Jeffrey Paul Phelan-Arroyo Grande High, CA

9/7/2009

Please Feel Free To Leave A Comment Or A Memory You Had With Jeff~

He was a Reconnaissance Corpsman with USMC 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion.

Jeffry P. Phelan HM3 Jeffry Paul Phelan, USN, 23, of Washington DC died at his home April 6, 1993. A Memorial Wake Service will be recited in his memory Friday, April 16, at 7 p.m. at St. Patricks Catholic Church in Arroyo Grande with the Rev. Brendan Famell officiating. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday, April 17 at 1 p.m. at Santa Rosa Catholic Church in Cambria, with Monsignor James Matron officiating. Burial will be in the Phelan plot in the Santa Rosa Catholic Cemetery. Mr. Phelan was born April 12, 1969, in Santa Maria. He attended St. Patricks Catholic School, Arroyo Grande High School, and Morro Bay High School. Prior to entering the United States Navy, he worked in steel construction. In the Navy, he was a hospital corpsman who was known to his buddies as Doc Phelan. After basic training in San Diego, he had been stationed at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, the Willow Grove Naval Air Station in Pennsylvania, Camp Lejune in North Carolina where he was attached to the Second Marine Division, and was most recently stationed at the Marine Barracks at 8th & I Streets in Washington, D.C. He was a Veteran of Operation Desert Storm where his unit was in the second wave to arrive in Kuwait City. He is survived by his wife: Karen Phelan of Washington, D.C.; his mother: Donna E. Phelan of Arroyo Grande; his father and stepmother: Michael P. and Deb Ann Phelan of San Luis Obispo; a brother: Michael C. Phelan of Cambria; a sister: Dr. Kathryn M. Phelan D.C. of Shell Beach; his grandmother: Rose Guidctti Blair of San Luis Obispo; his grandfather: Cyril Phelan of Arroyo Grande; an uncle: Louis Guidctti of San Luis Obispo; aunts: Colleen Phelan of Grover Beach and Lavcmc Robascotti of San Luis Obispo, and many cousins. Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Red Cross or to a favorite charity. Reis Chapel in San Luis Obispo is directing arrangements.

23 Comments

Dan Shargel

9/7/2009 12:14:20 pm

He was killed in 1993 by his wife's ex-husband who was an off-duty police officer.
July 12 at 11:17pm

Brett Stafford

9/7/2009 12:14:34 pm

I remember Jeff from school sad to hear RIP
July 13 at 6:16pm

Cyndie Castillo-Clark

9/7/2009 12:14:47 pm

I worked with his mom at probation she told me about this, heartbreaking.
July 13 at 6:32pm

Kristyn Jones Cornejo

9/7/2009 12:15:04 pm

He was such a nice guy. When I think of Jeff, I remember him wearing a big khaki parka with a fur-lined hood, riding around on a scooter with a raccoon tail tied to the back! *smile* ;) One of the original "mod squadders"! =) He was a pleasure to have known. I was so sad to hear he passed-I never knew what had happened to him though. That is so sad. RIP Jeff
July 14 at 12:30am

SaraJane Blackwell

9/7/2009 12:15:43 pm

No way! How terrible & tragic!
July 14 at 3:45pm

Shannon Churchill

9/7/2009 12:15:58 pm

I remember Jeff giving me a ride home on his Vespa one time. He was a pretty cool dude. When I heard about his demise, it seemed so surreal, like a dream. Seeing his picture with the word "murdered" next to it really drove it home. Sad.
July 16 at 4:08pm

Anthony Chavez

9/7/2009 12:16:18 pm

We would go to all the local punk gigs. All the Santa Maria and Lompoc Boot Boys would get in the pit with you at the Vet and Grange Hall in SLO. Smoke cloves. It was a crack up to see John Saffle and Jeff together.
July 16 at 5:15pm

Chantelle Holley

9/7/2009 12:16:36 pm

I went to school with Jeff since St. Pat's. A very nice guy... Very sad...
July 17 at 12:58am

Jennifer Gonzales

9/7/2009 12:16:54 pm

Last time I saw him was on a Navy base in Willow Grove, PA. He was always good to me and very protective. love you.
July 18 at 2:45pm

Chris Hortline

9/7/2009 12:17:10 pm

Another one of our St. Patricks schoolmates gone.Jeff was a good dude. RIP
July 20 at 12:15am

Walter Da Bear Carranza

9/7/2009 12:17:36 pm

One of my best freinds, a fellow "scooter boy" we were the first Mods in the central coast. I wnet to his graduations in teh Navy as well, I will look for pics of him for on here.
July 20 at 1:11am

Ricardo Herrera

9/7/2009 12:17:56 pm

I definately remember Jeff's MOD days with the Vespa. He was such a great guy RIP.
July 23 at 12:17pm

KURT RODRIGUEZ

6/14/2010 06:45:16 am

Jeff was a cool dude. I met Jeff in Jr. high while playing youth football for the nipomo raiders. Jeff was 13 or 14 and I remember him picking us up on Los Berros rd in his jeep and taking us to football practice in Nipomo. We all had some good times. RIP

Robert Renetzky

9/10/2010 05:53:15 pm

The Renetzky's and Phelan's go back to when our grand parents were kids. I grew up with Jeff. His death rocked me. I could not believe something like this could happen. Not to somebody like Jeff.
Such a shame.

