Plan for the Future
~~Jesse Leland McEwan, III, 95, of Whippany passed away at Sunrise Assisted Living in Morris Plains on February 19th. A Funeral Celebrant Service will be held at Bradley-Braviak Funeral Home, 49 Whippany Rd, Whippany on Wednesday, February 26 at 3pm. Visiting hours will be from 1 to 3pm prior to the service.
Born and raised in Whippany, Jesse graduated from Morristown School for Boys (now Morristown Beard) in 1937. His family owned and operated the Whippany Paper Board Company. Jesse served in the US Army Air Force during WWII. He loved to fly, it was his passion. After working as a commercial pilot for Eastern Airlines he became a private pilot. He owned his own Piper Cub and was a flight instructor. He also was a tow pilot for gliders. Jesse had unique culinary tastes. He was known for his love of roast beef sandwiches on white bread with butter and his breakfast of eggs, bacon and burnt toast at the Brookside Diner. In his younger years, Jesse was a lifeguard in both Bay Head and Palm Beach FL. and was given a life membership to “Cowboys of the Seas” (a distinction given for saving a life). He loved jazz, especially Duke Ellington and playing the trumpet
Jesse is survived by his friend and caretaker, Melinda Cooper. He is predeceased by brother John McEwan and longtime friend Evelyn Clark. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jesse’s memory may be made to Grace Healthcare & Hospice, 101 Fieldstone Ave, Suite 304, Edison, NJ 08837.