Daniel William Sullivan died at 27 years young on Jan. 27, 2021 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A lifelong swimmer, he suffered a sudden cardiopulmonary attack while working out at a local pool. His final act was doing exactly what he loved, and he passed holding the hand of the love of his life, Callahan Noelle Davenport.
Danny is survived by Caleigh, his parents, James Bernard Sullivan and Lauri Speight Sullivan, of Fennville; sisters Virginia Claire Trost and Kerry Sullivan Smith; brothers-in-law Adam Daniel Trost and Dennis Christopher Smith; nephew Theodore Sullivan Trost and niece Savannah Kit Trost; his godparents Patricia Sullivan McGillicuddy (William) and Norman William Speight (Emma); and dozens of loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
Danny is greeted in death by grandparents William Herbert Speight, Martha Helwig Speight, Martin Fannon Sullivan, Elizabeth Lynch Sullivan; uncle John Martin Sullivan; and his beloved childhood dog, an enthusiastically jumping Wheaten Terrier named Indy.
Danny was born on Aug. 23, 1994 in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in Columbus. He graduated from Upper Arlington High School (2013) and Hope College (2017, BS Computer Engineering).
After graduation from Hope, he became an engineer for Altron Automation in Grandville. He was working towards a Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering Degree at Purdue University when he died.
Danny spent his life in the water and was a strong competitor and resolute teammate at Upper Arlington High School Men’s Swimming and Water Polo and Hope College Men’s Swimming.
After high school, leaning on his keen ear for music, he taught himself to play guitar, added voice lessons to his college curriculum and joined the Hope College Chapel Choir, where he found friendship, community and love. At Hope, he earned the Robert Rietberg Chapel Choir Award and continued his love of music after graduation by singing with the Grand Rapids Symphony.
Danny dove headfirst into his passions, immersing himself into the worlds of Harry Potter, Hamilton, Dungeons and Dragons, How I Met Your Mother, Pixar, Marvel and Mario. He curiously discovered and tinkered with new technology and video games, loved cheering on his favorite teams including The Fighting Irish, Chicago Cubs and (eventually) Purdue Boilermakers; and appreciated learning about and cooking all types of cuisines.
Above all, Danny was uniquely kind, uncommonly thoughtful and earnest in word and deed. The Triforce, present in another of Danny’s passions, the Legend of Zelda, is said to represent power, wisdom and courage, all of which he possessed.
He was fiercely loyal to his people and always stood up for the less fortunate, underrepresented and marginalized. He adored his family, prized his friends, was so proud to be Jim and Lauri’s son, cared deeply about being an uncle, and all the while rooted for so many that he didn’t even know.
He never missed an opportunity to extend a helping hand or a heartfelt message. His jovial, loving nature was appreciated and will be so missed by all.
More than anything, Danny was happiest in his three years with Caleigh. The Sullivan and Davenport families grieve his loss together.
A funeral eucharist and memorial service will be held on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. at the Dimnent Memorial Chapel, 277 College Ave., on the Hope College campus in Holland.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Daniel William Sullivan Scholarship Fund or the Patnott Swim Training Fund at Hope College-141 East 12th Street, Holland MI 49423 or hope.edu/give.
“Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.” – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows