John J. Sheehan

John J. Sheehan III, a decorated United States Naval Aviator, aviation safety consultant, and author whose career spanned more than four decades of service to his country and to the field of aviation, passed away peacefully at home in Wilmington, North Carolina on March 20. He was 85.

John was born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1940, to John and Irene Sheehan. He grew up in Short Hills, New Jersey, and went on to study mechanical engineering at Villanova University before being commissioned as a naval aviator, a vocation that would define much of his life.

During a distinguished 21-year career in the United States Navy, John, a Vietnam Veteran, flew from aircraft carriers (anti-submarine warfare) across multiple theaters of operation. He was also assigned as an Advisor to the Royal Thai Navy after which he was presented the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his meritorious service. He retired in 1980 at the culmination of a career marked by exceptional service and deep commitment to the missions and people he served alongside.

John earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the United States Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. Following his retirement from the Navy, John brought his expertise to the civilian aviation sector. He served as Executive Vice President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) in Frederick, Maryland, and as Secretary General of the International Council of AOPA, a role that carried him to general aviation communities worldwide.

He subsequently joined Phaneuf Associates in Washington, D.C., as an aviation consultant before founding his own firm, Professional Aviation, Inc. (PAI), which advised corporate flight departments on matters of safety, training, and management. John served as a consultant, auditor, and workshop presenter for the National Business Aviation Association and the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC).

He was the author of the book Business and Corporate Aviation Management, published by McGraw-Hill, a volume that remains a standard reference in professional flight departments around the world.

John was a longtime resident of Wilmington, North Carolina, where he was a member of the Association of Naval Aviation, the ROMEO Breakfast Club and the Military Officers Association of America. He also served as President of his Homeowners Association and volunteered with the Cape Fear Literacy Council. He was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Frederick, Maryland, where he served on the Vestry and later attended St. Andrew's On-the-Sound Episcopal Church in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Beyond aviation, John was devoted to his family and cherished trips with Peggy to destinations around the globe and visits with his children and grandchildren. His interests included writing, photography, walking, and travel.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Peggy Sheehan, of Wilmington, North Carolina; a daughter, Meg Sheehan of Wilmington; a daughter, Kate Hawken, her husband, Phil, and their children, Brooke and Luke, of Falls Church, Virginia; and a daughter, Beth Dye, her husband, Alan, and their children, Clay and Rose, of San Francisco, California.

Those who knew John recalled that he could not let an airplane pass overhead without looking up. It was, perhaps, the most fitting tribute to a life spent in devotion to flight - always watching the skies.

There will be a private Celebration of Life in Wilmington, NC on April 15.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 16, at 11:00 am at St. John's Episcopal Church, 6715 Georgetown Pike, in McLean, Virginia, 22101.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina: https://foodbankcenc.org/locations/wilmington 

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