Thomas M. Sullivan died on April 29, 2020 of Wantagh, NY, after a long illness.  He was a retired NYPD Detective and a retired US Coast Guard Reservist.  Thomas was a patriotic American who served his nation and city with honor and pride.

Tom was born on May 2, 1938 in the Bronx, NY, the youngest son of John and Nora Healy Sullivan.  He leaves behind his loving wife, Audrey (nee Wetjen) and sons Thomas, Raymond (Eileen), and Joseph.  He adored and cherished his grandsons James Henry and Michael Patrick.  Tom is survived by his brothers Joseph (Patricia), John (Peggy), and Edward (Josephine) and his sister, Maureen.  He was very proud of his Irish heritage and his many loving nieces and nephews.

Tom loved NYC and had an encyclopedic memory of NYC streets.  He especially loved the Bronx, Jones Beach, NY sports teams, and horse racing.  Tom will be reunited with his three beloved dogs – Navillus, Nike, and Phoebe.

Tom’s stories from his police years during the 60s, 70s, and 80s are legendary and better than most movie scripts.  When he was on a police case, it was inevitable that the perpetrator was brought to justice.  When Tom was at home, he applied his versatile skills and techniques to his backyard’s maintenance.  Tom had eyes like a hawk – no wayward tree branch or shrub could escape his watchful eye.  We knew him as the “Tommy Scissorhands” of Wantagh; the tools of his craft were his ladder, axe, saw, and sledgehammer.  Tom had the balance of a trapeze artist when he was on a ladder.  Despite Tom’s penchant for yard work and wearing his well-worn work clothes, he thought he was as dapper as James Bond.  He drove his Honda Element around town as if it was Bond’s Aston Martin.  Tom was in vintage form when he was on an adventure – either as a policeman running a sting operation, or doing a stakeout on his garage to see how the squirrels got inside again, or driving around town like he was in pursuit of a fugitive.  Tom was a loving husband and father; he had tremendous energy and will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Because of the current pandemic, there will be no wake or funeral service.  Burial will be private at St. Charles Cemetary, Farmingdale, NY.  A Memorial Mass for Tom will be held at a later date.

The family would like to thank the staff at White Oaks Nursing Home for the care given to Tom during his illness.  Donations in Tom’s memory may be made to White Oaks Nursing Home, 8565 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury, NY  11797.