James T. O’Sullivan

James T. O’Sullivan, age 80 of Manahawkin, NJ died peacefully on Friday, August 26, 2022. Jim had lived in Brooklyn for sixty years before retiring in 2001 to Beech Mountain Lake in the Poconos, and he lived more recently in Manahawkin, NJ.

Jim was an electrical engineer with the New York Transit Authority and IBEW Local 3 throughout his entire career before retiring in 2001. He was a bit of legend during his tenure there, and he was especially proud for having been part of the team of engineers that developed a new and specialized switching system for the subway. He truly enjoyed his years there, and the many good friends he made in the tunnels. He was a gifted engineer, and even after retiring in 2001, he continued consulting for many more years.

Jim was born in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn, NY, the youngest of four children in his family. He went on to graduate from Chelsea Vocational High School and promptly joined the U.S. Army. He took full advantage of the G.I. Bill after his discharge and graduated from Brooklyn College with a degree in electrical engineering. He accomplished all of this while being married, having children, and working a full-time job (and sometimes two jobs!). He was committed to making a good life for his family, and he worked hard to do just that throughout his entire career.

While serving in the U.S. Army, Jim was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany and it was here that he met a cute German girl named Heidemarie Vehse. Thus began a love affair that has lasted nearly sixty years! Although Heidi’s parents were not so supportive of the relationship at first, Jim proposed to Heidi upon her first visit to the United States in 1962, and they were married just three months later. They settled in Brooklyn to build a life together and raise their family. Jim was a naturally loving husband and a great father. He became a sort of ‘neighborhood father’ to many kids on the block and he was always there to help someone in need. Together with Heidi, they built a very strong, loving, and close-knit family. Their home was the place where aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends alike would gather, and Jim provided plenty of comedy and laughter for everyone. After retiring, Jim and Heidi moved to Beech Mountain, PA, in the Poconos. Jim became an avid boater and loved cruising around on the lake. In 2016, Jim and Heidi moved to live with their daughter in Manahawkin, NJ and have been there ever since.

Jim is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years; Heidemarie (nee Vehse), their three children; Corinna Byrne and her husband Kevin of Wayne, Eileen Erwin-Michael and her husband Jared of Verona, and Sean O’Sullivan of W. Babylon, NY, ten grandchildren; Meghan (Kevin Solomon), Matthew, Elizabeth, Brendan, Erin, Thomas, Caleigh, James, David, and Katie, a sister; Ann Denning of Staten Island, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Maureen in 2015, and by his brother Jack in 2014.