Arthur P. Sundry

Arthur Paul Sundry of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina died peacefully on October 3rd, 2022, at the age of 94.

He was a vibrant and brilliant man who was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather as well as a dear friend and beloved boss to many who worked with him at Motorola.

Art was born in Blairsville, Pennsylvania in 1928 to Angelo and Connie (De Luca) Sundry. He graduated St. Vincent Preparatory School in 1946, attended Duquesne University on a football scholarship in 1947, and received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in 1947 where he graduated in the Class of 1951. 

Art was a player on the legendary 1950 Navy football team that upset Army (14-2), breaking their 28-game unbeaten streak that began in 1947. At Philadelphia’s Municipal Stadium in front of 103,000 fans and with President Harry S. Truman in attendance, Art caught a key pass that set up the first, and deciding, touchdown in what is considered one of college football’s greatest games.

Art served his USN Sea Duty (1951-1954) on the Battleship USS New Jersey and went on to command the LSIL 1091. He continued as a USNA professor from 1955-1957. 

Art married the love of his life, Sadonna Lee McNinch in 1955.He joined Motorola in 1957, where his tenure eventually took the family from Maryland to California to Illinois. Throughout the journey his amazing wife Sadonna created happy homes and supported Art to his great advantage and many successes.

In 1979, Art made a serious critique of the poor quality of Motorola’s communications products which led to the development of Six Sigma design, manufacturing and quality standards within the company. He worked at Motorola from 1957-1990 and was President of the Communications Sector from 1985-1990.

Art was preceded in death by his wife Sadonna in 2021. He is survived by his devoted family: his three children Deborah (Ron) Clarkson, Arthur Jr. (Michelle), David (Michelle Kranicke); his four grandchildren; Veronica Clarkson, Andrew Clarkson, Arthur P. Sundry III (Francesca) and Margaret (Michael) Stephany; and two great grandchildren, Maeve and Alice Stephany.

We will be honoring his life, his accomplishments, his Can Do attitude, his work hard / play hard ethic and his passion for golf at Caffe De Luca (7427 Madison Street in Forest Park) on October 30th from 1pm – 4pm CDT.

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