John M. Wyles, 76, passed away Saturday, November 11, 2017 at his home in Pawling, NY. He was born in the Bronx on January 29, 1941 to Jim and Jeanie (McLean) Wyles, and moved to Pawling in 1996 from Tarrytown, NY.
John was a beloved phys-ed teacher at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx before he retired. He was also a revered coach who guided the men’s basketball, and both men and women’s volleyball teams to several championships, receiving many awards for his outstanding efforts and successes. His expertise for developing and molding the moral, mental and physical abilities of his athletes was so profound that many of his students and players remained in frequent contact, and some went on to play professional sports.
John loved working out at the The World Gym, playing golf and watching all sports. He was an avid reader, and especially loved the N.Y. Times and doing the crossword puzzles. John had a beautiful voice and loved singing and contributing his voice to the Christ Church Choir on Quaker Hill. He was a kind, caring, compassionate and generous man who contributed regularly to over 30 local and national charitable organizations and he was a volunteer driver for the Pawling Resource Center.
He is survived by the most precious person in his life, Suzanne Mayette of Pawling, NY. They spent many happy years together travelling the world. John helped raise Suzanne’s 2 sons, David Mayette of Dover, NY and Justin Mayette now in the Navy and currently stationed in San Diego, CA. John is also survived by his brother, James Wyles and his wife Sieglinde, of Chester, CA; two nephews, Jimmy and his wife Allyson and their 2 children Max and Dane, and Eric and his wife Theresa; Cousins Nora McGrath in Staten Island, NY, Doris Martine in Middletown, NY, Evelyn Duval in Staten Island, NY, Andy McClean in Racine, WI, Dorothy Steen in Sarasota, FL, Lillian Tick in Corning, NY, Cathy Whitaker in Spottsville, NJ and John McClean in Brooklyn, NY; and caring good friends” “, including his life-long good friends, Jeff Pressman of Wantagh, NY and Charlie & Hayde Hirsch of New Jersey.”
A Memorial service will be held on Friday, December 29th at 10 AM at Christ Church on Quaker Hill, Pawling, NY.”
Donations in memory of John may be made to the Pawling Fire Department, Pawling Free Library, Pawling Historical Society, Pawling Resource Center, Ryan McElroy Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, Smile Train or American Heart Association.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Horn & Thomes, Inc. Funeral Home, 83 East Main Street, Pawling, NY.
