John W. Aberle, a 55-year resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away after a long illness on October 11. He was 91.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 11, 1932, his family moved to Dayton, Ohio, before making their way out west and settling in Bel Air, California, when John was in his early teens.
He attended University High School and enlisted in the Navy after graduation. He then attended Santa Monica College and University of Southern California, and then embarked on an acting and modeling career under the name John Kroger.
He appeared in more than 50 filmed and live TV shows, most notably “The FBI” and “The Doris Day Show,” plus several movies, stage plays and various commercials.
John began his real estate career in the 1970s at Ray Haddad Realty Inc. and then worked for Lelah T. Pearson, Jon Douglas and finally Coldwell Banker. He met his life partner Marilyn Convey in 1979 while both were working at Lelah T. Pearson, and the two formed a successful business partnership.
His vast knowledge and willingness to share were well known. He was always eager to help younger agents, many of whom considered him a mentor—he pretty much had seen and done it all, plus he loved to hear juicy gossip. He had a prolific, lifelong career in real estate, only retiring when he fell ill in 2017.
John’s family and friends remember him as a vibrant, charismatic man with a quick wit and incredible memory. Up until his death, he could recall details from his youth, every real estate sale he ever made and meetings that happened years before, often in hilarious detail.
While it was sometimes hard to tear him away from the work he loved so much, he enjoyed annual trips to Ogunquit, Maine, with Marilyn, attending NASCAR races with his daughter and going to concerts. Despite later health challenges, John was always smiling and never complained. It was this approach to life that endeared him to so many.
He is survived by his devoted daughter Sharon, his partner Marilyn, her son Patrick Convey and his husband Ed Barlow, as well as his younger sisters, Carol Orloff, Barbara Freel and Kathy Aberle.
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