Daniel James Sullivan

Daniel James Sullivan, devoted husband and father, brother, son, uncle and friend, left this world peacefully on March 6, 2023, with his beloved wife and daughter at his side. Danny was born July 31, 1956, in Dodge City, Kansas, to Phelan and Arleen Sullivan, the fourth of five boys in a close-knit, loving family. In 1972, the family moved to Albuquerque, where Danny attended Sandia High School, graduating Class of 1974.

Danny married his best friend and his soulmate, Carole Sandlin on October 18, 1980, and for 42 years they lived out a love story to rival all the fairy tales. Their entire relationship was touched by the magic of true love, from their meeting in church at a wedding in 1979, through decades of facing life side by side and always with a sense of humor, until finally, her tender and constant care as his health faltered. Long before Aladdin and his magic carpet showed Jasmine the world from great heights, Danny would take Carole to the console room at the Tram, and with the city lights laid out below them, the only two people in the world, tell her he loved her for the very first time.

When their daughter Sara was born January 25, 1986, Danny enthusiastically added father to his resume, sharing all the things he loved and knew and was good at with her. As Sara says, “he taught me to drive a truck, he taught me to four-wheel-drive. He taught me everything about camping and being outdoors. He and my mom showed me how to love animals the way that I do. He taught me how to cook (because God knows my mom was not the one to teach me that). He taught me how to be kind and is probably one of the reasons I am such a hopeless romantic.”

Danny was employed by Sandia Heights Services for 44 years, beginning as a crew member of the sanitation and recycling crews, and retiring in September of 2020, having spent the last 10 years as the manager of the Sanitation and Recycling Department. He worked in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains, maintaining the outdoor spaces of the residences, and the grounds and work areas for the Sandia Peak Tramway. His steady nature, his problem solving skills, and his dependability were greatly appreciated by all who worked with him.

It was difficult to find an outdoor activity that Danny didn’t enjoy. There were lake days spent waterskiing, time spent camping and fishing in the Jemez, days skiing in the mountains. He loved all of it: he loved it more when his family was with him. He remained close to his brothers, all of them gathering once a month, for quite literally their whole lives. He became a beloved and very patient part of Carole’s large, close family.

Danny is survived by his wife of 42 years, Carole Sandlin Sullivan, daughter Sara Sullivan of St. Louis, Missouri, his beloved four-legged family member Moto, his brothers Paul, and Tom (Emily Kosty), of Albuquerque, brother Gary (Karyn) Sullivan of Belen, NM, numerous nieces and nephews, and too many friends to count.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Phelan and Arleen, and his brother Larry.