John Sullivan was on my list of New Hampshire registered architects. I pulled in to his driveway in my red Volkswagen beetle. My hair was shoulder length at the time. I wore khakis and a light blue shirt to lend an air of professionalism and to counteract any potential negative feelings against young men with long hair. I carried student drawings from recent courses at the Boston Architectural Center rolled up in a black 3 inch mailing tube plus my résumé. My approach was to show up to each architectural office unannounced and ask if they needed some drafting help.

John Sullivan extended his hand and bid me to come in to his office. It was a small single room building with one door to the house and the other facing his driveway. I felt at ease with him right from the beginning. I unrolled my drawings, he examined them and said nice work. He said my stopping by was timely as he was hoping to secure a job very soon and to come back in a week. I dutifully showed up in a week to find he secured a commission to design a high school and that I would be employed.

John Sullivan had spent years working in architectural firms in Boston and Washington D.C. before becoming a registered architect and settling in Contoocook, NH. He added new words to my lexicon like nomenclature. He patiently showed me how to make architectural working drawings. We created thirteen D size drawings for the high school project. Working drawings contain information contractors use to estimate cost and to construct a building.

It was a privilege to work for John David Sullivan. I remember and miss him.