Daniel Sullivan ’17

Daniel William Sullivan died at 27 years young on January 27, 2022 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A lifelong swimmer, he suffered a sudden cardiopulmonary attack while working out at a local pool. His final act was doing exactly what he loved, and he passed holding the hand of the love his life, Callahan Noelle Davenport ’17. Danny is survived by Caleigh; his parents, James Bernard Sullivan and Lauri Speight Sullivan of Fennville, MI; sisters, Virginia Claire Trost and Kerry Sullivan Smith; brothers-in-law, Adam Daniel Trost and Dennis Christopher Smith; nephew, Theodore Sullivan Trost; and niece, Savannah Kit Trost; his godparents, Patricia Sullivan McGillicuddy (William) and Norman William Speight (Emma); and dozens of loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. Danny is greeted in death by grandparents William Herbert Speight, Martha Helwig Speight, Martin Fannon Sullivan, Elizabeth Lynch Sullivan, uncle John Martin Sullivan, and his beloved childhood dog, an enthusiastically jumping Wheaten Terrier named Indy. Danny was born on August 23, 1994 in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in Columbus. He graduated from Upper Arlington High School (2013) and Hope College (2017, BS Computer Engineering). After graduation from Hope, he became an engineer for Altron Automation in Grandview, MI. He was working towards a Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering Degree at Purdue University when he died. Danny spent his life in the water and was a strong competitor and resolute teammate at Upper Arlington High School Men’s Swimming and Water Polo and Hope College Men’s Swimming. After high school, leaning on his keen ear for music, he taught himself to play guitar, added voice lessons to his college curriculum, and joined the Hope College Chapel Choir, where he found friendship, community, and love. At Hope, he earned the Robert Rietberg Chapel Choir Award and continued his love of music after graduation by singing with the Grand Rapids Symphony. Danny dove headfirst into his passions, immersing himself into the worlds of Harry Potter, Hamilton, Dungeons and Dragons, How I Met Your Mother, Pixar, Marvel, and Mario. He curiously discovered and tinkered with new technology and video games, loved cheering on his favorite teams including The Fighting Irish, the Chicago Cubs, and (eventually) the Purdue Boilermakers; and appreciated learning about and cooking all types of cuisines. Above all, Danny was uniquely kind, uncommonly thoughtful, and earnest in word and deed. The Triforce, present in another of Danny’s passions, the Legend of Zelda, is said to represent power, wisdom, and courage, all of which he possessed. He was fiercely loyal to his people and always stood up for the less fortunate, underrepresented, and marginalized. He adored his family, prized his friends, was so proud to be Jim and Lauri’s son, cared deeply about being an uncle, and all the while rooted for so many that he didn’t even know. He never missed an opportunity to extend a helping hand or a heartfelt message. His jovial, loving nature was appreciated and will be so missed by all. More than anything, Danny was happiest in his three years with Caleigh. The Sullivan and Davenport families grieve his loss together. A funeral eucharist and memorial service will be held on February 11, 2022, at 1PM at the Dimnent Memorial Chapel on the campus of Hope College in Holland, MI. Memorial gifts may be made to the Daniel William Sullivan Scholarship Fund or the Patnott Swim Training Fund at Hope College, 141 East 12th Street, Holland, MI 49423 or hope.edu/give. Arrangements by Schoedinger Dublin and memories may be shared and condolences sent at www.schoedinger.com. A beautiful video tribute of Danny can be viewed at https://youtu.be/Lk9is2LKKjs. “Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.” — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

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