Reprint Book Shop

Much beloved poet and writer, Nikki Giovanni, who will be celebrating an important birthday later this year, autographs "Racism 101*" at Reprint Book shop February 1994.

Prize winning journalist Carl Rowan (1925-2000) autographs "Dream Makers, Dream Breakers: The World of Justice Thurgood Marshall" at Reprint Book Shop February 1993.

For those of you who do not already know, we lost our dear brother Sean earlier this month. Sean was an important, even critical, part of the success of Reprint Book Shop and he will be dearly missed.

-Michael Sullivan

Sean Patrick Sullivan

Sean Sullivan, 64, passed away Monday, January 2 in Baltimore, Maryland after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Brinkama, and his three siblings, Michael, Kathleen Greene and Kevin his two step brothers, Steven and Michael Lane as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Born in Lakehurst, NJ in 1958 to a Naval aviator father (blimps, helicopters) and a wonderful Kansas bred mother, Sean literally toured the world before he was five years old. His family returned to Wichita in 1962 and, after his mother remarried in 1967, moved to the west side of town where he eventually attended Wichita West High School from where he graduated in 1975. With his keen interest in history and economics as well as his stellar skills in debate, Sean was accepted into The University of Chicago where he studied finance and urban planning. He later transferred to the University of Maryland and upon graduation was employed in the development of programs providing access to housing for low and moderate income families.

It was, however, Sean’s lifelong love of learning which drew him to his calling, the book trade. His skills in business provided valuable aid and assistance to nearly every book retail interest in the Washington, DC area. Additionally, he very much enjoyed the time he spent with authors, great and small, who toured the DC area during this period of over 30 years. As the book business changed, so did Sean’s approach as he retooled his skills to helping find and complete academic and law libraries for businesses and professionals.

In honor of his wishes there will be no funeral or public remembrance. Sean would have preferred to have his memory preserved by his friends visiting a favorite independent bookstore and buying a good book either for themselves or for someone else. The spread of good writing and ideas is what will truly ‘pay it forward’.