Mary Virginia (Jinna) Pedulla of Sea Cliff, Long Island died on December 1, 2018 at the age of 97.
Jinna was born and raised in Sea Cliff, Long Island, born to Mary and Frank Kolk. Growing up near the water, Jinna enjoyed swimming, sailing, and then ice skating in the winter. She also enjoyed hiking and camping with her parents and two brothers in upstate New York.
Music became a passion handed down from her father who was an accomplished pianist. She graduated Crane School of Music at Potsdam New York and also attended Julliard in New York.
During the war, Jinna traveled amoung local hospitals that held recovering veterans and entertained them by singing and playing the piano in the wards. In 1946, she met and married Michael Pedulla, an Air Force pilot.
Life as an Air force wife took her to places far away from her beloved Sea Cliff. These included Mississippi, Newfoundland, Florida, New Jersey and Spain. In spite of her nomadic lifestyle, she always found time to share her passion of music with others. After retirement, they moved back to Sea Cliff, where she became an Elementary School music teacher and found her true calling teaching music to young children. During these years she wrote and published numerous musicals for the elementary grade levels, including, The Elephant’s Child, Christmas Magic, and We Were the First. An active member of the Sea Cliff Methodist Church, she enjoyed singing in the choir, putting on her musicals and participating on the Church Board. She was a member of the Hempstead Harbor Club, where she continued to swim and sail. She was also an avid reader and a long-time member of the Sea Cliff Library Board.
Jinna is survived by her three children, Virginia Johnson, Michael Pedulla Jr, and Theodore Pedulla, her 4 grandchildren, Travis Johnson, Michael Pedulla III, Greyson Pedulla and Kathryn Pedulla and one great grandchild, Olivia Johnson.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Sea Cliff, New York. She will be interred with her husband in Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to The Nature Conservancy (bit.ly/2mmhtpw or www.nature.org| Membership & Giving | Other Ways to Give | Honor Someone Special | Make a Memorial Gift)
So sorry for your loss. Andy and I have fond memories of Mike and Jinna at HHC as well as their friendship with my parents, Shirley & Frank Goetz. They loved coming down to read and chat on the porch or just come down for the sunset in their later years.
With sympathy, Anne Goetz Baltz
My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jinna. May the cherished memories you have help sustain you during this time. May your family be comforted by keeping in mind Jesus promise of the hope of everlasting life on earth recorded at John 17:3.