpus Christi School and 20 years at LAUSD’s Birdielee Bright Elementary.’ She was a longtime member of Corpus Christi Parish and active in the community, including the PTA and the Girl Scouts (as a troop leader). She was also a member of the Junior Women’s Club, Las Doradas and the Delphian Society. ’Mary W’ was often described as one of the coolest ladies on the planet.’ She is survived by her daughters Nancy Sullivan of Beverly Hills and Cary Sullivan, husband Rocky Dawuni and their daughter Safiyah Dawuni of Pacific Palisades, and granddaughter Riley O’Donnell of Nipomo, California. Her beloved daughter Debbie Sullivan, last of Long Beach, passed away in 2004.’ A memorial mass will be held at Corpus Christi Church in Pacific Palisades on Saturday, October 30, at 11 a.m. In her honor, pledge time to read with a child at www.target.com/reading or to the LA Youth Network at www.layn.org.
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