Tommy Sullivan retires

By Claudia Wysocki
MONROE — Tommy Sullivan, the president of Smith, Seaman and Quackenbush Funeral Home, has turned over the key to one of his associates after 43 years in business.

Sullivan sold his business on July 15 to Colin Campbell.

The good news, he said, is "our family is not going anywhere. We are staying in our Monroe home."

Sullivan bought the funeral home business in 1983 upon Timothy Quackenbush's death.

"I followed the same standard of the Quackenbush family, which was to remain locally and family-owned," he said.

Sullivan continued the company's values, he said, to give the opportunity to his employees with those same standards and work ethics.

A resume of community involvement

Sullivan's resume of community organizations and activities involvement is pages long. It includes being the former chaplain, past president, chief and life member of the Mombasha Fire Company.

But there's more.
Andy Barone, of Monroe, said Sullivan and his funeral employees moved the Crane Park Veteran Memorial to the Veterans Park on Route 17M to consolidate all the veteran memorials in one place.

Bruce Abrignani described Sullivan as a compassionate man who is community minded and always has a smile on his face.

"He is the pillar of the community," he said.

Added Sam Amendola, of Amendola's restaurant:"Nobody else can come close to what Tommy Sullivan has done for the community and different organizations."

In the familySmith, Seaman and Quackenbush's new director Colin Campbell has been with the funeral home for 19 years. Sullivan said he shares the same vision as those before him.

Campbell's son will also follow his father's steps and pursue a career in funeral service.

Sullivan's wife, Janet, has been the business manager for the funeral home.

She might be behind the scene at times, but, has always been Tommy's second hand.

The Sullivans are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this month and will become grandparents in December.

Sullivan said he will enjoy a little time off and freedom to get even more active in the Monroe community, of which, he said, he loves.

To emphasize that point, consider this comment from Rich Fitzsimmons:

"Tommy has spent most of his life in being a friend, a mentor and a philosopher to this community," Simmons said. "He touched the lives of many people."