Well.... It almost seems like you have something share?

It's clever of the Arlington Boys & Girls Club to make public their year long third-party investigation just prior to what might be the "Storm of the Century".

I'm glad someone else said it. #Blizzard2013

I was reading a comment a couple of hours ago, then I got interrupted, I just came back, clicked on the article again, and the comment I was previously reading has since disspeared. I says there are 6 comments, but when I expand it, I am only seeing 5 comments now? anybody know what happened to the other comment?

The storm will not kill this story. Believe me, this is going to get a lot worse.

I just spoke with a friend who grew up in Arlington and went to the Arlington Boys Club. This guy Sully was known as a lunatic, and yet, they put him in charge of the place. According to my friend, the guy used to go around slapping boys' butts with a towel.

At the Charlestown Boys Club in the forties, fifties, and sixties, there was a guy named Ed Darragh. Take a look at his criminal record at http://www.CharlestownBoysClub.org. He was the club director. And while you're there, take a look around and read about how the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston have been dealing with some of the sixties victims who have come forward. PLEASE SHARE! There's a reason why this hasn't come out yet, and it starts with all the reasons that the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston have to keep it quiet.

I spent my life going to the club, back then it was the Arlington Boys Club. I knew Sully for years, I grew up with him, as a kid, through my teens, and knew him as an adult. He was never inappropriate. He was a decent guy, I went on ski trips with him, and never once--in all those years--did me or any of my friends experience anything inappropriate in his presence. I have no doubt these lies are being spread around because someone wants money by smearing the good name of a man I know was a good guy. Sully RIP.

.

Totally agree with you, Atowner. I spent years with this wonderful man, met his relatives, worked with him. I trusted him with my own kids (who have only the most incredible things to say about him), and only wish he had lived so that my grandkids could have known him. My late parents thought the world of him, as did my brother, my sister, and more friends than I can count from those many years at the Boys club.

The world was a better place when Sully was in it. He was one of a kind.

My older brother and I spent our youth attending and participating in all areas of the Boy's Club (and later Boy's and Girl's Club); including boating, boxing, swimming, and selling Christmas trees during the Holiday. We were considered part of the "regulars" who returned from summer to summer; who sat behind the desk; and were chosen to help the adult volunteers.

We were mentored by Sully, Brian, Steve, Betsey, Mark, and other adult volunteers; and we mentored younger (and sometimes troubled) members. It was a safe and comforting environment for me. In fact, my brother and I appreciated the organization so much that we donated our sailboat for the next generation of members to enjoy the same benefits we were fortunate enough to receive when we attended the club.

Sully was regularly responsible for us and other friends (mostly other sets of brothers from Arlington like us and surrounding communities) during countless events, areas, and recreation.

Honest to God... NEVER inappropriate. Never. I am highly skeptical of the accusation(s) due to my experience with the accused.

That's not to say that the accusers are lying because everyone's experience is unique. Hopefully the investigation will find that no child was hurt. If so, may that person(s) find the help they need.

Respectfully,
Edward M.

I too knew Sully very well from the mid 60's to 70's as a little boy from a broken home. Went with him to St. Clemon's HS bball games, camping, waterskiing, sailing, swimming, bbal and floor hockey with the Keystone Club etc. Sully consistently set a very good example, didn't swear, smoke, drink or tolerate bullying - took care of his aging parents, was a father figure to hundreds of kids like myself who remember his thunderous voice, "stand up, line up & shut up" to 100's of little hyperactive kids. Sully was a great man in my eyes, never once in over a decade did I ever see anything but goodness....one man's dope slap is another's assault and battery?... a slap on the butt is a sexual assault? ....my experiences with Sully were the best, I consider him an influential positive role model and father figure...I am a better person because of him!....the doubt and accusatons are so very troubling!

This is a well written document but what jumped out at me was this line, "In the course of the investigation, we were deeply troubled to discover that similar allegations of abuse had been made concerning Mr. Sullivan.". We should not be attacking victims of a crime. As my mom always says "there are 2 sides to every story."

