Born January 10, 1941 in Norwalk, CT to Jean (nee Warner) and Miltiades Pilalas, Jason grew up in Greenwich, CT and attended Greenwich Country Day School and New Hampton School in New Hampton, NH. Still holding the New Hampton record for demerits to this day, he ran away from boarding school at 17, lied about his age, and enlisted in the Navy. He eventually received his diploma, from his original headmaster, Bud Moore, 50 years later. At that point, he had become Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the school.
After a year enlisted, he applied to the University of Southern California through the ROTC program, and his serendipitous acceptance began a lifelong obsession with all things Trojan, especially USC Football. It was there that he also met his lifelong love, “Saint” Rena (nee Elder) as she is affectionately known, his wife of 55 years. After college, Jason continued his Navy career, doing three tours of duty in Vietnam before entering the reserves and marrying Rena at the end of 1967. They settled in New York City, and then Cos Cob, CT, while Jason worked in international shipping. Daughter Debbie, was born in 1970. Not long after, they moved to Boston, MA, where son Troy arrived shortly before Jason earned his MBA from
Harvard Business School in 1973. Jason joined the Capital Group in Los Angeles, the investment management firm where he would eventually become a partner, and work until his retirement in 2009. He threw legendary Christmas parties, and the friendships and relationships he built while at Capital were some of the most meaningful in his life.
Following his retirement, Jason and Rena moved from San Marino, California to North Palm Beach, Florida, continuing to spend summers at his beloved Lighthouse at Morgan Point. They have spent the years since cruising around the world on the boat bearing her name, enjoying time with children, grandchildren, and dear friends. He has been active on the boards of New Hampton School and Mystic Seaport and a passionate supporter of a myriad of different charities. His loss will be felt by everyone that knew him, as his generosity of his time, advice, and resources touched nearly everyone he met. So did his terrible jokes… but we will even miss those.
Jason is survived by his wife Rena, his daughter Debbie O’Malley (Ian), his son Troy, grandsons Beckett and Brooks O’Malley, and his brother, Damon. Details of services will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: swimwithmike.org or newhampton.org
