Edward Conway Sullivan Jr., Bethlehem Steel executive and amateur sports coach, dies

Edward Conway Sullivan Jr., a Bethlehem Steel executive, Roman Catholic deacon and amateur sports coach, died of sepsis July 27 at his Timonium home. He was 86.

Born in Boston and raised in Watertown, Massachusetts, he was the son of Edward Conway Sullivan Sr., a brakeman on the old Boston and Maine Railroad, and Margaret Coen, a homemaker and bank teller.

A 1954 graduate of Boston College High School, he worked at Brigham’s, once a well-known Boston ice cream shop.

At his father’s urging, he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned an engineering degree and was voted most valuable player on the hockey team.

“My father wasn’t sure which track he wanted to take but noticed that the metallurgy professors seemed to be the ones having the most fun, so he threw his hat in with them,” said a son, Steve Sullivan.

He was recruited by U.S. Steel, but instead chose Bethlehem and was assigned to its old Sparrows Point plant in eastern Baltimore County.

He met his future wife, Kathleen “Kathy” Melham, at a wedding where she was the maid of honor and he was the best man.

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They initially settled in Dundalk and he worked in the steelmaking division before moving on to the plate mill. The plate mill rolled steel plates, which were cut up and used to cover holes in roads.

Mr. Sullivan transferred back to steelmaking and moved up to a quality control post known as chief observer. He was later named assistant superintendent of steelmaking.

“My father’s career would have been longer, but he pushed back when an executive there was talking about getting rid of people to take care of the stockholders,” his son Steve said. “He soon became a persona non grata in corporate management. Dad insisted Beth Steel should focus on taking care of customers first, and employees second and the stockholders could take of themselves.”

He then became a sales representative in the steel products industry and worked with many of his old customers.

“Although he lost his Boston accent, he remained a faithful die-hard fan of the Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins for the remainder of his life,” his son said. “He will be remembered for his smile, his corny Irish jokes, and his easygoing, nonjudgmental way of treating those around him.”

Mr. Sullivan began coaching baseball and basketball when his sons started playing. He later got roped into coaching soccer. “He really didn’t know anything about soccer but made a comment during a practice that the league commissioner overheard,” said his son Steve. “He was opining on how the kids should be moving from a hockey perspective. The commissioner knew he had his man.”

Dr. Jack McKay Zimmerman was the chief of surgery at Church and Home Hospital who brought hospice care to Baltimore. (handout)

He also went on to coach girls softball.

“While competitive, he was always fair, gave everyone a chance to play, and was always a good sport,” said his son. “He set a good example, not only in his sportsmanship and as a teacher of the game, but in his passion and love for team sports.”

Active in Saint Joseph’s parish in Cockeysville, Mr. Sullivan was ordained a Roman Catholic deacon June 15, 1996, after studying at St. Mary’s Seminary and University. He also taught Sunday school.

Monsignor Paul G. Cook, his former pastor, said: “Ed was a great family man who was thoroughly Irish and proud of his Massachusetts background. He had a deep faith and the ability to notice when people needed help. And then, he would be there for them.”

Following his retirement as a deacon from St. Joseph’s Church, Mr. Sullivan continued to deliver communion to homebound parishioners and conduct services at the Baltimore County Detention Center in Towson. He also corresponded with incarcerated people he met over the years.

He remained a sports fan and was a weekend scorekeeper for the Lutherville Timonium Recreation Council’s baseball league.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church at 200 Ware Ave. in Towson.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Kathleen Melham Sullivan, a homemaker; two sons, Michael Sullivan of Philadelphia and Steve Sullivan of Catonsville; two daughters, Lauren Malcotti of Eldersburg and Megan Brune of Towson; a sister, Eleanor Donato of Watertown; a brother, Tom Sullivan, also of Watertown; and 10 grandchildren.