Obituary: Dennis Sullivan

Dennis Hal Sullivan, Ph.D, died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. 

He was born in Modesto, California on July 26, 1945 to Paul and Betty Sullivan. 

He grew up in Cranford, N.J. He received his B.A. from Williams College in 1967, and his M.A. and Ph.D. were from Princeton University in 1970 and 1975, respectively. Dennis met Helen Nay in Dayton, OH, while Dennis was serving as a First Lieutenant in the Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base; they married on July 1, 1972. They were happily married for 53 years, having two children, Deirdre and Paul. 

They came to Oxford in 1973, and Den rose to Full Professor in Economics at Miami University. He co-wrote two professional books including POORLY PAID: Work and the Well-Being of Low-Income Families. He also taught at Vanderbilt University, Syracuse University, Semmering, Austria, and MUDEC in Luxembourg. Dennis, Helen and Paul were members of Faith Lutheran Church, Oxford for many years. Dennis loved music, was an avid folk singer, and player of guitar and banjo. He performed in church, class, and occasionally in shows. He enjoyed playing and watching sports, and was coach and pitcher for The Invisible Hands, an intramural softball team. In 2001, he was awarded the Outstanding Professor Award by Miami University Student Government.

After retirement, Dennis and Helen moved to East Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, overlooking the Ohio River. They loved attending cultural events of all sorts, and they traveled widely, visiting every continent save Antarctica. They joined Hyde Park United Methodist Church, and made friends while attending the Over the Rhine branch church. Recently, they moved to The Knolls of Oxford.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, and by his daughter, Deidre. He leaves behind his wife, Helen, son Paul and many, many friends and relatives.

This obituary was originally published by Paul R. Young Funeral Home and has been edited for length.