He is known for his kindness -- and his modesty
By TOM TIMBERLAKE, Standard-Times correspondent
ANDREW T. GALLAGHER/Standard-Times special
John Remedis of Freetown, also known as Johnny Angel, is known for helping people in any way he can. |
FREETOWN -- Life lessons learned, some while surviving combat and working in law enforcement, have shaped John Remedis into a caring person who unselfishly helps so many, those who know him say.
Above all, Mr. Remedis puts others first. And he does so quietly, while asking nothing in return. He is known to shun any attention called to his kindness and generosity.
"I just want to help," said Mr. Remedis, 57, almost whispering, while sitting with arms folded and reluctantly talking about himself in his East Freetown home, which he shares with his wife, Linda, the longtime administrative assistant to Freetown's selectmen.
It seems that everyone who knows him has a story about his acts of charity.
Raising money for "A Wish Come True" through the Downshifters Car Club of New England, a club he founded, is one of his special projects, according to friends.
He collects and distributes food for the less fortunate, supports veterans causes, gathers items for Toys for Tots, raises money for scholarships and donates his time as disc jockey Johnny Angel for charity.
The snow on many area driveways is cleared anonymously by Mr. Remedis, who accepts no rewards for his deeds.
Person after person shared story after story about his compassion.
Johnny Angel, they insist, is truly an angel.
For all of his acts of kindness, Mr. Remedis has been selected The Standard-Times 2004 Freetown Man of the Year. Nominations came from the community and the newspaper's staff. Honorees were chosen by a newsroom committee.
"Anything John gets into, he's serious about," said Donald "Bruce" White, a childhood friend who added that Mr. Remedis is committed to any cause in which he becomes involved.
"If somebody is in trouble, he'll drop what he's doing and go help out," Mr. White said. "He's always been that way."
Mr. Remedis dismisses the attention and says he is just trying to "put a smile on someone's face."
A decorated war hero and retired member of the 1st Infantry Division, Mr. Remedis received the Purple Heart.
As an extreme example of how he puts the needs of others before his own, Mr. Remedis was awarded the Silver Star, one of the nation's highest combat honors, for his heroic actions in Vietnam; under attack, a munitions bunker caught fire and was about to explode.
"Because of John's actions … he saved lives and repelled the Vietnamese," said Donat J. "Dan" LeBlanc, a longtime friend of Mr. Remedis and director of veterans services for New Bedford.
"Without credit, without any accolades, he just does it," Mr. LeBlanc said. "It's a love for others that he has. He'll do something for anybody."
The retired detective said he originally got into police work because he felt a need to help people.
"We should all go out and do things for people like we did years ago," Mr. Remedis said, recalling how his parents helped neighbors when he was younger.
"I never forgot that stuff," he said. "If that would rub off on people today, it would be great. We need more people helping people."
Because of Mr. Remedis' commitment, many have joined with him to do good works throughout SouthCoast.
Those involved say they work side by side with him because his generosity is contagious.
Asked how that makes him feel, Mr. Remedis said, "Good. To me it's not a big deal. I just do it."
That is typical of Johnny Angel, the modest man who takes no credit and can never seem to help others enough.
This story appeared on Page A9 of The Standard-Times on December 30, 2004.
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