MESA, AZ, February 24, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- John Jay Pelletier has been inducted into Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Jean Jay Robert Pelletier later know as John Jay was born in Madawaska, Maine, the baby of eight. His father Antoine B. and mother Antoinette Gagnon also came from large families. John's dad was a hunter as well as his grandfather, this is where he learned to trap and hunt. At the age of thirteen, the whole family moved cross county, to Fullerton, California. His father had learned from a cousin that lived in California that college tuition was free. He wanted all of his children to attend college, and they all did. At the age of fourteen, John joined the Boy Scouts where he exceeded all ranks plus went down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in 1963. After Boy Scouts, he joined a new explorer group that also went down the river in 1965, his senior year in high school. The interesting thing is that saw the river before the Glen Canyon Dam was constructed and after it was open; that really opened his eyes to nature. John was also a cheerleader in his senior year; he made many friends that even today remember him.
While attending Fullerton Junior College for his Associate of Arts in public relations, he worked at Disneyland and climbed the Matterhorn for two years, 1965 and 66. There he meet Walt Disney who called him "The Little Frenchman."
Upon receiving h degree in 1968, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he received top honors and was asked to join the Green Berets. Upon receiving his Beret, he was sent to Bad Tolz, Germany, where he was assigned to an A-Team that went on missions all over the world. That is where he became well known for his survival skills, and the Army made him a survival instructor.
One interesting thing to add is that John Jay married his sweetheart, Nancy Bellinger, from college days where they were computer dated in a school project in 1966. And he is glad to say that today in 2021, they are still married and have two children, Lisa and Jeff. They live in Mesa, Arizona with four grandchildren nearby. They are both retired, Nancy from 30 years with Ma Bell, and John Jay having spent six years in the Army and thirty years in the wine, beer and liquor business.
Still young at heart, and reading about all the deaths of stupid hikers in the Arizona desert, he decided to do something about it. He put together a three-hour Desert Safety Survival class, and for the last nine years has been teaching at the Superstation Mountain Museum in Apache Junction, Arizona. John Jay was also President of The Desert Rats for a few years – it consisted of all retired Special Forces men who live in Arizona.
In his retired years, John Jay has written four books. The first one is about all of his close calls with death, (13) of them. It is on Amazon.com, "Pour L'Amour de Dieu," For the Love of God Why Am I Still Alive. His second book is about his days as a Professional Poker Dealer at Ak-Chin Casino for five years. It is titled "Cards are Cards-But History is Forever." His third book was written because everyone who took his three-hour class on Desert Safety and Survival wanted more information. "Desert Safety and Survival" is sold at the gift shop at the museum and has sold over 200 copies so far. His last book is about his father who happened to live to be 100 years old. He named it, "A Well Traveled Man-With One Hundred Stories."
A devoted volunteer on behalf of his local community, Mr. Pelletier contributed his efforts to such organizations as the Cub Scouts and the Boys and Girls Club. He received numerous honors for his military service, and was previously named as the Salesman of the Year. Over the years, he has attributed his professional success to his faith and passion for the outdoors.
Looking to the future John and Nancy plan to buy an RV and visit as many National Parks and family along the way.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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