Post Scripts: Behind the Counter at the Ithaca Post Office

In many communities, a trip to the post office is not necessarily a highlight of the day—but for 27 years, the Ithaca Post Office was one of the most cheerful destinations in town, thanks in large part to Rob Sullivan. Behind the counter at the Tioga Street office, Rob was so beloved by the public for his gentle humor, wry observations, and helpful demeanor that people in line would let others go ahead of them in order to be next up at Rob’s window.

Since his retirement in 2013, Rob has been capturing those years at the post office in a wide-ranging collection of poems. In the just-published collection, Post Scripts: Behind the Counter at the Ithaca Post Office, Rob chronicles his journey from entrance exam to last day.

The carefully crafted poems in this collection range from deeply personal to philosophical. With whimsical word play and spot-on insights, the pieces explore what it means to play a small part in the life of a community. Throughout the memoir, there’s a call to live life in an authentic, awakened way.

He will be reading excerpts at Tompkins County Public Library on November 20 at 6:00 pm as part of the Local Voices program.

Rob Sullivan came to Ithaca in 1978, for music, dance friendship and love. He stayed because he found them all. His Postal Service career,1985 to 2013, inspired this book. He is now composing poetry to soothe a saddened world.