Patricia Catherine Sullivan, Ed.D

Patricia Sullivan, forensic psychologist, vocational consultant, former teacher, professional lecturer and one of the original residents of San Francisco’s Opera Plaza, passed away on January 25, 2021. The cause was pneumonia.

Patricia was born on April 8, 1945 in Binghamton, Broome County, New York, the second of three daughters of Patrick Sullivan and Marion Madden. Tall, blond and ambitious, she graduated from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1968, left New York for sunny California and never looked back. While teaching elementary school in Oakland, she earned an M.A. at (then) California State University, Hayward in 1974, and was accredited as a school counselor. She followed that by earning a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology at Boston University in 1976. Among her specialties were psychological assessment, vocational evaluation and family therapy.

For more than 40 years, Patricia was sought after as a resource and an expert witness in family dissolution, and in personal injury cases. She had great empathy for those she assisted, but a particular empathy and affection for children in distress. Patricia also enjoyed lecturing, at the Commonwealth Club and for the Continuing Education of the Bar about marital dissolution. She served as Chairwoman of the Section on Human Resources of the Commonwealth Club in 1997. She was a member of the American Psychological Association.

Not all about her work, Patricia regularly played golf, squash and tennis, and had mastered inline skating. She had many friends at Opera Plaza, and could often be found at Max’s Opera Cafe debating the great issues of the day. A student of art history, she enjoyed visiting San Francisco museums with her friends. A highlight of her life was a trip to Russia, during which she was an enthusiastic visitor to the world’s greatest art museums. Having fully retired from practice, Patricia had renewed her U.S. passport and was hoping to travel again. However, she unexpectedly embarked on that final journey that requires neither government identification nor luggage. We wish her Bon Voyage and Happy Landings.

Patricia was predeceased by her parents and by her sisters Mary Anne and Jean. There are no immediate survivors.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Patricia at a later date after restrictions are lifted. Anyone interested in attending may leave a message at 415-658-7568.