How It All Began

James P. Sullivan Jr., the oldest child of Jim and Mary Claire, began this email newsletter in 2003. He was inspired by his West Point classmate who created a newsletter for the H-4 company, which Jim emulated for his own company. The format was so well liked that Jim created something similar for our family and friends--what we now call Dear Hearts.

Another source of inspiration for Jim was our grandmother, Frances Wiley, a.k.a. Boom Boom. "Boom had the communication, phone list and a contact compulsion," Jim recalls. "And I always liked how close she and Boompa were to their family and friends. I think the secret is relentless communication," Jim continues. "Never lose touch--and that can happen in a heartbeat."

For 16 years, Jim gathered biographies, offered prayers and celebrated this wonderful circle of family and friends; a family comprised of eight siblings and their spouses (with 24 children among them); 14 cousins and their spouses (with 56 children among them), and friends who are cherished just like family.