(L to R) Patrick Sullivan, NELL President Tom Kenworthy, Rosalie Sullivan and ALF President Eric Davis during the presentation of the "Len Hadley Volunteerism Award" for NELL's Kevin Sullivan (Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani)
The American Lighthouse Foundation held its annual lighthouse gala at the Four Points by Sheraton in Eastham, MA, on April 28, 2012.
The organization’s signature event featured some wonderful lighthouse camaraderie, fundraising, a great meal and some Cape Cod lighthouses open for climbing (Nauset, The Three Sisters and Highland), but the highlight of the evening event was the presentation of awards to well-deserving individuals and groups for their amazing dedication to lighthouse preservation and education.
One of the awards presented was the 2012 ALF “Len Hadley Volunteerism Award,” which was presented to twelve outstanding volunteers throughout the organization.
The New England Lighthouse Lovers (NELL) posthumously recognized Kevin Sullivan this year with the honor for his above and beyond contributions to ALF/NELL’s mission.
(L to R) NELL President Tom Kenworthy and Kevin Sullivan (Photo courtesy of NELL)
The following text was read to attendees at the lighthouse gala by NELL President Tom Kenworthy as Kevin’s wife Rosalie and son Patrick were presented with his 2012 “Len Hadley Volunteerism Award”…
“Kevin joined New England Lighthouse Lovers (NELL) in 2005 and quietly worked his way into our hearts. He soon became NELL’s Communications Chair which eventually encompassed our Publicity Chair.
As Chair of those committees, Kevin was in charge of all our communications, writing letters, or helping our other committees to write them, asking for donations or taking other groups to task for not meeting our requirements for a naming plaque after they received our preservation grant and finished the work.
Another of his duties was to help Lynne and Mike with the Beacon. Under Kevin’s tutelage, they redesigned and updated the Beacon. Not content with that, Kevin continued to work on it making an improved version for the web site with a larger font and more pictures.
Kevin was instrumental in helping the by-law committee update and revise our by-laws which were unanimously approved by the NELL Board of Directors. They will be voted on and hopefully approved, at our spring meeting in May, in Nantucket.
Kevin Sullivan's many contributions to NELL were honored during the gala (Photo courtesy of NELL)
I’ve been told that once the itinerary for our events was announced, Kevin would research the location and, if possible, plan a side trip or two to see more lighthouses.
He was also famous for his ‘daycations’ and ‘staycations’ and he would proudly write about them in our newsletter, the NELL Beacon.
Dedicated NELL member and lighthouse supporter Kevin J. Sullivan passed away suddenly on February 16, at his home in Torrington, CT the age of 59. Kevin was an unassuming man and had a beautiful, quite way about him. I will miss him very much as I’m sure all of NELL will.”
Did you know?
The American Lighthouse Foundation’s “Len Hadley Volunteerism Award” was named after Len Hadley, one of the original volunteers of the organization in 1994. Len possessed a wonderful personality and ability to connect with others, and was a stellar volunteer for a number of ALF projects throughout the years.
The vital pillar supporting the American Lighthouse Foundation’s success in preservation, education and public access programs over the past eighteen years has undeniably been the dedication of ALF volunteers such as Len Hadley.
When Len sadly passed away in October 2000, the ALF board of directors honored his uncommon dedication to volunteerism by naming an award after him that would recognize other outstanding ALF volunteers for the same passion, selflessness and commitment to lighthouse preservation for which Len stood for.
