John F. Hyland

He is survived by seven children: Linda Hyland, Anne (Ronald) Bruni, John (Dawn) Hyland Jr., William Hyland, Joseph (Kathy) Hyland, Jean (Peter) Ludlow, Patricia Ramos, and was preceded in death by one child, Thomas Hyland.

He is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Jessica (Franklin) Jiron, Megan (Trevor) Foote, Shannon Hyland, John Hyland, Michael Hyland, Thomas Bruni, Jacklynn (Alexa) Ramos-Neretich, Chloe Ludlow, Jennifer Hyland, Paige Ludlow, Michael Ramos, and one great-grandchild, Gabriela Jiron.

John spent a large part of his life in Brooklyn. He was born to John and Lillian Hyland, and had one younger sister, Kathleen. He attended St. Rose of Lima Elementary School, and said his fondest memory of growing up in Brooklyn was when his three uncles took him to a Brooklyn Dodgers game. He graduated from St. Francis Prep in 1948 and began working at Blue Cross as a claims examiner. This is where he met his wife, Maylene, in 1950. He was drafted to Korea in 1951 and served until 1953 as a Sergeant First Class in charge of the Officers Club. During his service in Korea, John had the memorable experience of meeting Marilyn Monroe when she visited to entertain the troops. He even baked a cake for her, a story he enjoyed sharing for years. After returning from Korea, John was eager to settle down and start a family with Maylene. They welcomed eight children in eight years and survived the death of one, whom he will be buried with. Driven by a desire to provide for his growing family, he began selling life insurance and later also became a financial planner. He worked for Mutual Benefit from 1958-1991 and then Mass Mutual from 1991 to 2020. He discovered his love for teaching when he taught Life Underwriting Training Courses for over 30 years, inspiring countless students to pursue their own certifications and careers in the field. He was so proud when he received his CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) certification in 1976, a credential that recognized his expertise and commitment to excellence in the insurance industry. But he would later say that his proudest moment came after struggling with years of addiction and personal setbacks, when he got involved with AA and became sober at the age of 64. John often credited his decision to become sober as a turning point in his life, inspiring others with his motto “It’s never too late.”

John would often be found watching The Mets, The Knicks, The Giants, and The Islanders. He loved Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe (of course) and John Wayne.

John will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He will be remembered for his unconditional love, his dynamic storytelling, and his sense of humor.

Visitation will be held at Boyd-Caratozzolo Funeral Home, TOWNE CHAPEL, on October 19, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and again from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Ss Cyril & Methodius RC Church, located on Deer Park Ave, Deer Park, NY, on October 20, 2025, from 10:15 am to 11:00 am.

The Committal Service will follow at Long Island National Cemetery, 2040 Wellwood Ave, Farmingdale, NY, on October 20, 2025, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.