Please, spare us the legal threats. The only people who have made irresponsible comments here are the bullies and apologists who have lobbed a persistent and unwavering bombardment of efforts to scare people away from this public forum, apparently with some success. Let's hope this matter does get into court, so everything can be documented and proven AND PUT INTO THE RECORD FOR PROSPERITY. That would be very satisfying, indeed.

To MikeR, I hope you are not implying that because someone did not know this gentleman that they have no right commenting.

Folks, Be Aware! The apparent efforts to stifle comment on allegations that William "Sully" Sullivan molested kids at the Arlington Boys and Girls Club FOR DECADES has now spread to other public forums, specifically at the Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/arlington/2013/02/police_probe_allegations_of_se.html?comments=all#aComments

If you want to see justice in your town, you're going to have to fight for it because, as I've alleged, very powerful efforts are underway to prevent that from happening.

Please follow the link to the Boston Globe story and defend the accusers.

Please note that the website seems to work only in Firefox. And the thread seems heavily censored. I could tell you stories about the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston and the Boston Globe, but you'll have to go to my website to read them there. The documents will be posted next week.

Hopefully, I've fought off the Cyveillance posters, which is what I am alleging (and, yes, I have rock solid proof that Cyveillance was hired by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston to fight these posts in the past and DID write and publish extremely defamatory posts about accusers in the past - again, rock solid proof; just ask for it). I know that some of the posters are just knuckle-headed Arlington natives, but some of them are proven imposters as well. Just Google "Cyveillance," and see for yourself what business they're into.

Please help defend the accusers on the Boston Globe site. Thanks!

I was not with Sully 100% of his life so I can’t verify what he did or didn’t do 24 hours a day. All I can say is what I have read is NOT the Man I knew for many years

What I can say as a former member and employee of the club from age 8 to 22 is that I only have good and happy thoughts of Sully.

Where would a lot of us have ended up if not for Sully, I hate to imagine.

Sully taught me to water ski. Snow ski, took us roller skating, camping and so many other things us city kids would NEVER have been able to do. Sully was a good man who cared about us kids.

Well thank for listening. Personally I want to thank Sully and the entire Staff of the Club, past and present for making such a positive difference in my life.

Sully R.I.P.

Dennis member and Staff from 1965 to 1980

For the women who's friend told her what he said Sully had done whether allegations are true or false as a parent our first and foremost obligation is your child and his or her safety. If my friend told me that I would not have sent my child back to the club ever I would not have called and said keep Sully away from my children. My daughter also spent many years at the club and I feel that if something had happened she would have told me right away so what took so long for this to come forward??

"so what took so long for this to come forward??"

A deliberate and highly organized conspiracy to cover it up, that's what, in my opinion. How else could it have gone on for decades, as has been alleged?

Carol I agree with you. As a parent I also would have taken this information seriously. I'm sure those who speak highly of Mr. Sullivan had wonderful experiences with him. But, there are victims involved here who did not. Pedophiles target kids who are shy, needy. or come from troubled homes. They shower them with the attention they need. This is part of the manipulation. Other children may be totally unaware at the time. I think that's why so many people have strong feelings about this issue, kind of a "if it didn't happen to me, it didn't happen" attitude. I think it's important now to wait for all the facts to come out, and to ensure that all agencies in Arlington have measures in place for reporting and follow thru of any complaints regarding children. Civilized adults should be able to discuss issues on both sides without facing name calling and hostility. When I read a post that has this I disregard anything further this person may share, and also question their motives.

I worked briefly at the Arlington Boys & Girls Club in 1980. The parents of a wonderful boy brought to the attention of the then Director that their child had been molested by the Swim Coach (not Sully) numerous times. This family had taken the Swim Coach into their home to recover from a hernia operation. The Swim Coach admitted the sexual abuse to the Director & a few others close to the Director. He was told to immediately leave town & the matter was swept under the rug. The family did not want to prosecute & the Director did not want the Club's image tarnished. I don't know about Sully, but its entirely possible they looked the other way for many, many years..

