Professional Soldiers ® - John Angyal an ol Paratrooper

This guy was a friend and influence! RIP John!

http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/stor...o2BuTKOwA.cspx

John Angyal, restaurant owner, dies at 69

Skaneateles (WSYR-TV) - John Angyal, namesake of a popular restaurant in Skaneateles, died Monday after a long fight with cancer. He was 69 years old.

To a stranger, everything about John Angyal was tough as nails. He was a wrestling champ in high school, a paratrooper in the army, a criminal investigator with the state police. The people of Skaneateles, however, knew a different side of the man who gave his name to Angel's Heavenly Burgers.

The nation was watching when the First Family vacationed in Skaneateles during Hillary Clinton's Senate run. And the nation was listening when restaurateur and staunch Republican John Angyal had a little fun at the Clintons' expense with his menu. "It says two large thighs, two small breasts and two left wings, $4.95. It's a Southern Fried Chicken dinner," he told the president.

The retired paratrooper had immediate success when he opened Johnny Angel's Heavenly Burgers in 1996. He ran it for about five years before selling it to the Lynn family in 2001. Bill Lynn says Angyal set some pretty high standards for his employees. "He might be harsh on an employee, then I'd find out later that he was helping them buy a car. He was a little like a father figure to a lot of people who needed it," said Lynn.

Jack Hyatt was Angyal's friend and neighbor for 35 years. He remembers a real character, a heart of gold wrapped in a tough exterior. Hyatt says Angyal was extremely fair when he served as town justice and supervisor, and something of a guardian angel to those who needed help, including a guy he brought around named Junior. "He paid his medical bills, clothed him, would all the time be dropping food off there. He was a very generous person," said Hyatt.

Calling hours are Thursday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Robert D. Gray Funeral Home, located at 49 Jordan St. in Skaneteles. The funeral will be held Friday, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary's of the Lake Church, Jordan Street, Skaneateles.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested contributions to the Hematology Oncology Association Infusion Center at Community General Hospital in Syracuse.