John J. Abele of Southold died on March 10, 2025, at home. He was 96 years old.
Born Nov. 19, 1928, in Oceanside, he graduated from Oceanside High School in 1946, where he was a member of the National Honor Society. He earned a degree from Syracuse University in 1951, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Delta Tau Delta. He served in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954. Mr. Abele worked as a financial news reporter for The New York Times from 1946 to 1947, 1951 to 1964, and 1966 to 1972. He also served as an editor for the Merrill Lynch Market Letter from 1976 to 1987. He was a member of the New York Financial Writers Association and received the Distinguished Service Award in 1988. Mr. Abele was active at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre as a member of the Holy Name and Ushers societies, and at St. Patrick Church in Southold as a parish trustee, eucharistic minister, and altar server. He received the diocesan St. Agnes Medal for parish service in 2007. He also served as past president of the Harbor Lights Association in Southold.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Ruth Ann Genner (1954-1990), and his second wife, Pamela (Kathy) McGonegal (1995-2025). He is survived by his children, Kathryn Devine (Jack) of Blue Ridge, Georgia, Mary Makurat (Michael) of Marietta, Georgia, John J. Jr. of Largo, Florida, and George W. (Katie Traxler) of Palos Verdes Peninsula, California; by 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Richard (Gertrude) of Tampa, Florida, and was predeceased by his brother, Albert G. (Agnes).
The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The liturgy of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 21 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s R.C. Church in Southold. Interment, with U.S. Army honors, will follow at Calverton National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to East End Hospice in Westhampton Beach.
