By Howard Koplowitz
“His liver finally gave out,” said Checola's friend, Louis Lucciani.Checola's wife, Lisa, could not be reached for comment.In February 2006, Checola told the TimesLedger he had his last drink 18 years ago, thanks to enrolling in a self-help program at Our Lady Of the Snows Church in Floral Park .Lucciani said his friend sponsored many Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous members, some of whom attended his wake at the church and told his wife, “You don't know my name, but your husband saved my life.””He did a lot of good,” Lucciani said. “He was brave right until the very end. He was an amazing person.”Jerry Pelan, a friend who met Checola in recovery, said Checola was a man who “would put down his Thanksgiving Day fork to help someone in trouble.”He said Checola “left his heart everywhere,” telling his story in jails and detoxification centers.Two months before he died, doctors diagnosed Checola with pancreatic cancer that was deemed inoperable because of his cirrhosis, Lucciani said. But Checola never gave up hope, his friend said.”Even when he was diagnosed he was like 'God will take care of me,'” Lucciani said, noting that one of Checola's favorite sayings was, “I'm not going to quit five minutes before the miracle.”Checola was involved in various church groups at Our Lady of the Snows and was a member of the Knights of Columbus in addition to sponsoring AA and NA attendees.In response to a April 7, 2005 story in the TimesLedger about Checola's search for a new liver, some readers wrote to the paper arguing that he was not worthy of a liver transplant because of his alcohol abuse.But in the February 2006 phone interview, Checola said he respected their opinion but made his case.”I've helped more people in my sobriety than hurt when I was an alcoholic,” he said. “If God can forgive me, then why can't these people?”In addition to his wife, Checola is survived by a daughter, Marissa and two stepdaughters, Stephanie and Michelle.Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173
