Arthur "Art" L. Filjones

OLEAN — Arthur L. “Art” Filjones, a lifelong Olean resident, passed away peacefully on his 99th birthday.

Born June 2, 1924, in Olean, he was the son of Dominic and Massimina Thomasine Felicioni. On April 8, 1947, he married Josephine Suchora, who predeceased him on April 26, 1995.

Mr. Filjones was a 1942 graduate of Olean High School and attended college and service schools. He was a three-year veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in North Africa and Italy in WWII, and was in two major campaigns. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 7, 1945, as a fifth-grade technician.

He retired from the Olean Police Department as a lieutenant after serving over 30 years. He was an investigator and also commanded Olean’s first SWAT team. 

During his lifetime, Arthur was a paperboy; usher at the Palace Theatre; chef at the Alcove (North Fourth) and Castle Restaurants; worked on the four-lane highway from Olean to Hinsdale; was an appliance repairman and salesman for Rose & Riggs; worked at the former Socony Vac and also in the oil fields of Pennsylvania.

The Readers Digest issue of September 1973 describes how Lt. Arthur Filjones and Sgt. James Tambash rescued two wounded firemen while under fire by the sniper at the Olean High School. Fireman Snopkowski was shot in the abdomen and fireman “Bud” Fromme was shot in the head. Both firemen were extracted safely by Filjones and Tambash and brought to safety and then to the Olean General Hospital. Both firemen survived.

He was a member of the American Legion, Cattaraugus Community Services Board, Salvation Army Advisory Board, Interfaith Caregivers, life member of the Pulaski Club, St. John’s Parish Council, St. John’s Outreach Team, St. John’s Holy Name Society, St. Vincent DePaul Society, St. John’s Eucharistic Minister, St. John’s Italian Festa, the Dempsey Club, and St. Bonaventure golf course.

He enjoyed walking, hunting, fishing, and golfing.

Surviving is a son, Robert M.(Patricia) Filjones; a daughter, Thomasine “Tammy” (Michael) Filjones Graf; a grandson, Lucas Crawford; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Filjones was predeceased by a son, Gary Filjones; his brothers, Louis (Moe) Filjones, Daniel (Betty) Filjones, and Nicholas (Patricia) Filjones; three sisters, Lena (Ben) Edwards, Reaka (Tony) Ricci and Mary Sue (Fred) Wagner; and his longtime companion, Elaine “Lonnie” Gleason.

A memorial visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday (June 7, 2023) at St. John’s Roman Catholic Church, 921 N. Union St., Olean, followed by an 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery with full military honors accorded by the Allegany American Legion.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to Quilts of Honor, https://www.quiltsofhonor.org; or to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, https://t2t.org.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Guenther Funeral Home, Inc., 1303 E. State St., Olean. 

Online condolences can be expressed at www.guentherfh.com.