John P. Relihan

John P. Relihan of Berkeley Avenue, Newport, RI, died Saturday, May 31, 2008, at home. He was the husband of Juliette Leonard Relihan. Born in the Bronx, N Y on November 11, 1932, he was the son of the late Patrick and Josephine Cregan Relihan.John graduated from the Catholic University of America and held graduate degrees and certificates from Manhattan College, the New School for Social research, Saint Johns University, and Fordham University. His career included teaching, school psychology, and administration of various homes for children. John was actively involved in the establishment of the National Association of Homes for Children NAHC and the creation of the accreditation requirements for homes that care for children in the United States. He also successfully negotiated congressional approval for his agency, Greer Woodycrest, to care for the unaccompanied Haitian boat children who fled to the United States in the 1980s. He was a leader in New York State for the rights of children in child care.Besides his wife, he leaves his loving children, Juliette Hart and her husband, Alexander of Wellesley, MA and John Patrick Relihan of Oak Park, CA. He was the adored Papa of William and Sabrina Hart. He also leaves his sisters Elizabeth McCauley of Staten Island, New York, Catherine DiMola of Ramsey, New Jersey, and Peggy Brinskele of The Villages, FL. He was preceded in death by his brothers Patrick and Michael Relihan. He was a special uncle to 30 nieces and nephews and 29 great nieces and nephews.A Mass of Christian burial will be held in June at Saint Joseph Church in Millbrook, New York. Burial will be in Saint Joseph cemetery in Millbrook.