Daniel J. Sullivan, past Board President of The Arc of Massachusetts, peacefully passed away on Monday, April 7, 2025.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Lorraine; his daughters, Beth, Kristen, and Julie; and the entire family. You can see the tribute posted by his family online here.
Dan gave years of service to The Arc of Massachusetts, having been introduced to the organization by Fred Misilo in the 2000s. He became President of The Arc’s Board of Directors in 2014, serving through the 2016 term, when he then assumed the role of Immediate Past President and nominating committee chair through 2018. The Arc conducted initial planning for our Capital Campaign during Dan’s time as President, resulting in the new building at 217 South Street in Waltham.
A thoughtful and energetic leader at The Arc, Dan’s work spanned two different careers as an NFL player for the Baltimore Colts and as a marketing professional. A Massachusetts native, Dan attended Boston College, where he was recognized for his academic achievements in addition to his athleticism.
One story shared by Dan regarded his second daughter Julie, who has Down syndrome. In an article covering his tenure as a Colts player, Dan had mentioned all of his and Lorraine’s children. When some family members questioned his being so open about his daughter’s disability, Dan didn’t hesitate to “educate” them about acceptance.
Dan will be missed many, including all of us here at The Arc.
