Thursday, January 12, 2017

Chev. John Refieuna, Imperial Chief Scout, Passes Away

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. 15 December 2016 (ORCNS) - The Patriarchal Household of the See of St. Stephen is deeply saddened to report the passing of Colonel the Chevalier John V. Refieuna (16 December 1946 – 12 December 2016), age 69, in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. While awaiting surgery, he suffered a massive heart attack. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Antonette Durkee. He is survived by his wife, Lady Cynthia Refieuna; son, Michael; and daughter, Karen. "John Refieuna was a devoted Catholic dedicated to service to others; and he was a good friend whose kindness will never be forgotten," said the Cardinal Count of Sainte Animie. 

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Chev. John Refieuna addresses the congregation at an
event for papal knights and other Christian knights.
Seated behind him are the Prince v. Reichenberg (L)
and the Cardinal Count of Sainte Animie (R).

Chev. Refieuna was a graduate of St. Joseph Catholic High school and the University of Wisconsin Parkside. He was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Huntsville, Alabama, and was a Past Grand Knight of a local Knights of Columbus Council. Among his many offices held in service to others, he was the Chancellor of the Most Honorable Legion of the Eagle, a Companion Aide-de-Camp of the Noble Company of Saint Mary of Walsingham, and the Imperial Chief Scout of the Patriarchate's religious outreach ministry to the World Brotherhood of Scouting, the Imperial Scouts and Guides of the Holy Roman Empire. He was also active with Boy Scouts of America for over 60 years and served on a number of Scouting committees and was the Chairman for Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. He received many awards including the Catholic Adult Scouter's Saint George Emblem, the Anglican Rite Roman Catholic Church's national Silver Saint George Medal for Christ and the Nation, the District Award of Merit, and the Silver Beaver for service at the council level. He had also been nominated for the prestigious Silver Antelope award for Scouting service on the regional level at the time of his unexpected death. 

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Chev. John Refieuna (second from left) with other recipients
of the Imperial Distinguished Scout religious award. 

His many honors includes Knight Commander of the Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great, Companion of the Most Honorable Legion of the Eagle, Knight of Honor (Civil Division) of the Royal Order of Saint Stephen, and Distinguished Imperial Scout of the Holy Roman Empire. He held the rank of Colonel in the Walsingham Guard and the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Civil Air Patrol. Professionally, Chev. Refieuna was a retired Engineering Department Manager supporting NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center and also served as an Adjunct Instructor of Mathematics.