John Mason Pawelek
John Mason Pawelek, 79, beloved husband of Linda Jane Pawelek, and long-time member of the research faculty in the Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, died Monday, May 31st of an apparent heart attack. He was born in Baltimore, MD, on April 15th, 1942, the son of Stanley John Pawelek and Constance Mason Pawelek. As a child he loved sports, excelled in baseball and basketball, and did a stint as batboy for the Baltimore Orioles in 1954.
He met Linda in 1962 while singing with the Gettysburg College choir. They married in June of 1964. He earned a doctorate in biology from Brown University in 1967 and eventually moved to Yale where he ran a research lab for four decades. He authored nearly 200 peer-reviewed papers and is a co-founder and past president of the Pan American Society for Pigment Cell Research (PASPCR). His research examined factors regulating skin pigmentation and, in later years, the mechanism driving metastasis in the skin cancer melanoma. He won several awards for this work, including the PASPCR Career Achievement Award, the International Federation of Pigment Cell Societies' inaugural Henry Stanley Raper Medal, and the Japanese Society for Pigment Cell Research Takeuchi Medal. He was a frequent lecturer at scientific conferences in the US and abroad, including a recent tour of medical schools in Iran.
He had many fond memories: playing piano (once) with Fats Domino, a college choir tour to Europe and the USSR; marching the last five miles of the Selma to Montgomery, AL, voting rights march behind Dr. King; antiwar protests in Washington, DC; coaching his sons' little league teams; mentoring young people at New Haven's Waverly Townhouses; singing in the New Haven Chorale; a 1984 family trip to Poland during which he met Lech Walesa; lighting fireworks; afterhours piano jams at pigment cell conferences; overcoming his addiction to alcohol; playing the cello, and watching the Baltimore Orioles and UCONN Husky basketball. He loved his church, the Unitarian Society of New Haven (USNH), where he sang in the choir, acted in plays and musicals; and taught Sunday school.
He is predeceased by his sister Elaine and a granddaughter, Emma. He is survived by his wife. Linda; his sons Aaron, Josh and Nathan; his daughters-in- law Susan, Stephany and Karen; his beloved grandchildren Oliver, Mason, Aidan, Zachary and Max; his nieces Susan, Lynn and Deborah Lehman; and many other Sterner family relatives. A celebration of life will be held at a later date at USNH. Memorial contributions can be made to the Apfel Music Fund at USNH, 700 Hartford Turnpike, Hamden CT, 06517.

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Published by The New Haven Register on Jun. 5, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for John Pawelek

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7 Entries

Hope Crescione

June 22, 2025

I 'll always cherish my memories of John. He added energy and enthusiasm to the plays Linda and I did with the sixth graders at Saint Thomas's. In spite of his challenging and demanding work at Yale, he always found the time to help with the "big" play! He was just amazing in so many ways, and he mede the world a better place!

Jeffrey Guarino

May 30, 2022

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

Hope M Crescione

September 29, 2021

I have fond memories of John helping Linda and I with the big sixth grade play at St. Thomas's. He was always ready to freely give his time to help the children to create a successful production, and to have fun doing it. It was a pleasure and a gift to know him!

Azra Raza, M.D., Professor of Medicine

August 4, 2021

Dear Mrs. Pawelek,
I offer my deepest sympathies on your loss. I have written an article on your husband John Pawelek and would like to send it to you prior to publication. Kindly send me your email address.
Here is mine: [email protected]
Offering my condolences...
Azra Raza

Bill and Sharon Reynolds

June 7, 2021

Dearest Linda, Aaron, Josh, Nathan, and Family,
Our entire family has warm and wonderful memories of John at USNH. His smile was contagious and we are sure many members of Youth Groups at USNH have gone on to follow John's example - mentoring young people, willing to help out in many ways, and just all around good human beings. He was a man of many talents that he freely shared to make everyone's life better and a true joy to be with.
Our hearts and prayers are with you, Sharon and Bill Reynolds (Steve and Fred)