Joseph Thomas Sullivan Jr. 1955 - 2023, passed away at his home in Cary, NC on Friday, November 24, 2023, surrounded by his family, who he deeply loved. He put up a valiant fight battling esophageal cancer for over three and a half years.

Joe was born May 11, 1955, in Bridgeport, CT to Joe and Dot Sullivan. Joe was a good, kind, and caring man, with a wonderful sense of humor and quick wit. He made friends wherever he went, and always had something to say to make you laugh.

Joe grew up in Milford CT and had three children with his former wife Valerie Smith Sullivan, who preceded him in death in 2007. Joe loved building. When the home building business took a downturn in CT in 1993, Joe moved to Raleigh, NC and found work with a prominent home builder. He then started his own home building business and built many award-winning homes in the Triangle area. Eventually he found great satisfaction in doing home renovations. He built one last house before he passed for his wife Brigette. They enjoyed traveling to many parts of this beautiful country together, as well as to Italy, England, Ireland, Germany, Amsterdam, Paris, and Sweden, plus to Mexico, Costa Rica and many islands in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Bora Bora. And they also totally adored train travel and took the train in the US whenever they could. Joe made friends wherever he went. He even developed a lasting friendship with one couple they met on a cross-country train trip. Joe was an avid reader who also enjoyed crossword puzzles and Sudoku to help him relax. He emulated the humor and compassion of his father, who was his role model on how to be a good man. There is a quote by Luvvie Ajayi that says, “Being a ‘good’ man is something you do, not something you are,” and that defines Joe. He was supportive, patient, and respectful to all. Many of the sub-contractors Joe hired told him he was their best boss. Joe was also very proud to be a member of Cary Central Rotary. When he was their Sergeant-at-Arms, he always looked for ways to add lightness to the meetings. He delighted his club by replacing the notes in fortune cookies with club specific, humorous sayings, then resealed the plastic bags. Last July, the Rotary Club inducted Joe as Club President before his cancer returned. This past Monday, his club passed out fortune cookies in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 20 years, Brigette Labate Sullivan, of Cary, NC, his children, Eric (November) Sullivan of Lexington Park, MD, Erin (Lee) Becton of Willow Spring, NC, Daniel (Jackie) Sullivan of Raleigh, NC, his grandchildren Liam and Beatrice Sullivan, Chloe and Summer Horn, Carter and Cooper Sullivan, and great-grandchildren Asher and Cameron San Miguel. Preceding Joe in death are his parents, Joseph Thomas Sullivan, Sr. & Dorothy May Rule Sullivan, and his sister Maureen Sullivan Porto. Joe is survived by his brother and sisters Brian (Pat) Sullivan, Sharon (John) Easton, and Patty Sullivan.

A Memorial Service will take place Sunday, December 3, from 1:00-2:00 pm at Renaissance Funeral Home, 7615 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615 with visitation immediately following.

Brigette would like to extend a special note of thanks to the friends and family who helped Joe make it through the many challenges he bravely faced. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Duke Hospice (givetodukeathome.org) or American Cancer Society (donate.cancer.org).