O’Sullivan – James Pascal (Seamus), 83, of Prince Albert, SK. died Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at Parkridge Centre in Saskatoon, SK.  He passed peacefully with his wife Malou and daughter Patricia by his side after a long battle with dementia.  Jim was born and raised in County Cork, Ireland on July 26, 1932 to Daniel James and Bridget (Madden) O’Sullivan.  He immigrated to Canada in 1953 at the age of 21 with ambition, drive and $23.00 in his pocket.  After a short stint on the railroads he began his training as a Master carpenter.  During this time, he discovered Judo, which would become a life-long passion.  He also met, and married Lorraine Mickel in 1964, his first wife and the mother of his children.  In 1965, a job opportunity as Carpentry Instructor at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary would move them to Prince Albert, SK.  After 9 years of successive promotions within the penitentiary, he was appointed Warden in 1974 and served until his retirement in 1995.  Respected for his fair and firm management, Jim was the longest serving Warden in all of Canada and was beloved by both staff and inmates.  During his tenure he was elected twice as president of the North American Wardens and Superintendents, in 1981-84 and in 1989-1991.  He was awarded Warden of the Year in 1993 and upon his retirement the road O’Sullivan Way, adjacent to the Penitentiary, was named in his honor.  Outside of the penitentiary he was very active in Judo.  Although only a blue belt, he established the Prince Albert Judo Club.  He was the first president of Judo Saskatchewan and the President of the Judo club in Prince Albert for forty years.  He was an official for Judo during the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and earned his 5th degree Black Belt in 1995.  Jim was inducted to the Prince Albert Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame in 2003.  He was also named Kinsmen Sportsman of the Year in 1981.  He was respectfully known as the Father of Judo in Saskatchewan.  As a true and honorable Irishman, Jim was active in the promotion of Irish culture in the province through Irish song and dance.  He was an impressive Irish tenor himself and could always be counted on to share his gift, be it with a traditional Irish song or the national anthem.  He was known to bring a tear to a grown man’s eye during his rendition of Danny boy.  Whether you knew him as Sensei, Warden O’Sullivan, Irish Tenor or friend, the chances are that he remembered you and your name.  He had an uncanny ability for remembering the thousands of people he crossed paths with in his incredibly full life.  After being a widower for 10 years, he met and married Malou Mendoza.  She was his most dedicated and committed companion and they spent their days together travelling, singing and sharing stories.  In recent years he renewed his relationship with God and found peace in his Catholic faith.  Of all his numerous accomplishments and accolades, he was most proud of his 6 children and 14 grandchildren.  He is survived by his wife and companion of seven years, Maria Luisa (Mendoza) O’Sullivan; his son, Kevin (Nadia); daughters, Maureen O’Sullivan, Kathleen Freychet (Danny), Patricia Landry (Blaine), Mary O’Sullivan-Andersen (Jeff) and Siobhan McArthur (Jason) and his fourteen grandchildren: Danielle, Sarah, Olivia, Logan, Caeleigh, Matthew, Abbey, Ashleigh, Jillian, Jordan, Liam, Logan, Isak and Gracie.   He was predeceased by his infant son Michael in 1966; Laurie (Lorraine) O’Sullivan, his wife of 35 years in 1999 and his brother Donal in 2016.  A celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 1401 – 4th Avenue West, Prince Albert, SK, with Celebrant Reverend Father Travis Myrheim.  Interment will be held at Prince Albert Memorial Gardens.  Memorial donations can be made in Jim’s name, to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan, 301 – 2550 – 12th Avenue, Regina, SK S4P 3X1.  As a family we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in recognizing our father and husband, including Parkridge Care in Saskatoon for the care and respect that he received this past year. Arrangements are the in care of Gray’s Funeral Chapel, Prince Albert, SK (306-922-4729).  May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back.  May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

 

• Date : 2016-06-28
• Location : Saskatoon, SK