Obituary of John J. Timmel

John J. Timmel, resident of Bedford, NY, died Saturday morning, September 23, 2023. He was 79 years old.

John was born in Manhattan on May 13, 1944 to Rita and Robert Timmel of Whitestone, Queens. John graduated from Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx and Fairfield University in Connecticut, and then served honorably in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968. Following his discharge, he attended St. John’s University School of Law, graduating in 1974. John enjoyed a decades-long legal career in both the private and public sectors. Over the last decade of his career, he served as an Administrative Law Judge for the State of New York Workman’s Compensation Board.

John greatly enjoyed his personal time. He found it ludicrous that anyone could become “bored” after retirement. He possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of mid-century American cars. He was a devoted Brooklyn Dodgers fan in his youth and, after their heart-breaking departure to L.A., his allegiance, for better or for worse, turned to the New York Mets. He was a meticulous record-keeper, was a great lover of animals (particularly cats), and had the most beautiful penmanship you’ll ever see. John made deliveries for Meals On Wheels in his community, made several appearances on stage in local theater, and was for years a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Bedford, NY. He was an excellent whistler and sang enthusiastically in a baritone voice whenever the occasion demanded.  

But more than anything else, John enjoyed the companionship of Joanne, his Queen, the love of his life, and his devoted wife of 29 years. John would acknowledge that marrying Joanne was the luckiest and best thing that ever happened to him, and that the last 30 years were the best he had.

John is the loving husband of Joanne, the devoted father of Carol Ann (Witschi), John Jr., and Christopher, and stepfather to Joanne Christa Costantini and Caryl-Lyn Slane (predeceased in 2001). He is brother to Robert (“Tim”) (predeceased 2019), Alice (O’Reilly) and William, and brother-in-law to Caryl. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was loved and admired by many. 

John was buried at Cemetery of the Holy Rood, in Westbury, New York. Memorial contributions may be made to any of the following organizations: Tunnels to Towers Foundation (t2t.org); St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org); Shriner’s Children’s (shrinershospitalsforchildren.org); or the American Heart Association (heart.org).