Obituary: Blythe Ann O'Sullivan

Over the weekend the Peace Corps community once more received the sad news of the death of a serving Peace Corps volunteer.  Blythe Ann O'Sullivan, a 25-year-old native of Bloomingdale, Illinois, was killed in Suriname, the victim of an apparent accident while working near her site on December 6.

"Blythe was an exceptional Volunteer and dedicated herself to improving the lives of the people of Suriname," said Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter in a Peace Corps press release. "Blythe's death is a tremendous loss for her loved ones, family, the Peace Corps, and the people of Suriname."

Blythe, 25, served as a small business advisor after being sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer in August, 2006. She worked with members of her community on a water project, and with women's organizations to fund and develop a village community center. A native of Bloomingdale, Ill., Blythe is survived by her parents, Joan and John O'Sullivan of Bloomingdale, Ill.

In her aspiration statement written when she joined the Peace Corps, Blythe said, "I hope that I can be a good Ambassador of the American values of hard work, determination, and perseverance. I want the people I am working with to know that I want to learn their culture and participate in it."

In one of her final calls from Suriname to her parents, she said to them, "I am so humbled by the challenges the Suriname villagers must conquer day-after-day. Here, each waking moment must be spent satisfying basic needs that, in the U.S., are virtually satisfied at birth. We can never do too much for these fellow citizens of our one world." Her unselfish service with broad smile shall forever grace the minds of the Brokopondo families that came to love her as their own.

There have been numerous stories in the media about O'Sullivan's death. Click here for a story from a local Illinois paper.

Comments

[mitc]

There are rumors she was alone in her site. PC policy requires at least two volunteers in a site.

[leo]

It is very sad for me to learn the passing of someone who loved my country so much. I know its hard to be a PVC. It requires a lot of sacrifices. I myself know that it is very hard to work in Suriname and admire her so much of what she has accomplished and done. For that, I'll always remember Blythe and I know that the people of Suriname are honored to have known her and never will forget her.

[Mitc]

Why won't anyone mention she was shot?

[John]

This shows that service in the Peace Corps is not without risk. The challenges to PCVs are both emotional and physical. Though courage is not often thought of in relation to these jobs, this incident shows that we should look to the right and to the left as we view our fellow PCVs and acknowledge something special in each of us.