Thomas Michael Sullivan

Thomas Michael Sullivan, the inventor of the first homemade zamboni, died January 23, 2025 at the age of 84 in Mason, OH. Yes, he did invent it. Yes, it was an old, rusty horse trough. And yes, he filled it with burning logs and pulled it around a pond hoping it would flatten the ice and would not burn his hands. No, it did not work. 

He also invented the first bumble bee tree cutting safety gear. Which is what happens when you use a Halloween costume to keep the sawdust away as you saw trees in your front yard, not realizing neighbors might think it odd.

Tom was born January 11, 1941, the last of nine children. A fact that when you complained about anything, he would remind you he slept in a crib until he was eleven. In his formative years, he worked as an ice cream scooper, a shipyard worker, and even a harness race trainer a job that prepared him for everything life throws at you. 

After meeting Elaine and realizing it would be expensive to keep a girlfriend, he enrolled and graduated with a business degree from Boston College. GO YOU EAGLES!! While the teaching career he envisioned in his future turned out not to be his cup of tea, he spent a lifetime teaching and mentoring, always seeking to further the careers of those that worked with him and for him. Sales was where he found his work passion and embarked on a long career, which took him to more than half a dozen states. Several children arrived for Tom and Elaine during this time. The first was Jen in Boston, MA. The second was Michael in Newton, MA. Gregory was born in Kansas City, KS. A surprise came a little later in the form of Mary in Cincinnati, OH. Whoops! They were married before all this. Forgot to mention that. Take a breath. No juicy family gossip here. (Gotta wait for Elaine’s obit for that.)

There were few electronic devices around the house that Tom did not feel comfortable taking apart, whether he knew what he was doing or not. This often led to cursing and a new product, whatever it was. He loved woodworking and fishing. They came together in a beautiful moment once when his daughter Mary secretly placed a Billy the Bass in the freezer and he tried to filet it one evening. Scared the heck out of him when it sang.

If Tom had not been in sales or electronics repair or woodworking, there is no doubt he would have been a storyteller. One of his great pleasures as a father and grandfather was reading to his children and grandchildren, though more often than not he went completely off-script shortly after starting. If he were reading The Hobbit, Bilbo would very quickly have been on a motorcycle, drinking 7-UP, while singing a BeeGees song. Ring? What ring? It was a Hostess cake actually. Yum!

Tom’s jokes were legendary. To himself mostly. But still legendary. Toward the end, Elaine joined in the act as the jokes grew hard to remember. He loved an audience, though.

A man of unquestioning faith, he finally has his answer.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years Elaine Sullivan of Mason, OH; daughter Jennifer Hembree and husband Scott of Blanchester, OH; son, Michael Sullivan and wife Kerrigan of Richmond, VA; son, Gregory Sullivan of Hyannis, MA; and son-in-law Phil Balogh of Trumbull, CT. He had eight grandchildren whom he adored- Aidan, Tommy, Kate, Kerrick, McKinnon, Carmine, Kayce and Donnie. He was predeceased by his daughter Mary Balogh Sullivan and is no doubt enjoying her company again.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 21st from 10:00AM-11:00AM with a Mass to follow at 11:00AM all at St John the Evangelist Church, 9080 Cincinnati Dayton Rd, West Chester Township, OH 45069.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Homeless Not Helpless, 119 Baxter Rd., Hyannis, MA 02601, or a charity of your choice.