Phyllis Sullivan has certainly led a life worth celebrating.
Born in 1926, Sullivan moved to Alaska with her husband and three children in 1959 to teach, first in the village of Kwethluk in Western Alaska and later at Wendler and Mears Middle Schools in Anchorage .
All the while, she left strong impressions with countless students and acquaintances, some of whom gathered in the basement of Anchor Park United Methodist Church in Anchorage Saturday to celebrate Sullivan’s century of life. “Education has been the primary thing in her entire life,” her son Dennis Sullivan said. “She’s always been a school teacher and she’s been one of the sweetest people in the entire world.” As a slideshow featuring vintage photos from her life and time in Alaska played, Phyllis, wheelchair-bound but high in spirit, stopped to chat with every new person who entered the room, some of whom she hadn’t seen in years. “It’s impressive that this many people are here,” she said. “That’s very encouraging. Makes me think maybe I did something right along the way.” Aside from family members, most visitors were there because of the impression Phyllis Sullivan left on them during her many years in the classroom. “She gave us this one assignment: to memorize a poem,” former Mears student Tina Arend recalled. She said Phyllis Sullivan was her 8th grade English teacher. “And when she gave us the assignment, she said, ‘I’ve had students come back many, many, many years later and recite the poem to me.’ And we actually still remember the poem,” Arend said of her and her husband, who was also in attendance. They both went on to become teachers at Mears as well.“The Bureau had ordered that teachers do corporal punishment for speaking Yup’ik,” Nicolai remembered. “Even though we spoke Yup’ik, she never did that, never cracked our hands. Other teachers did, but not her. That’s why we never forgot her.” In addition to teaching, Phyllis Sullivan also found time to open her home to those in need. She and her husband once took in a family with seven kids who had been displaced by flooding in Fairbanks in 1967. “It touched our heart because they bought us a lot of stuff that we needed because we lost a lot of stuff during the flood,” David Solomon, one of those seven kids, said. “We stayed there for over three years.”“My mother made it to 103,” she said. “So, I’ve got a while yet.”
Mears Kwethluk Sullivan Phyllis Phyllis Sullivan 100 Years Old Centarian
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alaska Braces for Back-to-Back Storms Bringing Rain and Wintry MixAlaska is experiencing a week of showers representative of April, with two storms impacting different regions. The Southeast is receiving moderate to heavy rain, while Western Alaska and the Aleutians will see the second storm. Southcentral Alaska is forecast for scattered showers with a wintry mix, and Interior Alaska can expect snow and rain, with a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for the Eastern Alaska Range.
Read more »
2 US Army soldiers in Alaska injured in bear attack during training exerciseFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
U.S. Army Soldiers Injured in Bear Attack During Alaska Training ExerciseTwo U.S. Army soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division were injured in a defensive bear attack while participating in a land navigation training exercise at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. Both soldiers were reportedly carrying and used bear spray during the incident, which is currently under investigation. They are receiving medical care.
Read more »
Alaska to Homeport Two New U.S. Coast Guard IcebreakersThe U.S. Coast Guard will homeport two new icebreakers in Alaska, significantly boosting the state's Arctic presence. This expansion, secured through federal funding, aims to enhance national security, maritime commerce, and deterrence in the strategically vital Arctic and North Pacific regions, with the ships expected by the end of 2028.
Read more »
Everton 1-2 Liverpool: Van Dijk wins first derby at Toffees' new stadium in 100th minuteLiverpool laughed first, last and loudest on Sunday, as the Reds wrote the first chapter of the Merseyside derby at the brand new Hill Dickinson Stadium with a 100th-minute winning goal from Virgil van Dijk to beat Everton 2-1.
Read more »
SF celebrates 100th anniversary of iconic Balboa Theatre with new mural, tributeSan Francisco celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Balboa Theatre. It marked the occasion with free movies, a new mural and a tribute to Oscar-nominated costume designer Aggie Rodgers.
Read more »