It is with deep sadness that the Yorktown Heights Engine Company announces the Passing of Life Member John (Jackie) Sullivan. Jackie has been an active member of the Engine Company since 1993.

Jackie served as the Chief's Aid for several Chiefs, handling all state fire reports. He was also put in charge of all the EMS supplies and upkeep of the equipment. From 2012-2015, he served as Recording Secretary of the Engine Company. He also held the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Engine Company
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Donations in Jackie’s memory can be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation www.t2t.org if you are so inclined.

John (Jackie) Sullivan was a staple of the Fire House and will be deeply missed but never forgotten. Our Thoughts and Prayers go out to the Sullivan Family.

“Rest easy brother, we will take it from here”

John Q. Sullivan “Jackie” Obituary
“Once you go Jack, you never go back,” was one of Jackie Sullivan’s favorite sayings, even if he said so himself. He was born to John and Eileen (Quinn) Sullivan in Bayonne, New Jersey, and later welcomed a younger brother, Jamie (deceased). He was the loving husband of Denise Lindblom Sullivan and doting father of twins, Katie and Maggie.

Jack Sullivan served his country and his community for his entire adult life. Jack Sullivan was a 12-year Navy veteran flight engineer and a 36-year volunteer firefighter in Spring Valley and Yorktown Heights, NY. He was a New York City Emergency Medical Service (HHC) EMT then paramedic, serving for 31 years, retiring at the rank of Deputy Chief at FDNY*EMS in 2017. He raced to the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001 to help save as many lives as possible, even diving under a truck to keep from being overwhelmed by debris as the second tower fell in front of him.

Denise and Jack met as volunteer EMTs in the North Bronx on EMR (Emergency Medical Rescue) in 1983. They bonded over car accidents and grizzly tragedies, often swapping hair-raising stories with their relatives during dinners–usually featuring tomato sauce. Married in 1988, Denise and Jack were a love match and a professional match–a paramedic and a nurse practitioner with a shared addiction for adrenaline and saving lives. Jack shared his love of the Yankees with his daughters, and he tolerated that his wife was a Mets fan.

When people would call for help, Jack Sullivan was the first to step up to save the day. He gave CPR so often, he earned the nickname, “Cardiac Jack.”

Although Jackie was just about as funny a man as you could ever meet, he took his life-saving work very seriously. Following the 9/11 disaster, Jack Sullivan served for a full year at Ground Zero searching for and recovering fallen firefighters and other victims. He served every victim with an honor walk to waiting transports, knowing families would soon be relieved to know their unaccounted-for loved ones would be given a dignified final resting place. Jack often lamented that EMS personnel were trained to save lives, not recover victims, but his respect and love for his comrades kept him at work at Ground Zero. He also served for many years as a union leader for the FDNY, and he mentored younger EMTs and firefighters in his profession and in his volunteer work.

Years earlier, Jack and his long-term partner Aurea Gonzalez were the first EMS unit on site for the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, where they escorted many souls to safety. Jack took it personally when the towers were attacked again.

In addition to being a bona fide hero, Jack was also a legendary Irish storyteller and semi-professional drinking companion, regaling crowd after crowd with his antics, including hilariously-creative pranks on his since-deceased brother Jamie, his copious brushes with the rich & famous, and the many lives he assisted and saved in his rescue work. Catching Jackie sitting down was a rare treat before a radio alarm would sound, and Jack would be off and running to a new, life-threatening emergency.

Among Jackie’s other talents was a voice that could mimic millions. A one-man Minion crew, Jack included a cast of characters in all his stories with complete personalities and multiple tones. One of Jack’s favorite tales was his status as a “genuine medical miracle”: He claimed he saved yet another life by donating an especially large hemorrhoid of his own to a cardiac patient who needed a replacement aorta immediately. Not only did Jack save that man’s life, he said, but from that point forward, if that man suffered heartburn, he could get relief with just a quick rub of Preparation H on his chest.

Another of Jack’s favorite hobbies was casually infuriating his liberal-leaning relatives with contradictions and complaints–all of which he annoyingly backed up with facts from his copious newspaper clippings from the NY Post, The Daily News, and the New York Times. He was there for family and friends whenever needed, lending his expertise on engines, offering to take a long drive, and running any necessary errands. Delivering meals to the elderly and infirm, and helping Santa bring candy to kids from the tops of the Yorktown fire trucks were some of Jack Sullivan’s favorite activities. He was generous in every way.

Loved by humans, Jack Sullivan was absolutely adored by the extended-family’s dogs. While he protested vigorously that he would never feed them at the table, the dogs sat stock-still next to him at every meal just in case Jack might “accidentally” drop a hunk of meat or two–or six.

In addition to his wife Denise and his daughters Kate and Maggie, Jack Sullivan is survived by a nephew, Matthew Sullivan; and two nieces, Cassidy (Sullivan) Buchas, and Kelsi Sullivan; and two brothers-in-law, Ken (Patricia) and FDNY*EMS Lieutenant Paramedic Tim (Donna). He is survived also by several step-siblings-in-law with whom he was very close: Susan Stoya (Bob), Lynn Roell (James), and Steven Russell (Barbara), along with their children and grandchildren.

Jackie Sullivan brought humor and bravery to every situation he encountered, whether it be a family get-together, a firehouse ceremony or fire call, a military maneuver, a union event, or a major disaster. His countless friends and loving family will remember him with laughter, knowing it was their honor to have Jack Sullivan in their lives if only for way-too short a time. We love you, Jack!

Yorktown Funeral Home
945 East Main Street
Yorktown, NY 10588

Sunday, July 13, 2025
2:00PM - 6:00PM
Monday, July 14, 2025
2:00PM - 4:00PM
Monday, July 14, 2025
7:00PM - 9:00PM

Mass
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
11:15AM
St. Patrick's Church
137 Moseman Road
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598