Jane Sullivan’s dedication to the City of Surrey is something “no one should forget,” says a former Surrey mayor.
Sullivan was Surrey’s city clerk for nearly a decade when she died in the early morning of Jan. 10 of a terminal illness “that was diagnosed a very short time ago,” according to Rob Costanzo, general manager of corporate services. Costanzo said Sullivan started working with the city in 2007 as deputy city clerk before moving into her role as city clerk in 2009.
“After serving passionately from a position that she loved and took great pride in, she had planned to retire early this year which makes news of her passing especially heartbreaking,” Costanzo told the Now-Leader.
“More importantly, Jane was a kind and caring person who was loved by all who knew her. She will be sadly missed as a friend and a member of our organization.”
Former mayor Linda Hepner, who worked with Sullivan for about 11 years, said she only found out about Sullivan’s illness the week before she passed.
Hepner said Sullivan didn’t want people to know.
“I think knowing that she was as sick as she was and had been given the diagnosis that she was given, and that she still participated not only in the election, but in the inauguration afterwards, tells you how committed she was to the work she was doing and to the processes at city hall,” Hepner said.
“She could have at any time during that gone home and taken care of herself, instead she chose to take care of the city. That’s a legacy that no one should forget because she gave some her very last, most precious time to the city.”
While Hepner couldn’t reveal much more of Sullivan’s illness, other than it was cancer, she said that by the time it was diagnosed, she was at stage four.
Hepner said Sullivan was an “integral part of the City of Surrey’s administration.”
“She’s going to be very, very deeply missed.”
Sullivan also worked with former mayor Dianne Watts for at least nine years.
Watts said she had the “utmost respect” for Sullivan.
“She was an amazing individual, consummate professional and just an absolutely amazing person,” she said. “We worked, as my term as mayor, we worked very closely together. She was a great support to me and she was also a good friend.
“She was always, always there for everyone, whether it was personal or professional,” said Watts, adding that Sullivan was “very well-respected” among her colleagues.
Like Hepner, Watts said she only found out recently about Sullivan’s diagnosis and she said hearing about Sullivan being sick and dying “so quickly has just been really devastating for a lot of people.”
Mayor Doug McCallum said that while he had only known Sullivan “for a short time,” she was a “true professional and she performed her role as city clerk with passion and integrity.”
In the times that McCallum worked with Sullivan, he said “she really had a warm spirit that we all felt and appreciated.”
Hepner said Sullivan made a lot of friends at the city. She said when Sullivan would get together with some of her staff, there were “lots of giggles.”
“I’m going to miss her,” Hepner said.
Hepner said she didn’t know what Sullivan had planned for a memorial service, but said she does know Sullivan had a hand in planning it.
“Which is really quite like Jane,” Hepner said with a laugh.
“Let’s just make sure everything is working the way I want it to work.”
Sullivan’s family is hosting a small service which is not open to the public.
lauren.collins@surreynowleader.com
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