John Jefferson Copelan Jr.

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Florida Atlantic University Mercer University

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Palm Beach National Chapel

10055 Heritage Farms Road

Lake Worth, Florida

John Copelan Obituary

John Jefferson Copelan, Jr., Lt Col (Ret) US Army Reserves, BA Magna Cum Laude in Economics and Political Science, J.D. from Mercer University. Master of Public Administration and Master of Nonprofit Management from Florida Atlantic University. After 31 years of military service, John retired as a trial attorney from the US Army JAG Corps and served as General Counsel with the Florida Department of Children and Families under Governors Bush and Christ. He was the County Attorney for Broward County, served as the Deputy City Attorney for the City of Miami and was a partner in the Fort Lauderdale Office of Shutts & Bowen, LLP. John was an Ombudsman with the DoD, ESGR Agency. He served on the Board of March of Dimes, a member of the US Army Citizens Advisory Council, and a supporter and mentor of the Broward Chapter of "Our Community Salutes". John is survived by two children, cousins and a host of friends. A Visitation will be held on Monday, May 23rd at 10:00 AM, followed by a service and eulogy at 11:30 AM at Palm Beach National Chapel, 10055 Heritage Farms Road, Lake Worth, 33449. TEL: 561-967-1200. Burial with full military honors will be at the National Cemetery in Lake Worth (Lane #1) at 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to either "Our Community Salutes", PO Box 2522, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33303 or to the "March of Dimes", 1001 W. Cypress Creek Road, #110, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33039.

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Published by Sun-Sentinel on May 20, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for John Copelan

8 Entries

Brian

May 14, 2025

John, you are always in my thoughts missing you having coffee and a bagel in the mornings together and chatting about global events. Keep everything in order where you are....Miss you, Brian

Brian B.

June 9, 2022

John I know you are looking down upon us from above...miss you sharing the morning coffee and bagels we enjoyed together. We shared common ground as soldiers and school classmates. We enjoed many lunches at Whole Foods Market and Italian dinners at our favorite place in Pompano Beach. We laughed and had wonderful conversations. When you would travel abroad leaving me with your itinuary in case I needed to rescue you. I wish I could have helped keep a great person that was kind and caring with us longer here on earth. .Always in my thoughts and heart my friend.

William Spradley

May 17, 2020

John, was one of the finest people I ever met in my legal career. He was always willing to help and answer a legal question. I met and worked with John between 1983 and 1987 when he was doing his summer active duty at Ft. Benning, Georgia. I kept up with John when I became a civilian attorney and John continued to answer my legal questions. I will always remember John Copeland and blessed our paths crossed during this limited time on earth.

Alice Lamb Caskey

October 27, 2016

John was a great "young" man as I knew him. He was kind, sensitive, and had a delightful laugh. When my husband (then boyfriend) and I were at Mercer, I would often catch a ride home with John over the school holidays and he would drop me off near the exit to Belle Glade. We had so much fun singing with the radio and telling funny stories.My husband and he were in ROTC. We lost touch after school. How saddened I am to hear of your loss.

Jim Lynch

August 23, 2016

John and I served together at Ft. Bragg NC 18th Airborne Office of the SJA from 1977-80. We reconnected again while I was assigned to US Special Operations Command and I served with him on the Military Relations Committee of the Florida Bar in the mid 1990's. As a member of the Hillsborough County Attorney's Office I kept in contact with John over the years and valued his friendship, commitment to excellence, legal ability, and how he always helped others. John will be sorely missed by all that knew him and his memory and all his life actions have and will continue to serve to bring light into the world. May you rest in peace my friend, I look forward to meeting with you again soon on the other side. Jim Lynch

William Spradley

July 20, 2016

I met John at Ft. Benning Georiga when he did his summer training as a JAGC officer 1985-1987. He was very professional and helpful. I kept in touch with John went I left The Army and he was always willing to help whenever I had a question. One of the nicest attorneys that I have ever met! We will miss John because he can't be replaced! If there are attorneys in heaven, I think John will be serving as Of Counsel! Jack Spradley

Daniel G Bauer

June 16, 2016

John and I became extremely close friends over the last couple years, attending FAU sporting events such as baseball games and football games, we collaborated on some publications involving our chosen fields of endeavor and both supported the veterans at Florida Atlantic celebrations. My father, Joseph J Bauer a veteran of Korea and John became friends as well. I will miss John very much. I am glad and honored that we were close. An honorable man filled with integrity and warmth. God bless you my friend you will be sorely missed.

Brian Anderson

May 30, 2016

I met John through the Stetson Elder LLM program. He was very warm and kind with a quick sense of humor. He will be missed.

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