Dr. Paul Wayne Sullivan

Dr. Paul Wayne Sullivan, 86, of Harbor Springs, MI. died at his home, Monday, February 20, 2017.

Paul was born at home, in Calumet, MI., on June 27, 1930, the son of David and Ursula (Lanctot) Sullivan. He was the seventh of eight children and attended Sacred Heart elementary school.

Paul enrolled in the University of Michigan at age 17 on the Regents Alumni Scholarship and graduated in 1952.

Out of school, he worked for the Juvenile Court as a clinical psychologist in Oakland County. He also worked as a School Psychologist in Pontiac School Systems.

At age 30, Paul started the PHD program at Wayne State University. He was one of the first five people enrolled in a doctoral program for psychology. Wayne State is also where Paul taught psychology for over 30 years.

For 13 years, he was the Director of Grace with Gables, a Residential Treatment Center, while simultaneously teaching at U of M and Wayne State until 1970.

In 1961, Paul married Betty Carpenter. Together, they had three children, Lisa, Susan and Michael. Paul and Betty bought a ski lodge in Brimley, MI. Betty preceded Paul in death in 2005.

All throughout his life, Paul was fascinated by airplanes. Paul took flying lessons and it really grew into a passion for him. Flying introduced him to the Young Eagles, a project to give children free airplane rides as a way to introduce them to flight. Over the years, Paul estimated he gave upwards of 275 kids free airplane rides. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association. In recent years, Paul turned a dream into a reality with the development of Sullivan’s Harbor Springs Airpark off of the Harbor Springs Airport. Paul was able to ride a Learjet airplane the day he died – which was most likely exactly the way he wanted to go.

On December 14, 1986, Paul married his true love, Phyllis Lanzarotta in Chicago, IL. Together, they built their home in Harbor Springs and raised Phyllis’s daughters, Kelly and Jodi Schreiber.

In 1978, Paul bought Psychological Services in Petoskey; Bill Michaels joined later and lots more after that, including John Grebe and William Nicholson. Paul continued as owner and psychologist until May of 2015. Paul practiced and taught psychology for 60 years “and because it’s a practice, I thought at some point, I’d eventually get it right”.

Paul was a member of the Second Saturday Salon, the APA (American Psychological Association), a board member of JRC (Judge Rotenberg Educational Center), a member for over 15 years of the Thursday Morning Breakfast Group, Harbor Springs Community Band and a proud member of the Democratic Party.

Paul enjoyed reading, expanding his knowledge in all subjects, but most fondly on politics and psychology. He loved to sit by his fireplace and listen to National Public Radio over the speakers throughout the entire house. He will be remembered as an extremely intelligent man who loved his job, family and an intellectual opponent. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Paul is survived by his children, Quinnith (Timothy) Wilkins of Port Huron, MI., Pamela Burton of Las Vegas, NV., Lisa (Robert) Kruzel of Harbor Springs, MI., Susan (Steve) Seiler of Haggerstown, MD., Michael Sullivan of Petoskey, MI., Kelly Geno of Harbor Springs, MI. and Jodi (Brian Rydzinski) Schreiber of Naples, FL.; grandchildren, Erin (Pete) Eppley, Evan (Korissa) Wilkins, John (Amy) Burton, Eric Burton, Marcus (Erika) Burton, Katie (Ryan) Fortune, Nikki Keck (Sam Seymour), Ashley Seiler, Emily Seiler, Serena Seiler and Hanna Lonchar; six great-grandchildren; his sister, Lorraine Maki; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Sullivan; and his siblings, Rolland Sullivan, Morey Sullivan, Norine Smale, Laverine Wygocki, Dolores Sullivan and David Sullivan.

There will be a visitation at Stone Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, February 23, 2017 at Stone Funeral Home in Petoskey, MI. and again Friday at 10:00 a.m., followed immediately by a memorial service at Stone Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m., February 24, 2017. Reverend David Behling will officiate the service.

Friends and family are encouraged to honor Paul’s memory by giving a charitable donation to “Farming for our Future” a local non-profit c/o Pond Hill Farms.

 Service Information