John P. Behan

Troy- John (Jake) Patrick Joseph Behan - Born June 1st,1956 in Troy, NY passed away on Friday, April 24th at his home after a brief illness. Jake was the son of Agnes Pellerin Behan and Laurence Francis (Frank) Behan. Jake is survived by his beloved children Jessica, Meghan, and Maxwell. He now joins his second wife Cherie of Illinois and his siblings, eldest sister Carolyn Butler, and older brother Michael Behan. Jake was the seventh child from an Irish Catholic family of eight. He is survived by sisters Shirley DiScanio, Mary Cyr, Noreen Carman, Pauline Behan and brother Robert (Bobby) Behan. Jake attended St. Francis de Sales elementary and was a 1975 Catholic Central High School (CCHS) graduate where he excelled athletically in baseball and football. Jake played semi-professional football for the Albany Metro Mallers Jake traveled to Illinois, following his Mother, Agnes there, and made Chicagoland his home for over twenty years. His life took him to North Carolina briefly, loving Topsail Island, before returning to Troy, NY. He deeply loved music, especially Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, and passed that love to his children. He had a unique whistle that made all music better, especially while singing along to songs while driving in his truck. He truly loved watching sports. His favorite teams were the Baltimore Orioles - Go O’s!, Dallas Cowboys along with the Chicago Bears, Cubs, and Bulls. He was a huge fan of college sports, with a favoritism for the University of Michigan Wolverines and RPI. Go Blue! Jake made his debut movie appearance in the 1993 comedy, Groundhog Day. Filmed in Woodstock, IL, Jake was an extra, and can be seen multiple times, most prominently standing next to actress Andie MacDowell, while Bill Murray’s character is sculpting a large, angel ice structure. Jake will be missed daily by his entire family, including many nieces and nephews, cousins, as well as his friends, former neighborhood (Ida Hill) and CCHS classmates. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with John’s family Friday, May 1, 2026 at McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 N. Allen St., Albany, NY 12206 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. John’s Funeral Service will follow in the funeral home at 5:00 pm. Please enter the funeral home from the rear parking lot entrance only. To leave a message for the family or view other helpful services please visit www.mcveighfuneralhome.com.

Tributes

John P. Behan

June 1, 1956 - April 24, 2026