MARK WILLIAM SULLIVAN was born on October 16, 1948. Loving father of Kara, Kate, Mark (Marisa), Lindsey Miller (Marc), and Anne Kittle (Charlie), and cherished grandfather of Callie, Brandon, Jamie, Chloe, Camryn, Jackson, Liam, and Eliana. Former husband of Linda (nee Michals), the mother of his five children, who remained a very important part of his life and also survived by his longtime devoted and loving companion Kathy Schnetzler. Beloved son of the late Charles and Kathleen Sullivan (née Kaps). Sweet brother of Charles Jr (deceased), Catherine, Thomas (Patricia), and Mary Pat (Roy, deceased). Proud uncle of Theresa, Charles III, Tommy, and Jennifer, and great uncle of many nieces and nephews. Passed away January 8, 2026. Funeral Mass Thursday, January 15, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church (2640 Stoney Ridge Rd., Avon) at 10 A.M. Friends may call at CHAMBERS FUNERAL HOME of NORTH OLMSTED, 29150 LORAIN RD. AT STEARNS RD., WEDNESDAY 4-7 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Cleveland Animal Protective League (1729 Willey Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113). Or to Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (c/o Dr. Martha Sajatovic, Case Western Reserve University – 7th floor, 10524 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106). If so inclined, please specify a donation designation toward research into Lewy Body dementia.

Mark was a talented athlete, beginning early in his life with baseball, football, and hockey. Then excelling at wrestling and football at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, OH, and football at Hofstra University on Long Island, NY. He was selected to be on the “Plain Dealer Dream Team", made up of annual selections of the top high school football athletes in the Cleveland area. He achieved 2nd place in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) State Wrestling Tournament. And he won a four year football scholarship to Hofstra University, where famous New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath would stop by to give pointers to the team. To keep in shape, Mark played softball his entire adult life. And even until near the end, you would still find him at the Westlake recreation center getting in his workouts.

Always an entrepreneur, Mark had many diverse careers. He was a seller, a marketer, a home builder, a handyman, a car enthusiast, and a chef. But he book-ended his visionary endeavors with the start-up of a personal computer retail store in 1981 before most people even knew they needed a PC and then more recently retired from his successful website design company in 2020.

Mark loved nothing better than spending time with his family. Known as Papa Sull by all of his kids’ closest friends, Mark loved attending his kids’ various activities throughout the years, cracking jokes, telling stories, and clicking his fingers. Mark’s favorite ritual was enjoying home cooked food with his loved ones, first with his children and grandchildren but always including his brother, sisters, nieces, and nephews. There was never a phone call he didn’t pick up, or an answer he didn’t have to help his children or grandchildren. He especially loved his family trips to Marco Island and Naples, FL, and to the family cottages in Vermilion, OH. He would always say, “This is livin’…”

In his later years, Mark bravely faced numerous health challenges and was even described by cardiac surgeons at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus as a miracle patient. Despite everything, he never lost his sense of humor. Mark had a remarkable ability to make his medical teams and his family laugh, quickly becoming a legendary patient throughout the Cleveland Clinic healthcare system. His wit and spirit endured even as Lewy Body dementia progressed.

There will be no receiving line at the wake. Mark’s family wishes to have their visitors openly socialize and celebrate Mark’s wonderful life.