Services for benefactor, ‘Sully’s’ widow set for Oct. 4

A memorial service for philanthropist and prominent community leader Joanna Sullivan will be held Oct. 4 at ‘Iolani School.

A story in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Saturday and the earlier version of this story incorrectly said her services would be held Sunday, Sept 20.

Sullivan, widow of Foodland founder Maurice J. “Sully” Sullivan, died at her home in Honolulu on Sept. 2 at the age of 94.

Family, friends and Foodland employees will pay tribute to her in services Oct. 4 at the Sullivan Center for Innovation and Leadership. All Foodland stores on Oahu will be closed from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. that day so that employees can attend.

The daughter of Chinese immigrants, Sullivan was born July 4, 1921 in Honolulu. The McKinley High School graduate was studying at the University of Hawaii when she left school to help her mother run Lanikai Store, a small grocery in Kailua. She met her late husband at the store, and he would later become her family’s business partner. They opened Foodland Market City on May 6, 1948. Joanna Sullivan named the store Foodland.

The Sullivans supported numerous causes and organizations, and after Maurice Sullivan died, Joanna Sullivan continued building on his legacy through contributions. She supported the funding of scholarships at ‘Iolani and Punahou schools as well as Chaminade University, and the Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation. She also made large gifts to St. Francis Cardiac Care Center, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, Ronald McDonald House, the Queen’s Medical Center-West Oahu, Honolulu Museum of Art, Sullivan Administration building at Punahou School, Sullivan Library at Chaminade University and Sullivan Center at ‘Iolani School.

Joanna Sullivan was named Philanthropist of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Honolulu Chapter in 2008 and again in 2013.

She is survived by children Kitty Sullivan Wo, Jenai Sullivan Wall, Colleen Sullivan and Patrick Sullivan; and five grandchildren.
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CORRECTION: A previous version of this story said the services and store closings would be tomorrow, Sept. 20. The correct date is Oct. 4.