Deborah Sullivan

Deborah Lou DeHaan Sullivan, longtime resident of Columbus and Worthington, left this world December 11 at 68 years of age after a long and valiant battle with a rare illness.

Deb will be remembered for her ornery sense of humor - which frequently ignited uncontrollable laughter - her grace as a dancer, her insistence upon sleeping in, and her love of the beach, her friends, and her family.

She was preceded in death by parents Margaret (Andrews) and Wolbert DeHaan, grandparents Martha Lou (Pursley) and James Victor Andrews, and Elizabeth (Van Derby) and Harm DeHaan.

She is survived by her husband of 41 years Terence (Terry) Sullivan, daughter Elizabeth (Libby) Leigh Montgomery (Brandon), son Michael Patrick Sullivan (Melissa), daughter Margaret (Maggie) Ellen Sullivan, adoring grandchildren Sullivan Lou Montgomery, Jane Marie Montgomery, and Gilligan Richard Merrick, and brothers David DeHaan (Karen), and Michael DeHaan (Elizabeth).

A native of Detroit, Deborah earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Michigan State University in 1973.

After working for Representative Jackie Vaughn III of Detroit, the first African American to serve as president pro tempore of the Michigan Senate, she embarked on a decorated career as a journalist. She began as an  anchor and reporter at WHIS radio, then moved to television as a reporter, news and weather anchor at WVVA-TV, both in Bluefield. Her reputation as a great writer and storyteller earned her an opportunity as an anchor, reporter, and producer at WBNS-10TV in Columbus, where she spent more than seven years contributing to, and leading, the station’s top-rated newscasts.

Deb then followed her passion for the law to roles at the Columbus Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association, where she was director of bar services. In that role she was responsible for ensuring that every inmate who was involved in the 1993 riots at the Lucasville prison received legal representation, and led the creation of the Ohio Commission on Racial Fairness at the Supreme Court of Ohio, focused on identifying racial bias and proposing methods for eliminating it from the legal profession and the justice system.

She ended her professional career serving 13 years as Executive Director at the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE). When she retired in 2012 she had grown the organization and its state-wide Mock Trial competition to one of the largest in the country. She was honored with OCLRE’s highest award, the Founder’s Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the ideals and growth of civics and law-related education.

Family will receive visitors at Linworth Baptist Church, 6200 Linworth Road in Worthington Sunday, December 15, 2019 from 3-5pm with a brief memorial service to follow from 5-5:30pm. The family wishes to express its warmest appreciation and love to two of Deb’s most ardent caregivers, J. R. Glenn and Marlo Moore, as well as all of the nurses and professionals at Ohio Health Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Deborah DeHaan Scholarship Fund at the OCLRE, which supports schools in need of financial assistance to participate in OCLRE programs (contributions to the Fund can be made online or by mail to the OCLRE at 1700 Lake Shore Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43204 by writing “DeHaan Fund” in the check memo line).