Jack Sullivan

Jack Sullivan

John Newman “Jack” Sullivan, age 99, passed away Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was born August 3, 1926, in Sioux City, Iowa to Thomas Henry and Mary Mildred Clark Sullivan. On April 3, 1976, he married Caroline Jean Ross in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jack grew up in Crookston Minnesota where he loved to swim in the Red River of the North and skate there in the winter with his brothers. At age ten his family moved to Venice California. He spent his summers at the beach playing volleyball, body surfing, and diving for coins that people would throw off the Venice Pier. Jack played tennis at and graduated from Venice High School in 1944 as a member of the Delphians academic honor society.

He is part of the “Greatest Generation” and enlisted in the US Navy to become a pilot before graduating from High School. His first training aircraft was the Stearman Biplane. Jack is very proud of his Navy service and hardly ever took off his WW II Veteran cap.

A lifelong love for golf started in 1954 at age 28 when Jack and his brothers started playing golf. He was a member of the LAFD Golf Club, Crystal Aire CA Golf Club, Craig Ranch NV Golf Club, and Paiute NV Golf Club. Jack’s first hole tee off tradition was to thank the lord for another beautiful day. To which the rest of his foursome would say, amen. He loved to travel, especially for golf, and played until he was 92.

In 1955 Jack joined the LA City Fire Department (LAFD) and retired from station 42 in 1980. He worked as a firefighter for more than 25 years and loved serving the people, seeing something new every day, and being outside. During this time, Jack:

• Achieved the rank of Captain and was assigned to be the PR Liaison to the news media in 1965.
• Represented LAFD statewide in handball and golf tournaments.
• Served twice as the Captain of the LAX airport stations.
• Was awarded the Certificate of Tribute and Medal of Valor.

Jack, Cary, and Mark moved to Valencia in August of 1976, where Mark attended Hart High School and played football. Jack was a devoted father, mentor, all around supporter, and traveling member of the Hart High Quarterback club.

In December of 1991 Jack and Cary moved to Las Vegas. A few months after starting to play at Craig Rach Golf Course the manager offered him a part-time job as a starter. Jack’s response was, “I worked as a firefighter for 25 years. I’m retired. I just want to play golf.” The manager mentioned that the job included all the free golf he could play. He said, “I’ll try it for a few months” and worked there for 17 years.

Jack is proud of his Irish heritage and his grandparents Timothy and Catherine who immigrated from County Cork Ireland. He loves the color green, watching The Quiet Man, and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day every March.

He enjoyed life, honored his wife, and will be remembered as a loving husband, caring father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and brother-in-law. Survivors include his sweetheart, Caroline of Las Vegas; son, Mark (Pamela) Sullivan of Lehi, UT; six grandchildren; four great and six great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sons, John Scott and Steven Wayne, grandson John Ross, and two brothers, Thomas and William.

Funeral services will be held May 7, 2026, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Seastrand Park Chapel, 5975 N. Clayton Street, North Las Vegas, NV. Visitation will be from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. prior to services in the chapel at 11:00AM PDT. Interment will be May 9, 2026, at 12:00PM MDT in the Vine Bluff Cemetery, 1200 N. 400 E., Nephi, Utah. Friends and family are invited to sign our online guest book at www.moapavalleymortuary.com.