JOHN E. “JAY” PILONJOHN E. JAY PILON John E "Jay" Pilon, 90, a longtime Honolulu resident, died February 27, 2016 in Palm Desert, Ca. A native of Chicago, Mr. Pilon was the son of the late Viateur L. and Eleanor Perreault Pilon, born on November 17th, 1925. He moved to Peoria with his family in February 1935. Mr. Pilon attended St. Bernard parochial school and graduated from Spalding Institute in 1943. After serving as an Ensign in the United States Navy during World War II, he attended Bradley University, graduating in 1948, earning a degree in Mathematics. Mr. Pilon worked for Caterpillar Tractor Company for 12 years as a District Representative both in Washington DC and California. In 1961, he accepted the position of General Sales Manager at Shepherd Machinery in Los Angeles and was one of the founding members of the Southern California Contractors Association. In 1977, he became President of Pacific Machinery, the Caterpillar dealer in Hawaii and ultimately served as Senior Vice President of Theo H Davies, one of Hawaii's "Big Five" trading and agricultural companies. Mr. Pilon was an active member of the Rotary Club of Honolulu as well as the Oahu Country Club before his retirement in the Palm Springs area of California in 1991. In 1948, he married Cecilia Macdonald, who preceded him in death. In April 1996 he married Mary Lee Potter who survives him. Mr. Pilon is also survived by a daughter: Stephanie Pinney of Rancho Bernardo Ca; sons: John "Mac" Pilon (Trish) of Claremont Ca, Dan Pilon (Jan) of Azusa, Ca and Bob Pilon (Frani) of Claremont, Ca, brother Jerry Pilon (Katie) of Washington, IL; sisters: Annette Maibach, Diane Nowlan (Wayne) and Cecile Langford (Russell), all of Peoria, and Estelle Pilon of Goodyear, AZ; 6 grandchildren Scott Pilon (Amy), Sara Tracy (Russell), Christopher Pinney (Marci) John Pinney (Katie) Sean Pilon, David Pilon (Ashley) as well as 8 great-grandchildren In addition to his first wife and parents, Mr. Pilon was predeceased by brothers, Armand, Bernard, Ronald and Robert Pilon. A celebration of his life will be held on March 17, 2016 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in Claremont Ca. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association 69-730 Highway 111 Suite 100, Rancho Mirage, Ca. 92270.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased