BANGOR – Gertrude Paula (Goodin) Sullivan, 87, long of Orono and later Bangor, died Jan. 27, 2009, at the Veterans Administration Nursing Home, from complications of a stroke. She was born March 4, 1921, the daughter of J. Edward Goodin Sr. and Elizabeth (O’Brien) Goodin. Mrs. Sullivan, who had been assistant dean at the Graduate School at the University of Maine during the mid-1970s, had lived at Sunbury Village from 2003 to 2007. She grew up in Old Town and graduated from Old Town High School in 1938. When World War II broke out, she joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps and was stationed in England with the Headquarters 8th Air Force until the end of the war. She returned to Maine and married Francis Joseph Sullivan, June 17, 1950. Throughout their life together, with their son, James, they lived on Hill Street, Orono, at the apex of the Stillwater and Penobscot rivers. During the 1960s, she was active in the local League of Women Voters. Mr. Sullivan was a professor of mechanical engineering and department head at the university. Their home was a center of social activity. As a member of the university administration, as a member of her church and as part of the general community, she was the “go to” lady. After her husband’s death in June 1977, Mrs. Sullivan split time between Sarasota, Fla., and Orono. She enjoyed the rocky Maine and sandy Gulf coasts, the Red Sox and Celtics, and burrowing into a good book. As she said, she had the mixed fortune of outliving most of her friends. Mrs. Sullivan is survived by her son, James F. Sullivan and her daughter-in-law, Roza Yarchun, of Brookline, Mass.; also by her brothers, J. Edward Goodin of Tilton, N.H., and Sarasota, Fla., and Richard N. Goodin of Sarasota, Fla.; and sister, Doreen E. Gillespie of Jaffrey, N.H., and Leesburg, Fla. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. June 13 at the Newman Center, Orono.
PAULA SULLIVAN
