Robert Sullivan

Former Libby High School English teacher and football coach Robert "Bobby Joe" Joseph Sullivan, 63, of Hood River, Ore., died on Thursday, March 29, 2007, at his home.

Bob was born July 3, 1943, in Anaconda to John and Margaret Sullivan.

He attended St. Paul Parochial School. As a student at Anaconda Central High School, Bob played football, basketball, baseball and track. He led his team to the 1960 Divisional Football Championship, was first team all tournament in the 1961 Butte Gold Medal Tournament and earned the 1962 Butte Gold Medal Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player Award.

Bob attended Western Montana College on a three-sport scholarship in football, basketball and baseball. He was starting quarterback for the Bulldogs and led his team to victory in the 1963 Montana Collegiate Conference Championship.

Bob taught and coached football at Libby High School. In 1965, he guided the Loggers to a divisional championship.

In 1968, he began teaching in Brookings, Ore., where he coached at Brookings-Harbor High School for four years.

From there, he returned to Montana and taught at Park High School in Livingston. He served as head coach for varsity basketball and assistant coach for varsity football. It was there that Bob met Pat, his wife of 27 years.

In 1985, Bob and his family moved to Bozeman, where he earned a master's in counseling from Montana State University.

In 1990, he moved to Hood River to be a high school counselor. He coached basketball and golf and announced sporting events for Hood River Valley Eagles.

Bob planned to retire in 2009, rounding out 44 years in education.

He enjoyed long motorcycle rides on country roads and playing golf with his friends.

Bob was passionate about life and loved his family deeply. He dedicated his life to kids and education and was greatly respected and loved by those he knew. Bob will be forever remembered as a genuine, humble and kind-hearted husband, father, papa and friend.

He is survived by his wife in Hood River; sons Kyle Sullivan of Mills, Wyo., Lance Sullivan of Rapid City, S.D., and Sean Sullivan of Livermore, Calif.; daughters Angie Sullivan-Gray of Corvallis, Ore., and Crystal Sullivan of Hood River; grandchildren Tanner, Taylor, Drew, Madison and Caden Sullivan, and Michael, Matthew and Noah Gray; a brother, John Sullivan of Grand Junction, Colo.; cousins; nephews; other relatives; and many friends.

Memorials may be made to the Bob Sullivan Memorial Scholarship Fund at Key Bank, 1920 12th St., Hood River, OR, 97031.