Obituary of John H. Pelan

John Pelan is and always will be the go-to guy for anything. He left this Earth this Thursday 1/15/15 at 83. Throughout his crossing he managing to create laughter and ease the pain of his loss for his family. John Pelan grew up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. He was raised in what was a pretty typical Irish Catholic home in those days. He would eventually move out of Brooklyn with his family to New Hyde Park. Before he started his family he was a paratrooper in the Korean War. He entered the service July 13, 1950. He landed in Korea May, 20th 1951. He served with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, known as the Rakkasans. He was honorably discharged from the service. He was humble about his service, but very proud at the same time. Growing up he would tell his family he was bald because the Koreans had shot of his hair on the way out of a plane. He married his childhood friend, Shelia Melia on July 3rd, 1953. He got a job installing elevators in New York City which he did proudly until 1956. He then joined the New York City transit Police. He transferred to the NYPD in 1959. He worked in 71 precient, 100 precient,and Queens Court Division. He retired in December 17, 1973 due to an injury sustained in the line of duty. He worked as a Private Detective until 1995, with high profile cases that included the investigation into Jordan Belfort better known as the "Wolf of Wall Street". Among his awards - the Distinguished Police Duty Award, the Medal for Merit from New York State. And one of his most distinguished accomplishments, Pelan is a member of the New York State Veteran Hall of Fame. He loved to golf and cook, especially for the American Legion in Mineola. He made the greatest soup in the world how can anybody forget the "Pea- Offs"! He also enjoyed telling off-color jokes and cheating at cards. Pelan's grandchildren started a skydiving fundraiser in his name, "Reckless With Red", to help our troops returning from overseas fight PTSD. Since it began the charity has raised thousands of dollars with every penny directly impacting the life of Long Island Veterans battling PTSD and the new fight they face here at home after returning from the battle field. Pelan and the fundraiser was most recently featured on Discovery's Heroes Channel's "Saving Heroes" He was also the staring role in an Emmy Award winning news segment. And has been written about in local papers including "Dan's Paper" He is survived by his wife Shelia Pelan,8 children, 7 in laws, 20 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. His son John from Commack, Mary Bridget in Ronkonkoma, Stephen in East Meadow, Jerry in New Hyde Park, Jimmy and Barney in Mattituck, Darren in Lake Ronkonkoma, and Colette McCauley in Bangor, Maine. As well as his sister Colette Coyne of New Hyde Park. Despite the big family, Pop made it a point to be part of everyone's lives. If you had something going on in you're life like a baseball or football game, communion, conformation, he'd be there. Through the years he taught us all many things about life. He was the life of the party and even in the worst times could always bring a smile to everyone's face. John was strong mentally and physically. He set an example for all he encountered. He had a big impact on the lives of all he came in contact with. To his family he was a role model, a coach, the father in the neighborhood that would protect all children, no matter what they'd done wrong, he would make it right. John loved living more than anyone ever could. He loved his family, and above everything he loved his wife Shelia, our Grammy. To the very last breathe he took, they were there for one another. His biggest concern at the end of his life was not dying, but who would take care of Sheila the way he had for 60 years of marriage. But we want him to relax and know that she's in great hands; just the way he taught us to be. In our lives, John's loyalty, his charisma, charm, his love of life and his laughter will always be with us. Missed already.