John A. Eitel Jr.

1943 - 2017

John A. Eitel, Jr. (Jae) Died peacefully in his sleep at home on September 2nd. It was discovered in July that he was suffering with advanced lung cancer. Jae was born in 1943 in Bainbridge GA where his father was serving in the US Army Air Corps. He grew up in Pittsburgh, PA where he graduated from North Hills High School, Duquesne University and University of Pittsburgh School of Law where he earned a Juris Doctorate. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Bar and a Certified Public Accountant. Jae joined Gulf Oil Corporation in Pittsburgh in 1973 and enjoyed an interesting career as a trading and transportation tax specialist working in oil producing locations ranging from the North Sea to Indonesia to Nigeria and many places in between. Over the years he and his wife of 51 years, Carolyn, lived in Pittsburgh, PA - London, England - Houston, TX and then 30 years ago when Gulf was purchased by San Francisco based Chevron they moved to San Rafael, CA. Jae was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in San Rafael where he served twice on the Vestry. As a member of St. Paul's Outreach Committee he worked for many years serving breakfast to at risk youth for their Teen Success Breakfast program. Jae was initiated into the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, a fraternal organization dedicated to helping local charities, on March 15th 1990. During his years as a San Rafael Elk he served twice as Exalted Ruler, many years as a Board of Trustee member and chairman, Audit Committee Chairman, and as District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler serving Elk Lodges from the Golden Gate to the Oregon border. Jae was preceded in death by his daughter Sarah Eitel in September of 2001. He is survived by wife Carolyn, his children John, Rebecca Crosby (Jere) and James, and his granddaughters Sarah and Olive Crosby as well as two sisters, three sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and many nieces and nephews. Family was always, without question, the most important thing in Jae's life. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the San Rafael Elks Lodge, earmarked for the Jae Eitel Educational Fund which is being established to benefit local youth (elks1108.org) or to the St. Paul's Episcopal Church Breakfast Program fund www.stpaulssanrafael.org A celebration of life service for family and friends followed by a light lunch will be held on October 6th at 11am on the Magnolia Terrace of the San Rafael Elks Lodge (1312 Mission Street, San Rafael, CA 94901).