Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Fr. George R. Sullivan, SJ, who died on May 31, 2026 at St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He was 82 years old. May he rest in peace.
George is preceded in death by his parents, George T. and Mary (nee Russell) Sullivan. He is survived by his brother, Gerard Sullivan, and many cousins.
George was born in San Francisco, California, on May 24, 1944 and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated from Creighton Preparatory School before entering the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus on September 1, 1962 at the Jesuit Novitiate in St. Bonifacius, Minneapolis. He was ordained on June 13, 1975 in St. John’s Church in Omaha, and pronounced final vows on September 25, 1983 at Creighton Preparatory School.
While in the Society, George earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and letters from Saint Louis University (1968). He studied theology at Marquette University (1970-1971), at Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley (1971-1973), and earned a master’s of Divinity in theology from Regis College in Toronto (1975). George also earned a doctorate of jurisprudence from Creighton University (1978-1981).
During regency, George taught English and political science at Marquette University High School (1968-1971). He taught theology and history and was an assistant to the president (1975-1978) and president (1982-1988) at Creighton Prep.
In 1989, George began working for the Gregorian University Foundation where he was vice president (1989-2006) and acting president (2002-2003). He then returned to Creighton Prep as an assistant to the president for almost a decade (2006-2015). In 2015, he was missioned to St. Camillus Jesuit Community to pray for the Church and the Society.
George was a devoted Jesuit and priest. He loved Omaha, politics, and engaging people. A true son of Ignatius, he strove to use all of his gifts for God’s greater glory and honor. When asked about his time in the Society, he replied:
My journey has been unexpected, yet not surprising. I was inspired to become a lawyer like others in my extended family; however, my use of the degree was in keeping with that of many ‘external’ Jesuits working in administration, fundraising, or pastorally representing an institution. It has been an honor to serve and to be served by so many amazing people who assist the vital institutions that support the Church in educating exceptional leaders.
George drew his strength from the Eucharist and prayer. He was aware of — and grateful for — God’s many gifts to him. He expressed his gratitude with these words:
I am always brought back to 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7, as an encouragement that we all have our own gifts. We need to ask God to help us continue to lead from our strengths. The grace to be a part of so many families’ faith lives from baptism to burial has brought me the most satisfaction. I did not expect this when I started out. It has been grace upon grace.
Fr. Jim Clifton, SJ, had this to say about George:
George was truly an amazing Jesuit; I am convinced that he knew, or knew of, every family in Omaha…and could trace their marriages and lives off the top of his head. Wherever he served, people were completely fond of him. May he now rest in the fullness of life in God’s presence.
Fr. George Winzenburg, SJ, had these memories of George:
George excelled in speech and debate at Creighton Prep and entered the Society in 1962. His father, who was a county coroner in Omaha and state senator in Nebraska, took him to the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles in 1960. The experience sparked his lifelong passion for national politics. He learned the names of every member of Congress. He collected presidential buttons and had his photograph taken with Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton.
He was very proud of both branches of his family, the Russells and the Sullivans. He religiously read the obituaries in the Omaha World Herald and preached at countless funerals. He loved everything about Omaha and was not shy speaking about its history and people, and of course the Union Pacific Railroad. He was a kind and caring person whose smile and laughter would light up a room. He was an outstanding Jesuit and priest. He lived with mild dementia for several years.
Fr. Joseph Brown, SJ, had these accolades for George:
George Sullivan was so much more than a friend. He was also a model of humility, always setting himself up for enthusiastic laughter when he would perform his sincere (the kindest possible description) attempts at singing and dancing. There was never any doubt that he was thoroughly acclimated to the world of politics, raised and nurtured by his parents and his Omaha Catholic community. During our first months in the novitiate, all of us were amazed that he knew the names of every single member of Congress (representatives and senators). Persistence was one of the virtues I most admired about him. Whatever the calling or the mission, George manifested his competence, always striving for – and establishing – a level of success that brought forth gratitude, locally, nationally and internationally. During the last difficult years of his diminishing mental capacities, what filled my heart and my eyes was the fact that he might no longer remember where he was, what he was supposed to be working at, or even what day it was – he always knew who we were. Yes, cor ad cor loquitur; but spirit also spoke to spirit, between George and those he loved.
Fr. Jim Bretzke, SJ, has this to say about George:
I’ve known George since I was a junior student council rep at MUHS which he moderated as a very popular first year regent. Later we both began teaching U.S. history at Creighton Prep in 1975: he newly ordained and me as a first-year regent. He served as a wonderful conversation partner, mentor and spiritual director. After law school he served as president of Prep, and I next met him when he came to Rome on sabbatical while I was finishing my doctorate at the Gregorian. George got top marks in my book for being very self-reliant, and just asking for the minimum or linguistic help and/or how to manage the somewhat opaque Italian way of proceeding. That Roman holiday ultimately led to his working for a number of years as a fundraiser for the Gregorian University foundation before returning to similar work at Prep.
When declining health took him to Camillus, George nevertheless maintained his humor, commitment to both Jesuit and lay friendships, as well as his interest in politics. Since I too have spent time in both Milwaukee and Omaha, I know first-hand how deeply cherished he is in both cities and many, many will miss his smile and easy banter.
Fr. Bill Johnson, SJ, had this remembrance of George:
George walked with me and my classmates of the MUHS class of ’71 through our last three years of high school. His knowing smile warmed us all and helped us come together in mutual support and brotherly love. I take heart that on May 7, 2026, seven of us had lunch with George at St. Camillus, exactly three weeks before he went to God. May George glory with God until we’re all reunited, finally and forever!
