This is not an obituary, it’s a story.
It’s a long story because James, who was born an old soul, lived at least three lifetimes during his all too short a time with us here on earth.
Always busy; always people-centric; everything aviation.
We’ll start with James’s third and most important chapter, which began about 3 years ago when he met his beloved fiancée, Catherine Kiser, in Nashville, TN. They fell deeply in love and were quickly committed to each other for life, which should have given them at least 60 years together. James quickly made plans to change jobs to his “forever company,” and selected Delta. Earlier this year, James changed his Delta base to NYC and he and Catherine found a lovely apartment in Brooklyn that they’ve made into a warm and loving home. They only had a few weeks to enjoy this home together. Too short. James has left us suddenly and too soon, and he has gifted us a loving relationship with Catherine and her family. We are blessed.
James was a second child, born into a band of four brothers (and often co-conspirators) who were tightly grouped across a 4-1/2 year span. They moved, together with us, six times through high school. This included five years in Germany, where Lukas and Sam were born, and Holland, where James began school. That’s important because those four boys were everything to each other from birth through high school. James was their planner and organizer: never an idle moment; loads of creative play. At age 3, we brought James to Delaware, and this marks the opening of the third chapter in his life: aviation. James was invited into the cockpit by his pilots on this transatlantic (pre-9/11) flight, and came back to his seat to draw a map of the globe for these pilots, presumably to insure they’d arrive in the right place. In his 1st grade autobiography, James wrote “I want to be a plot (sic).”
“I want to be a plot (sic).”
— James (1st Grade Autobiography)
While living in Seattle, WA, we offered James the choice of a 11th birthday party or a short demo flight, and this put him in the right seat for the first time, in a Cessna at Boeing Field. His PIC began explaining the flight controls, and James took over – explaining the controls to his PIC. James shared that he had a 100+ hours in this equipment on Microsoft flight simulator. According to the pilot, James took off and flew this plane for almost the entirety of his first flight, but not the landing (“although I’m sure he could have done that, too”). James logged 1.0 hour for this flight on 6/5/2003, signed off in his logbook by the PIC. James then asked us for a 0% loan at age 15 (actually at ages 11, 12, 13 and 14 before we relented) so he could begin flight school in York, PA, with the FBO at THV. He first soloed before breakfast on his 16th birthday, and got his learners’ permit shortly thereafter: he flew alone before he was allowed to drive with a parent. James worked for the FBO through high school, and paid us back in full before going to Embry-Riddle, after earning a competitive scholarship, where he studied aircraft maintenance management.
James has worked for Southwest Airlines as a flight ops safety intern; Williams International (aviation engines); Encompass Aviation “Surf Air” and then Boutique Airlines (subscription charters out of HHR and then SJC, as lead mechanic, maintenance training manger and as First Officer / SIC pilot in the Pilatus PC-12, Part 135); Compass Airlines (AA regional carrier out of LAX, in the ERJ-170 as FO, Part 121), and ATI (Amazon freight, as FO and then Captain / PIC, in the B-757/767). James joined Delta in August 2023, flying the B-757/767 out of Atlanta and then NYC, and was back in the right seat building his seniority again. James also owned SullivAir, LLC (sullivair.com), providing contract maintenance and management services for Part 91 to privately owned Pilatus PC-12 operators in Los Angeles. From 2013 to 2017, James was a bit of an aviation video-blogger (youtube.com/@JamesSullivans). So this second chapter was all about aviation. James closed this chapter having logged well over 4000 hours up front since age 10, including 325 hours in the B-757/767 with Delta and 955 hours as PIC with ATI.
If he wanted something, he put his mind to it and achieved it.
James accomplished so much in his short life, and at each stage of that life (linkedin.com/in/hijamessullivan). If he wanted something, he put his mind to it and achieved it. He started AnswersForPilots.com with his brother Sam as web developer, while both were in their early teens. Sam and James also teamed up to form a band in which drummer James provided the beat. He was hired by AOPA as “the youngest intern to ever work for the aviation publication” at age 16. He would go on to be the NBAA Maintenance Committee Co-Chair and a volunteer mentor with ALPA. It wasn’t enough to be a pilot and mechanic; James earned a minor in aviation safety and remained passionate about this aspect of aviation throughout his career. When he didn’t have enough flight hours to earn the right seat as a pilot with Surf Air, James took a contract job as a banner tow pilot. James saw an opportunity to help his fellow mechanics while helping private aircraft owners, and started SullivAir soon after he left the maintenance job and began flying for Surf Air. James has purchased and managed two rental properties to provide he and Catherine with an income stream (recognizing the unpredictable volatility of the airline industry). And, he wanted to be hired by a legacy airline by 30 so he could retire by 50 with solid benefits for Catherine… the first half of which he accomplished before his wonderful life was cut short.
That’s what James did, however who he was is far more important: a loving son, brother, nephew, cousin, uncle, friend and fiancé, who brought joy to everyone he touched.
His sparkling eyes, his full faced smile, and his rapt attention to who you are and what you have to say have endeared us all to him. He was a natural born networker. In a short conversation, James would learn about you, what matters to you, and what unique gifts and knowledge you possess. And he would stay in touch, frequently returning to brighten your day or pick your mind, and often both. James made friends everywhere he went and he worked to keep those friendships alive; he touched so many hearts and the outpouring from people sharing with us since his death is unbelievably heartwarming.
James said what he meant and he shared his feelings freely; there was never a hidden agenda. He was forgiving: he didn’t spend time feeling hurt or defeated. Relationships were too important to him to waste time by not getting along.
He gave everyone the benefit of the doubt and taught us how important and freeing forgiveness can be.
James cared more about others than he cared about himself. When they recently moved from Nashville to Brooklyn, Catherine’s safety and well-being were his primary focus. All that mattered to James was that Catherine would be happy and feel well connected in their new home. He loved Catherine immensely, but he treated all of us this way: we came first; his interests followed. And he was a helper: always willing to help his Mom as a young boy (dishes, sweeping, getting younger brothers ready for a picnic in the park). “What can I do for you?” was what he always asked of Grace as she ran around, trying to herd the cats for an outing. This trait translated into his adult life, where he was a focused helper of his friends and brothers and peers in aviation.
James lived his life with passion and purpose.
His kindness was free flowing and it’s our deepest hope that all who knew and loved James will carry this kindness forward into the world every day. When you see his birth date 0604, or death date 0722 on your clock, or a plane flying overhead, consider doing a deliberate act of kindness in his honor. For James that could be as simple as helping someone load their groceries or cross the street, picking up the tab for coffee for the next person in line, opening a door, or sharing a kind word and a smile. May the legacy of a truly great and unfathomably kind human live on in perpetuity through our acts of kindness, done in his name. James would insist that our grief be brief and that our celebration be grand and ongoing. We ask you to help us to make this world a better place in honor of James and all that he stood for: peace, kindness, and happiness.
We love you, James, and we’ll always love you.
Godspeed to you and rest in peace; Catherine, Mom and Dad
PLEASE POST A REMEMBERANCE OF JAMES AND ANY PHOTOS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ON OUR MEMORY BOARD. WE’VE TOLD OUR STORY OF JAMES, PLEASE SHARE YOURS.
