Obituary of Sullivan Andrew Yersin

Sullivan Andrew Yersin passed away unexpectedly on April 15, 2023 in Denver, CO. He was 55 years old. Sullivan is survived by his wife Dereka Pedersen, parents Della and Ken Yersin, brother Lincoln Yersin, and sister-in-law Kyle Yersin. Sullivan was born and raised in Burlington, CO. While he had many interests as a young man, you could usually find him at the pool, swimming. He swam competitively for many years before heading to Denver to attend the Colorado Institute of Art. He graduated with a concentration in photography and his passion for art followed him throughout his life. Be it a camera, a paintbrush, or a collection of discarded items from the alley – he could transform anything into something beautiful. Sullivan spent most of his life in Colorado. He adventured in the Rocky Mountains and along the Front Range, amused that so many folks hauled such elaborate gear into the wild when all you really needed was a sleeping bag and a can of beans. He welcomed the birth of house music in Denver, hearing some of the first record mixes coming from his neighbor upstairs on Larimer Street. That music sustained him, and it remained in his heart for a lifetime. And LoDo. He haunted those streets long before it held that name. Those years held many of his favorite memories and a good part of him never left. Later, Sullivan and Dereka moved to Topeka, KS for the start of a new chapter. They spent the next twenty years collecting a trove of friendships, stories, and explorations. Sullivan touched so many lives. You could not help but fall in love with his generous and truly unique personality. Those of us that remain are left with a gaping hole, but we count ourselves fortunate for having had him in our lives.