Daniel Sullivan, helped create Sahalee golf course and club, dies at 79

Daniel Sullivan's legacy will be the 27 holes and 200 acres of golf and homes on the Sammamish Plateau, his family says.

The Northwest native was instrumental in the founding of the Sahalee Country Club east of Lake Sammamish. Exercising an option on about 200 acres of land that is now the golf course and country club, Mr. Sullivan helped create the course, and later he sold lots on the course and participated in its administration, according to his family.

Mr. Sullivan died May 18 from complications related to dementia. He was 79.

Mr. Sullivan was a real-estate broker and investor for most of his life, selling homes across the region.

But his big break came in 1967 when he was approached by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) president about building a golf course on some land Mr. Sullivan had invested in.

Mr. Sullivan's daughter, Lisa Sullivan, said her father had no idea the PNGA was looking for a spot for a tournament-quality golf course in the Northwest when he bought the option on the land.

"It just had all these wonderful trees, so it was the perfect place," she said.

Mr. Sullivan jumped at the opportunity and became friends with the original founders of the course, Lisa Sullivan said. Through those friendships he got the opportunity to sell lots along the course after it was built.

Mr. Sullivan moved his family to the property, where they were some of the first people to live on the course, and opened a real-estate agency on the property, calling it Sahalee Realty, his daughter said.

Mr. Sullivan grew up in the Seattle area, attending O'Dea High School before enlisting in the Navy during World War II. He spent about a year on a ship in the Pacific theater before returning to Seattle to get an accounting degree at the University of Washington on the GI bill.

In 1951, Mr. Sullivan met his future wife, Therese. It was his sense of humor that attracted her to him, she said.

He used to say "live every day as though it's your last, and you'll enjoy life," Therese Sullivan said. "And he did."

Mr. Sullivan retired in about 1982 and traveled the country in an RV with his wife, Lisa Sullivan said.

He called himself "America's guest," using the motorhome to live in spots around the country.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Sullivan is survived by another daughter, Nancy; a son, Daniel; his sister, Virginia Quinn; and 10 grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. May 30 at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 S.E. 240th St. in Kent.

Remembrances can be made to O'Dea High School Scholarship Fund, 802 Terry Ave., Seattle, WA 98104, or the Alzheimer's Association, 12721 30th Ave. N.E., No. 101, Seattle, WA 98125.

Brian Alexander: 206-464-2026 or balexander@seattletimes.com