John C.

2/2/2011 02:42:09 am

Jeff married my daughter.The EX-HUSBAND did not shoot and murder Jeff. His friend, that he had do it that evening.. the so-called off-duty DC area policeman to go with him to Jeff's apt.home in DC.and call my daughter and Jeff out on the steps... My other daughter and children were there visiting. The ex-husband enjoyed that fact, wanted to get even because of the divorce. The ex-cop was arrested later with a background of trouble making with others. The ex-husband called me at my home out of state.. a few days later from DC and asked" well, how is everyone?" Terrible. The ex-copy went to prison for a couple years. Very sad. Jeff was a great guy that was a medic, served with honor in the first Gulf War Desert Invasion, all called "Doc" lovingly by all the other service men around him. Tragic.

John Cooper link

2/2/2011 02:44:25 am

JEFF PHELAN was a great son-in law. A great guy in every respect.

Mari Tonascia

2/10/2011 04:49:57 pm

I am still so saddened by Jeff's passing. Jeff could be counted on to make you laugh and never was at a loss of words, simple & clever! Jeff and Red spent a lot of time with us growing up. He played jokes and pranks almost daily. Removing air from tires, trying to get people to just try his new chew, some sore of animal droppings... We just removed a bb from an electric line he shot in 1978. He finds his way into our hearts still. Never forgotten, always loved. Miss you Jeff and your camo gear!

Daniel Sugrue

2/24/2011 02:01:28 pm

I came across this and im completely shocked. Jeff and I were friend's when he was onboard the USS Nashville. I lost touch with him after 1992, however his personality and friendship I have never forgotten. As I type this I am looking at a picture that I took of him goofing around onboard. I would like to share this picture. I will get it scanned this week and post it on the web for anyone who would like to have a copy of it. It shows him laughing and goofing around. I cannot tell you how sad this makes me to know the world is without a wonderful human being like Jeff. Rest in peace old friend.

Laura Staley (Frick)

4/4/2011 07:14:53 am

I knew Jeff from about 1984 until shortly before he got married. He spent hours at my house hanging out with my sister and I. We had some great Thanksgivings and Christmases together. He had a great sense of humor and loved to have fun. Through our teen years, we hung out in SLO, went to parties, went to dances at school and at the grad, and rode his scooter with the other mod/skas. My sister and Jeff dated for about 5 years and were engaged to be married. They even had an announcement in the Telegram Tribune with a lovely picture taken at the beach. We attended his Navy graduation and were so proud of him. My sister called off the engagement shortly after he joind the military. She loved Jeff (our whole fam did) but she wanted to pursue a career that wouldn't be possible at that time as a Navy wife. My family was stunned to hear about his murder back when it happened. Jeff had such a bright future. It's hard to believe that less than 5 years after moving on with his life (leaving our family), he was murdered. Crazy. It's interesting how decisions in our lives take you on a different course though life. I am saddened things turned out the way they did. My condolences to his family. I hope to see you in Heaven Jeff. You hold a special place in my heart.

Terry pate

11/6/2011 11:54:52 am

Sad Jeff was always my frirnd. Went to school with him almost from k through 12

ewkeane

6/11/2013 01:24:20 pm

I met Jeff via Sparky and Jay.
I knew him to be cheerful, easy, and brave.
Finding this out has cast a gloom over my day, as all I wanted to do was call him and talk about the water that has gone under the bridge these last 30 years. It is a terrible shame, but doubly so for all of you who knew him much better, whom I extend sincere
condolences.
Here is a tune for you, Jeff, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlcXTqO5Mn4

Mark S. Banik

2/19/2014 03:22:10 pm

It is strange, that only today, more than 20 years after the fact that I learned of Jeff's passing. I first met Jeff in Panama at the Jungle Operations Training Center. He was a Reconnaissance Corpsman with USMC 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion. I joined him at the battalion a few months later. I still remember Jeff as a dedicated corpsman who was jovial and fun to be around.

Scott Burnside

3/1/2017 08:45:56 am

I knew Jeff at 1/8. He was super excited to go to 8th and I. He was responsible for directing me on the right path. Semper Fi Doc

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Jeffrey Paul Phelan-Arroyo Grande High, CA

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AGHS Class of "1987"