GUILDERLAND — Edward J. Sullivan Jr. “was a good guy,” says his brother, David.

Ed Sullivan grew up in Guilderland, where he learned his strong work ethic from his father. He worked as a printer in the family business and also volunteered with his parents and brothers in the local rescue squad.

“You could count on him,” said his brother David Sullivan.

Edward Sullivan died on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, in Oneonta, New York, where he had lived. He was 78.

Born in Schenectady on Nov. 18, 1940, he was the son of the late Edward J. Sullivan Sr. and Alice (née Kane) Sullivan.

“Our dad had a printing business in the basement of our house, Albany Printing Company,” said David Sullivan. “Our mother did office work for the business.”

The Sullivans’ home and business were at the corner of Van Wie Terrace and Route 20 in Westmere.

The family was deeply involved in community service. “My dad was captain of the Western Turnpike Rescue Squad. My mother and dad would both go out,” said David Sullivan. In time, all three Sullivan boys joined the squad and answered calls.

Edward Sullivan also volunteered with the Westmere Fire Department. “All of us did; we followed in Dad’s footsteps,” said David Sullivan.

Edward also followed his father’s career path. After graduating from Guilderland High School, he worked first for the family printing business and later was employed at Williams Press in Menands.

He fell in love with Carol Jean Enoch. “She was a peach,” said David Sullivan.

They married and raised three sons and a daughter. “He was a good dad,” said David Sullivan. “They went camping together at Thompsons Lake.”

“He did part-time jobs to make money to raise his family,” said David Sullivan. “We all learned that from my dad — the work ethic.”

Later in his career, Mr. Sullivan owned and operated multiple Pepperidge Farm bread routes all along the Capital District. “He owned the routes; he turned one over to his son Daniel … He couldn’t take the hopping up and down from the truck anymore.”

Mr. Sullivan had long spent winters in Brooksville, Florida. “After Thanksgiving dinner, he’d head for Florida,” said his brother.

David Sullivan, who worked as a Guilderland school bus driver, joined his brother in Florida for winter break. Ed Sullivan loved riding his Honda Goldwing motorcycle and David, who is not a biker himself, enjoyed riding behind him, on the back of the bike.

Edward Sullivan also rode with the GoldWings of Oneonta.

“He knew what he liked to do, and he did it,” his brother said. “He had lots of friends.”

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Edward J. Sullivan Jr. is survived by his sons, Michael Sullivan of Charlton, New York, his wife, Diane, and their children, Zach, Jayson, and Morgan; Brian L. Sullivan of Jacksonville, Florida, his wife, Karen, and their daughter, Lindsey; Daniel P. Sullivan of Albany and his daughter, Brittany; by the children of his late daughter, Jessica and Chad Toocheck, of Medina, Ohio; and by his brother, David Sullivan, and his wife, Paula, of Westmere.

His wife, Carol Jean (née Enoch) Sullivan, died before him, as did their daughter, Mary Alice (née Sullivan) Toocheck; his brother, Paul Sullivan; and his sister, Carol Kreag Sullivan.

Mourners may leave condolences online below.

Services will be private.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer