Patrick Arthur Sullivan

Patrick A. Sullivan was born July 21, 1935 in Bellingham, Washington to James and Maribel Sullivan. At age one they moved to Eastport, Idaho where he eventually started school in a one room schoolhouse while his Dad, Jim, served as an officer in the US Border Patrol. The family moved to Spokane in 1941 and much of his life was spent here where he put down roots for his own family as well. Pat attended North Central High School and was the Senior Class President in 1953, playing the clarinet and saxophone in the high school band. He participated in baseball, cross country, several levels of band and orchestra, starting his lifetime passion for music. Pat was always either singing or playing one of his many instruments. At last count, he could play at least 8 musical instruments. Patrick was a proud Gonzaga University graduate, having attended pre-law and law school there. He was the Gonzaga band director during his undergraduate years. Pat put himself through law school playing in a jazz band he created with his friend Don Jans. He also privately taught many students how to play instrumental music. After graduating with his law degree in 1959, he earned his post-graduate studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. One of the most spectacular aspects of Pat’s life is the lifetime love affair that began in November 1959. A product of a blind date cooked up by their fathers, who shared a mutual love of horse racing, he was introduced to the love of his life, Diane Zack. After a whirlwind 3 weeks where he showered her with roses and romance, his duties in the Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) program called him to Louisiana, where he proposed long distance to Diane via his mother Maribel. She accepted. After hundreds of love letters and a leave scheduled 3 months later, February 27, 1960 began a 62 year fairytale and happy marriage. Every year on their anniversary he presented her with roses from “Mercenaze”, the racehorse that brought them together. To say he was a romantic is an understatement and his devotion to Diane never wavered through all of those 62 years together. They settled in New Orleans, and Pat was able to truly flex his jazz expertise on the clarinet and saxophone, playing in the birthplace of Jazz. He often tells stories of living in the South in the 60’s and the incredible experience immersing himself in the mostly African American world of Jazz. This time grew in him a deep respect and love for southern traditions and a strong kinship with the music created there. Once back in Spokane, Pat and his longtime friend Don Jans played Jazz around the bars and private events with their piano player Berniece Adams. Pat and Don continued to play together for another 60 years. Music filled his soul and he played constantly, leading all the way up to the week of his death when he was able to play a tune on his clarinet for Diane. During his assignment as a Captain in the United States Army JAG program he served as Chief Contracts Counsel for the Boeing Company, Saturn Branch also at New Orleans where he met regularly with NASA and space personnel, such as Werner Von Braun on the Saturn Moon Landing project. Pat wrote many of the original contracts for the Apollo Space Program for the Saturn V Booster. Their first child, Kevin Patrick Sullivan was born in New Orleans in April 1962. Spokane however, was always home, and private law practice came calling. He joined what would eventually become Winston & Cashatt, where he practiced law from 1964 to 2003. Always one to blend fun, his Irish heritage and great client services, while at the firm Pat created an annual tradition of celebrating St Patrick’s Day, a party that has become a legendary Spokane tradition. While back in Spokane Pat and Diane sunk deep family roots and added to their family with Kathleen Diane, born in 1965, Colleen Michelle, in 1967 and Meaghan Mari-Elizabeth in 1970. Pat’s specialty was construction law, and he was Nationally and Internationally acclaimed in his field. He became a skilled courtroom litigator and won the majority of his cases. Pat tried cases worldwide, in State, District, Federal and State Supreme Courts in Washington, Alaska, Idaho, California and Montana as well as the US Court of Appeals. He was sought after by clients large and small due to his growing reputation and later became the Managing Partner for Winston & Cashatt. He was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, a prestigious honor given to select few attorneys. Pat’s contributions to the legal community are many, and he was chosen to receive the Gonzaga Law Medal in 2010. The award is given to deserving individuals who have distinguished themselves in the service of justice through the practice of law. Pat retired from the firm in 2003 to focus on his own arbitration and mediation services company, Onsite Mediation. He also served as an Arbitrator for the International Chamber of Commerce in Geneva, Switzerland and founded the Dispute Resolution Board that is still used by contractors and attorneys today. Over the years Pat and Diane took on many causes in Spokane and Internationally. They became known as the “First Family of Hoopfest”, as the entire family volunteered and played throughout the 32 years of the tournament. The Sullivans were avid fans of the Spokane art scene and helped found the Spokane Interplayers Professional Theater and also performed on stage themselves, Pat playing the clarinet and Diane torch singing for many years in the Spokane County Bar Player’s annual black tie gala event. He also served as General Counsel for the Spokane Area EDC. He was substantially involved in community affairs to better the community of Spokane. Pat was an avid fan of Gonzaga Basketball and he and Diane have attended hundreds of games and traveled to dozens of tournaments. Named after Diane’s cousin, Pat and Diane helped found the Holly Caudill Inspirational Award at Gonzaga law school. This award benefits a law student each year for their outstanding contributions to the school. The memorial is permanently displayed at the Gonzaga Law School. Dedicated to his christian faith, Pat was a member of Southside Christian Church. Pat contributed to the creation of the Mission Team there for supporting international missions. Pat was also a member of the Gideons International. He was proud to stand as Chairman of the Board for Hope4Kids International. Hope4Kids serves children living in impoverished environments around the world by establishing economic, spiritual, water, educational, and feeding programs. They traveled on more than 25 mission trips to Romania, Russia, Peru, Chile, Guatemala, Cuba and their true calling was found in Uganda, bringing life-saving provisions and the spirit of Jesus with them. Pat and Diane sponsor many of these children in Uganda who still correspond regularly and feel particularly bonded to Pat, who the villagers call “Mukisa”, which means Blessing. Pat and Diane helped with the construction of numerous wells and buying livestock and soliciting donations to improve living conditions and schools for the children of the villages. Pat took his love for music with him on missions, constantly playing in churches, hospitals, orphanages and villages there. As we mourn his passing here, there are hundreds if not thousands mourning their Mukisa in the villages of Uganda. Pat will also be missed by the many more children that he mentored, loved and became a surrogate father and grandfather to. Pat is survived by his wife of 62 years Diane, and their four children: Son Kevin Sullivan (Laverne Masaki), his children Lauren (Andrew LeBrun & baby LeBrun due in November), and Alec; daughter Kathleen (Sean Garman), her children Natalie (Thanh Huynh & great-grandson Skye), and Stephanie (Cayden Nystul), and stepchildren Noah, Ryan, and Ashley; daughter Colleen (Nick Volk), her children Tyler (Robyn & great-granddaughter Riley, great-grandson Matthew), Jake, Nate (Sylvia); daughter Meaghan (Justin Moore), her children Annamarie, Erin, Ashton, and baby Moore due in October. Services for Pat will be held on August 19th at 4pm at Southside Christian Church. He later will be given a private full military honor burial at Marshall Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Southside Christian Church.