Channel 7 News Photographer
Charles V. Sullivan, of Canton, died surrounded by family on April 8th. He was 80 years old. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him would agree that one-of-a-kind is simply too small of a phrase to use as a description for Charles Sullivan. A caring and generous husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, Charles was born in Boston on August 19, 1942, and remained a true Bostonian for his entire life. He was raised in Newton by Charles V. Sullivan of Charlestown, and Marguerite Sullivan of Boston; along with sisters, Jean and Clair; and brother, Arthur. He is survived by his wife, Linda; son, Michael and his wife, Tricia; daughter, Karen and her husband, Scott; grandchildren, Elena, Caeden, and Keira; and numerous nieces, grandnieces, nephews, and grandnephews.
Family was always paramount for Charles. As Michael and Karen grew up, he would often find small ways to make their days special with surprises such as leaving a bag of M&M’s in Karen’s lunchbox during parents visiting day at Chemung Hill School, or dismissing Michael from Stoughton High School one afternoon to go to the movies together. He and Linda traveled the world together — every journey of course documented with his camera, sometimes to Linda’s chagrin — and came home every time with incredible tales to tell. As a loving grandfather, Charles enjoyed watching Elena play soccer and spending quality time with Caeden and Keira at their home in Connecticut. After retirement, the four Sullivan siblings, Jeannie, Charles, Clair and Arthur, all relocated to the same area of Florida to be together during the winter months.
After his family, Charles’ passions were hockey and the news. He would humbly refer to himself as “just a news guy,” but Charles was a multiple Emmy Award-winning photojournalist/ videographer/editor and had a 32-year career covering news for Channel 7 in Boston. He started as a film editor, and over the years saw the television technology change from film, to video, to digital. During his time at Channel 7, Charles shot and edited stories about such diverse topics as the Boston busing crisis, the search for notorious South Boston gangster, Whitey
Bulger, and more fires, murders, and snowstorms to count. Through his camera lens, Charles captured U.S. Presidents and other politicians, royalty, celebrities, and more than one Boston Mayor. He enjoyed assignments about the triumphs and tragedies of the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and his beloved Boston Bruins. Some of his favorite time covering news in Boston was spent high above the city, camera on his shoulder, dangling out of the side of Chopper 7. The proudest moment of his career was the few days he spent out on the Atlantic
Ocean with CBS News anchor, Walter Cronkite, United States Coast Guard Captain, David V.V. Wood, and the crew aboard the U.S.C.G. Barque Eagle — America’s Tall Ship.
Charles officially retired from the news game in 2002, but he never put his camera down. He accompanied Linda to California as her career took her to San Francisco and then L.A. On the West Coast, he could often be found exploring the outdoors, always with a camera in his hand. After
Linda retired, the couple returned east to their family. Charles and Linda split their time between Florida and Charles’ true home, Boston.
There will be a celebration of the life of Charles Sullivan at his Canton home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/ New Hampshire chapter, 309 Waverley Oats Road, Waltham, MA 02452.