The Rev. Leon Sullivan, whose principles of business conduct helped to bring down South African apartheid, died at a Scottsdale hospital after falling ill with leukemia, a spokesperson for the family confirmed this morning.

The 78-year-old Scottsdale man died about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Scottsdale Healthcare-Osborn, the family spokesperson said.

The family requests privacy at this time, said his daughter, Hope Sullivan Rose.

"He was surrounded by his family and friends and was at peace," she said. "We ask that everyone respect our family’s wishes and give us time to grieve privately. We have shared our father with the world; allow us one moment to remember him amongst ourselves."

The Rev. Sullivan had been preparing to return to Africa for a summit he first held in 1991.

The summit is to bring together American and African leaders to discuss the political, economic, educational and social development of Africa.

"It is my father's wish that we continue our efforts in his mission and keep his fight for Africa, particularly the Sixth African-African American Summit on course," said Rose, who will lead the summit on her father's behalf.

The summit, originally scheduled for May in Abuja, Nigeria, may be held this fall.

Sullivan moved to Phoenix in 1981 and was the retired minister of Zion Baptist Church in Philadelphia.

He was the first Black to sit on a corporate board, General Motors, in the United States and has been a champion for civil rights. His Phoenix-based International Foundation for Education and Self Help has helped hundreds of thousands of people in the United States and Africa.

Sullivan was best known for the Sullivan Principles that he wrote in 1977. They called for American companies to do business only with companies that follow fair treatment practices of employees and were instrumental in abolishing apartheid as American companies adopted them.

Sullivan is survived by his wife, Grace; three children, Julie, Howard and Hope; and seven grandchildren.

Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday in Phoenix. The church will be announced later. The family requests that donations be made to his non-profit organization instead of flowers. The address is the International Foundation for Education and Self Help (IFESH), 5040 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 260, Phoenix, AZ 85254.