June 2022 update, in loving memory of Dennis K. Sullivan:

Thanks to the generous support of so many, our family reached our 2021 fundraising goal of $10,000 and were able to award a research grant in memory of our beloved Linda. We set another $10,000 goal for 2022 in hopes of awarding a second grant. 

Linda's husband Dennis, who passed away this month, was passionate about our fundraiser and would want it to continue after his passing. Our family thanks you for your continued support.

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As a mom, wife, and caregiver, Linda was unmatched. She loved her family fiercely and was involved in all aspects of her children’s lives. She encouraged her son and daughter to pursue diverse interests, instilling in them the values of commitment and persistence. As her children became adults, she enthusiastically supported their pursuits and took pride in their accomplishments.

She and her husband, Denny, celebrated 51 years of loving, committed marriage. They were soulmates and the best example for their children and others of what a lifelong partnership looks like. 

While Linda’s world often revolved around family, she enjoyed many hobbies and loved spending time with her friends. She was a voracious reader, enjoyed home and garden activities, loved arts and crafts, and made every holiday magical. Her girlfriends were like family, and she delighted in their lunches, shop hops, garden tours, stitch-ins, and craft shows. She adored her dogs, Jack and Chester.

Linda started showing troubling symptoms in late August/early September 2020. She was seen by many excellent specialists as her symptoms evolved, yet her health declined quickly. She passed away on October 16, a week after being diagnosed with probable Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a rare, rapidly-progressing neurodegenerative disorder. 

Linda is lovingly remembered as incredibly kind, warm, and compassionate, while never judgmental. She is terribly missed, and her family is striving to move forward in accordance with her values and spirit. 

Her husband, daughter Meghan (Bryan), and son Dennis (Erin), wish to financially support research to better understand CJD, for which there is currently no known cure or treatment. It is our hope that better diagnostics, treatments, prevention, or a cure are possible in the future so that other families do not have to receive this devastating prognosis.