I didn't go to the police in 1994 because my friend wasn't ready to do that, and what he experienced happened in the 1970s; he figured the police would do nothing about it. I did not know of current abuse in 1994, only what my friend told me happened to him. In retrospect, going to the Club with the information was not enough. I wish I had done more, and I'm sorry for anyone who may have been hurt because I did not. I do not have an ax to grind-I don't know Dan Brosnan. I do remember the secretary as a very kind woman. I also can say that the Boys and Girls Club is a wonderful community resource, with staff who genuinely care about children and families. However, something clearly is amiss if a pedophile was able to work there for 40 years. Surely I am not the only person who knew or heard of his proclivities? The days of looking the other way and sweeping the dirt under the rug have to be over. I spoke up because I saw on these online forums that people were demonizing the people who have come forward with their stories of abuse as kids, and canonizing the man in question. I feel for those who loved Sully; no one wants to hear that their hero had a dark side. The only way to restore health to the Club is to first shine a bright light on the problem. Hopefully, all victims and witnesses will find the courage to come forward, will be supported by the community, and the Club can move ahead determined that every child in its care will be safe.

This is a very common scenario,unfortunately. Abuse victims rarely come forward until years later due to fear and embarrassment. The abusers are very clever chameleons and are almost always well regarded in the community. Keep an eye on any adult who works with children and then also spends all their free time with them, does overnights with children and gives gifts to children. Typically these abusers also have outbursts of inappropriate anger, are manipulative and always have favorites.. They cross boundaries with children normal adults would never do.

Ms. Nauman, everyone who cares about the individuals who were hurt as children appreciates what you have said here and especially your efforts to bring forward corroboration. However, those who would endeavor to conspire, discredit, and cover up absolutely hate you, which, in this case, is a very good distinction.

For those of you that view sully as a good man.. I see him as a sick perverted monster!!
I am one of the men who came forward, Not in 2011 but in 2002 when that bastard was still alive.
In 2002 I was not interested in any monetary gain.
I was going to confront him face to face and believe me it wasn't going to end well for sweet old sully..
I am no longer the 40 lb kid he molested..
I have a letter from the Boys club in 2002 stating how deeply sorry they were and assured me they would put things in place to keep this from happening again.
The pervert died before I could get to him (I HOPE IT WAS A PAINFULL DEATH)
I put it to rest and tried to go on with my life until this past November when I was contacted by the boys club telling me another victim came forward and they were going to report it to the Police and DA.
Now I find that the Boys club had alligations against sully and others going back decades?
How many kids were molested before I was? and how many times did they cover it up?
I am having a very hard time dealing with all this, I really thought the Boys Club was being honest with me back in 2002, Now I have lost all faith in what I was told.

For those of you that view sully as a good man.. I see him as a sick perverted monster!!
I am one of the men who came forward, Not in 2011 but in 2002 when that bastard was still alive.
In 2002 I was not interested in any monetary gain.
I was going to confront him face to face and believe me it wasn't going to end well for sweet old sully..
I am no longer the 40 lb kid he molested..
I have a letter from the Boys club in 2002 stating how deeply sorry they were and assured me they would put things in place to keep this from happening again.
The pervert died before I could get to him
I put it to rest and tried to go on with my life until this past November when I was contacted by the boys club telling me another victim came forward and they were going to report it to the Police and DA.
Now I find that the Boys club had alligations against sully and others going back decades?
How many kids were molested before I was? and how many times did they cover it up?
I am having a very hard time dealing with all this, I really thought the Boys Club was being honest with me back in 2002, Now I have lost all faith in what I was told.

This guy and his behavior is a "text book" ped. I was never victimized but his guy used to stand in the showers yelling at all the boys to "get those suits off" give kids "pink bellies" with his beard. Ya that's normal....Jerry Sanduski used to work with kids too...

J L R
Sully sexually abused me at the Arlington Boys Club when I was a grade school boy in the 1960s.
Rest in peace, Sully.
Me? My day of rest is yet to come.

I applaud your bravery and your courage. Let's hope that others are able to find their courage as well so that those who are destined to live in fear will finally have hope as well.

judging by the posts here, arlington hasn't changed much in the last 30 years. that's not a compliment...