Thomas C. Sullivan took the reins of RPM International (formerly Republic Powdered Metals) in 1971 after the death of his father. For the next 30 years, Sullivan, who died in November, steered the company into international waters and created a $2 billion enterprise.
Before he joined RPM and eventually became chairman and CEO, Sullivan was an ensign in the U.S. Navy after college. He served as a communications officer on the destroyer USS Braine. He later became a supporter of West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center.
Keeping people safe was a common theme to Sullivan’s impressive philanthropic accomplishments.
“Tom and his wife, Sandy, were like a godfather and godmother to us,” says Sister Anne Maline, director emerita for the 500-student Metro Catholic School in Cleveland, noting the Sullivan family donates generously to capital funds, vision ventures and special educational and fine arts programs. “When Tom visited our school, he was very attuned to our students.”
“Once when Tom visited, one little boy without a lot of self-confidence clung to his teacher because he didn’t know Tom. Tom thought that was a good example of the climate we tried to create here — one of safety,” says Sister Maline.
Sullivan was also particularly proud that his family received the Eisenman Award from the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in 2006. The honor is the federation’s highest civic award. Kristin Warzocha, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, recently acknowledged Sullivan as “a true community leader” for his commitment to the food bank.