From Josh Smith Executive Director of People in Progress;

It is with deep sadness that I must tell you that Dennis O’Sullivan succumbed to cancer at 8:05 on Tuesday, January 17, 2012. Dennis was not only the past Executive Director of People In Progress, but one of our clients in 1990. Since that time, Dennis quite literally dedicated his life to helping others, not only at the agency, but also in the community at large, having served on numerous boards and committees.

In speaking with his neighbor this past weekend, he recounted to me that Dennis said that he was at peace and acceptance with his illness and said that he was “leaving this life having helped more people than he hurt.” We should all be so fortunate.
At Dennis’ request no formal arrangements will be made.

DENNIS M. O'SULLIVAN - BIOGRAPHY             

Born in North Hollywood,  Calif.  Second of two sons. Parents both born in N.Y.C., N.Y. 1st generation Americans. All grandparents born in Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland.

Education:
St. Charles Borromeo grammar school No. Hollywood, Ca.
Attended High School at St Nicholas of Tolentine, Bronx, N.Y.  
Business Law and Business Mgt. classes - University of Hawaii extension.
Graduate of L.A. Mission College Chemical Dependency studies program.

Military: Honorably discharged Vietnam Era veteran. 1965-1967

Honor graduate – Non-Commissioned Officers Leadership Academy – Ft. McClellan, AL 1967

Employment: 15 years as a motion picture camera technician freelancing for major motion picture and television producers. Also worked in various management positions in the retail and food and beverage industries.

Current: Volunteer position in 1990 turned into paid position with People In Progress, Inc. Worked thru various positions retiring as Executive Director in February 2011. People In Progress is a social service agency providing program services to the homeless and indigent who primarily have problems with alcohol and drug dependencies. People In
Progress also contracts with the Veterans Administration to provide services for homeless veterans.

*Community Service*

Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council – President 2004-5

Councilman Tony Cardenas’ appointee; Bradley Landfill Advisory Comm. 2003-2009

Councilman Tony Cardenas’ appointee; Neighborhood Council Review Commission
2006-7

4th of July at Hansen Dam Committee- President 1997 to 2006

Sun Valley Area Chamber of Commerce 1994-Present, President 1996 - 98 & 2009

SFV Veterans Day Parade Committee, organizing committee 2004 to 2011,  Treasurer 2004 to 2007

Providers Collaborative of the San Fernando Valley - Chair 1996 to 2011

Mayor James Hahn’s appointee:
Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority Commission 2002 - 2004

Affordable Housing Trust Fund 2002

L.A.U.S.D. Redistricting Commission 2002

Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg’s Public Safety Commission 1999 to 2002

Member of and various positions for:

     San Fernando Valley Homeless Coalition

     Pierce College Addiction Studies Advisory Board

     Combined Health Appeal of California - Board member 1998 to 2000


*** There is planning currently to have an informal service at People in Progress, Sun Valley, Information will be posted once available. ***

The Sun Valley Chamber of Commerce wishes to encourage those wanting to honor Dennis O'Sullivan's memory do so through a donation to People in Progress.

_ The I-5 Conceptual Study will be presented to the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board on January 12, 2012.  The Board meeting will be held at Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) headquarters in the Board Room starting at 10:00 a.m.

To view the full I-5 Conceptual Study report, please visit: http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/2012_January.aspx.

 
If you are unable to attend the Board meeting, you are welcome to join us via live video stream at: http://bit.ly/wNfzSZ.

For more information about the Board meeting, including the Agenda, visit: http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/monthly_brdmtg.aspx. 

The California High-Speed Rail Authority is developing a San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles and Anaheim high-speed rail system that will operate at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour.  The full system will connect all of the state’s major urban centers, including Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego.  Initial infrastructure construction will begin in the Central Valley, the backbone of the system, in 2012.  The project will generate 100,000 construction related jobs over the next five years and nearly one million economy-wide jobs over the life of the project.  The project is being funded through voter-approved state bonds, federal funding grants, local funding, and public-private partnerships.      

For more information about the California High-Speed Rail project and for more specific information about route alignments, we invite you to visit: www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov or call (916) 324-1541.