Julie Sullivan

Julie Ann Marie Sullivan from Loveland, CO passed away on June 27^th, 2022, at age 68 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s.  She was born in Comfrey, MN on October 28, 1953, and moved to Colorado when she was 15 years old.  She graduated from Loveland High School in 1972.

Julie became interested in emergency medicine after high school and became an EMT in 1976.  Her EMS career began on July 31, 1976 - the first night of the Big Thompson Flood. Julie went on to Paramedic school and graduated Salutatorian of her class in 1980.  She was involved in many historic events during her 25-year EMS career in Loveland and touched and saved many lives in the community.  Julie started the first accredited EMT & First Responder training Academy in Northern Colorado as she transitioned “off the streets.”  She retired as Deputy Chief at Thompson Valley EMS in 2001 - leading the Academy and teaching hundreds of EMTs and first responders.

After leaving Thompson Valley EMS Julie decided to pursue her bachelor’s degree and received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Colorado State University in 2003.  After receiving a master’s degree in Anthropology, Julie became a professor in the Ethnic Studies department.  She became an accomplished anthropologist, studying and serving indigenous peoples around the world.  She was a passionate advocate for equality and justice in her community, and she challenged her students to think about the world from different cultural perspectives.  Julie was also the Academic Director for the Iraqi Young Leaders Program, coordinating summer service-learning programs for hundreds of professional students from Iraq.  She was twice honored as “The Student Athlete Professor of the Year” and was honored as the Leader of the CSU’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade.

Julie spent many summers trekking through the mountain jungles of Chiapas, Mexico (often by herself or with her young son Alex) where she brought medical supplies to remote indigenous populations and taught emergency medical care.  She was also a tireless volunteer on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation.  For years Julie coordinated an annual coat, winter supplies and financial donations campaign that took truckloads of donations to the reservations annually.  She also sponsored and coordinated CSU student volunteer trips to “the Rez.”  Students volunteered on sustainability projects, working and learning alongside members of the Lakota Sioux tribe.

There wasn’t a person Julie wouldn’t talk to or willing to help.  She often received letters of appreciation for paying for someone’s children to get into the recreation center, helping someone with grocery money and often, saving someone’s life.  She had a heart of gold and would do anything for her family, friends, and complete strangers alike.  But she cared for nothing more than her three boys and her grandchildren and was the epitome of a “Mama Bear.”  Julie cherished her farm and all her animals, especially her Clydesdales: Rosie and Buster.  She enjoyed “side jobs” donating her chicken eggs to raise money for “the Rez” and selling her homegrown honeycomb at farmer’s markets.  She was always on the move and loved to run, walk, hike, backpack, and camp with her friends and grandchildren.  She traveled often and enjoyed scuba diving all over the world. Experiences were always more important to her than gifts! 

Julie is proceeded in death by her “Daddy” Lyle Edwin Tams, Mother Ilene Tams, and her beloved sister “Memba”, Maureen Cirks.  She is survived by her son’s Chris Sullivan (Katie), Scott Sullivan, Alex Brink (Peyton), grandchildren Ayden Sullivan, Lilly-Ann Sullivan, Grady Sullivan, Lyla Brink, and her brothers Greg Tams (Terri) and Paul Tams (Valerie).

Donations can be made in Julie’s name to CureAlz (www.CureAlz.org) an organization dedicated to funding Alzheimer’s research.  A Celebration of Life with food and drink will be held at Ellis Ranch in Loveland, CO on July 20th from 11:00 – 2:00.  If possible, please RSVP by July 15th at http://evite.me/rwJzTSyfZY

We love you 60 Million Jules!