Dr. Juan Campos Abellana—known affectionately by friends, family, and patients as John, Johnnie, and Dr. A.—passed away peacefully at Brandywine Serenade at Princeton on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the age of 84. He was a longtime resident of Princeton and a beloved physician who specialized in internal medicine with a focus on caring for elderly patients. He was admired for his dedication, empathy, and unwavering commitment to serving others.

Born in Cebu, Philippines in 1939 to the late Celso Abellana and Sostenea Campos Abellana, Juan graduated from Far Eastern University – Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation in 1965. He completed his internship and residency at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Elizabeth, NJ. During his tenure as chief resident, he met Victoria de la Cruz, a fellow intern who would later become his wife. Subsequently, he pursued a two-year fellowship in pulmonary diseases at the Veterans Administration Hospital in New York City, where he also served as chief resident for nine months. He then worked at the French and Polyclinic Hospital in New York City and at Riverview Hospital in Redbank, NJ.

Dr. Abellana relocated to Princeton in 1973 to assume the role of Medical Director at Rossmoor Medical Center in Jamesburg, NJ. A year later, he established his private practice in Princeton. Until his retirement in 2014, Dr. Abellana served as a Senior Attending Physician with Penn Medicine at Princeton.

Devoted to his family, Dr. Abellana especially cherished spending time with his two grandsons. An avid gardener, he delighted in cultivating an impressive array of vegetables and flowers each spring. He had a passion for music and singing, enjoyed long-distance road trips and navigating NYC traffic, and remained a lifelong Mets fan.

Dr. Abellana is survived by his wife of 54 years, Victoria, and his three children and their families: Joy and her husband, Stephen, along with their son, Charlie; John and his wife, Cordelia, and their son, Augustus; and Jason. He is also survived by three siblings, Marcos, Victor, and Cora; half-siblings Victoria, Camila, Robert, Louis, Tomas, Christy, Emma, and Cheryl; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family members. He was predeceased by six siblings: Nemesio, Norma, Agapito, Celso, Jr., Alfonso, and Erasmo; and his half-sister, Rosalia.

Visitation will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at the Kimble Funeral Home, located at One Hamilton Avenue in Princeton, NJ. The following day, on Monday, April 15, 2024, a Funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Parish, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org).