Obituary of John A. Velar

John A. Velar Pine Bush, NY John A. Velar a 15 yr resident of the area, formerly of Wantagh, NY passed away on Tuesday March 10, 2015 at Orange Regional Medical Center after a long illness. He was 86. The son of the late Joseph Velar and Casilda Distieghtert Velar, he was born on February 17, 1929 in Tampa, Florida. John was a WWII Veteran having served with the 1st Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan and was a Major in the NY Guard. He was a Nassau County Deputy Sheriff Sergeant and Fire Arms instructor for 28 years. John also belonged to the Sunrise Detachment, The Wounded Warrior Project, Member at Large for the VFW, and the Nassau County Deputy Sheriffs Association. Survivors include his wife Joan Conforti, his children, Christopher Velar and his wife Mari, Stacey Stephen, Claire Licata and her husband Nicholas, Patricia Arroyo and her husband Anthony, and Alfred Conforti and his wife Judith. He was a devoted grandfather to 12 grandchildren; Thomas and his wife Kristina, Kara, Cameron, Emilia, Camillo, Enrico, Ani, Jake, Mattea, Sophiana, Isabella, and Alfred. Visitation will be held on Thursday March 12, 2015 from 2-4 & 7-9pm at the William M. Gagan Funeral Home Inc. 1525 Burlingham Rd Pine Bush NY. Funeral services will be held at 8:30pm at the funeral home. Cremation will be private. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Wounded Warriors Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675