It is with great sadness that we report the death of Mrs. Grace Banks Sullivan, who passed away peacefully on March 15, 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mrs. Sullivan was the wife and life partner of OIC International’s founder, Reverend Leon H. Sullivan.
In his book Moving Mountains, Reverend Sullivan described his wife as thus:
My wife “Amazing Grace” whom I could never credit or thank enough shared my vision and my struggles, walking with me every step of the way. As a mother, wife and helper, she has no equal… For all important things achieved in this world, there are those who pay a special price, and this is true for Grace Sullivan. No one will ever know the sacrifices she made in standing by me and helping me with all the things I have attempted to do. As I zigzagged across America and the world it was Grace who maintained a home, cared for our children, and in untold ways made it possible for me to continue on… Neither I nor the world will ever be able to repay the debt that we owe to Grace Sullivan. Without her, the things we were able to achieve would never have been done.
Born in Maryland in 1924, Mrs. Sullivan graduated from Beaver College with a B.A. in Government and History and an M.A. in Education and Leadership. She founded and developed the Philadelphia Miniversity, an education program for adults that required no educational prerequisites, and also served on the boards of the Public Broadcast System, the William Penn Foundation and the International Foundation for Education and Self-Help (IFESH).
Mrs. Sullivan is survived by her three children, Julie, Hope and Howard, as well as seven grandchildren, Charlie, Leon, Chelsea, Elisabeth, Grace, Matthew and Saige.
On behalf of OIC International and our affiliates around the world, we are deeply saddened by the loss of Mrs. Grace Banks Sullivan. Please join us in remembering and honoring Mrs. Sullivan, who as an initial and longtime supporter of self-help was integral to OIC International’s mission and work.
Sincerely,
Crispian Kirk