In Honor of Marygail
Marygail Sullivan was born on February 16, 1954 in Wisconsin and lived a full life across the country — from Colorado to Oregon, where she spent decades building community and friendships. She proudly worked in the trades for much of her career, one of the first women to do so, helping pave the way for others. She was always engaged — in activism, in professional associations, from women in trades groups to the association for home inspectors. She had a gift for teaching and mentorship in many forms, including training adult learners to become licensed home inspectors.
She had a rare ability to form deep and lasting bonds with people she often met as children and carry those friendships for the rest of her life. She believed in people's potential, sometimes long before they believed in it themselves, and she never stopped showing up for the ones she loved.
She was a feminist, a civil rights activist, a gay rights advocate, and a lifelong champion of progressive ideals. Her home was filled with RFK and JFK buttons and memorabilia from the '60s — including an original newspaper announcing JFK's assassination. She believed in that era's vision of what America could be and fought for it until the end.
Dan Tran came into Marygail's life as a child after the loss of his parents, and she became effectively a parent to him. She was his person, and he was hers. Dan is now an artist at North Pole Art Studio in Portland, and it is in Marygail's memory that we invite you to support the studio and the artists it champions.
Marygail passed away on March 13, 2026, surrounded by people who loved her. She will be deeply missed — and if she touched your life, we invite you to share your memories and love for Marygail in the comments below.
North Pole Studio supports careers in the arts, and exists to increase opportunities for artists with autism and intellectual / developmental disabilities to thrive as active members of the arts community. We foster self-determination and facilitate meaningful connections through total engagement in the arts. Gifts in Honor of Marygail can be made via the link below.
