Dorothy Ann Sullivan

Dorothy Ann “Dee” Sullivan, age 80, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2026 at her home in Columbia, Maryland, surrounded by her loving family.

Dee is survived by her devoted husband of 46 years, Fredrick Edward “Ed” Wood of Columbia, Maryland; her daughters, Kathleen Leverenz (Zach) of Cabin John, Maryland, and Mary Elizabeth “Mary Beth” Wood of Denver, Colorado; her stepson, Skip Sugarman (Marisa) of Atlanta, Georgia; and her beloved grandchildren, Sullivan "Van" and Colette "Coco" Leverenz, Miles and Sawyer Sugarman, and Stephanie Jones (Chris). She is also survived by her sisters, Martha Lochary and Lucille Selfridge (William), along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and dear friends.

Born on January 21, 1946, in Somerville, Massachusetts, Dee was the third daughter of the late Joseph Sullivan and Dorothy Burns Sullivan. She grew up in Catonsville, Maryland, where she attended St. Mark Catholic School and graduated from Catonsville High School in 1964. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland, College Park.

More than anything else, Dee will be remembered for the quiet way she cared for people. She never sought recognition or attention, but she had a remarkable gift for making others feel welcomed, supported, and loved. Whether it was hosting friends and neighbors, cooking for family, checking in with a phone call, or dropping everything to help someone in need, Dee showed her love by consistently showing up. She had an easy smile, laughed often, and made people feel comfortable simply by being with her.

Family was the center of Dee's life. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Her happiest role was being Grandma, or "Dee Dee," to her grandchildren. They couldn't wait to race through her front door, and she was always just as excited to see them. Her home was a second home to them: a place filled with fun, laughter, and the comfort of knowing they were deeply loved. She never minded a last-minute call asking her to babysit because time with her grandchildren was one of her greatest joys.

Dee balanced a successful professional career with raising her family. She founded her own consulting company, Sullivan and Associates, providing peer review support for research programs at the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Department of Defense's breast cancer research program. Later, she joined the National Cancer Institute, where she spent 12 years leading communications for a landmark clinical trial evaluating cancer screening methods. She was proud of her work and continued working beyond retirement age because she genuinely enjoyed contributing and valued her independence.

Outside of work, Dee embraced life with curiosity and enthusiasm. She and Ed loved traveling, entertaining friends, sharing good meals and wine, and dancing. They always planned fun trips with family and friends, creating countless memories over the years including ski vacations out West with friends and their daughters, biking trips, wine tours in Europe, and annual trips to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Chautauqua Institution. Proud of her Irish heritage, Dee had long hoped to visit Ireland and was grateful to have the opportunity to make that trip with her family after her ALS diagnosis. Dee also enjoyed gardening, biking, reading, knitting, workout classes, and creating a warm home where family and friends always felt welcome. No matter what they were doing—working, traveling, or simply sharing a glass of wine on the deck—people loved being with Dee.

Dee was also deeply committed to serving her community. She regularly campaigned for democratic candidates, attended demonstrations and for many years volunteered with The Village in Howard, driving older adults to appointments and helping neighbors remain independent in their own homes. It was a role that reflected the nurturing person she was.

Dee faced ALS with remarkable grace, strength, and acceptance. Although the disease gradually took away her independence, it never changed who she was. Even in the most difficult days, her thoughts remained focused on the comfort and well-being of others, especially her family. Throughout her illness, she and Ed were deeply grateful for the extraordinary support of their family, friends, caregivers, The Village, and the teams at Johns Hopkins and the ALS Association, whose compassion and dedication brought comfort during an unimaginably difficult journey.

Dee leaves behind a family shaped by the way she loved them. She taught those who loved her that caring for others is found not in grand gestures, but in the quiet, everyday ways we choose to show up for one another. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Dee's memory to the ALS Association.