JOHN P. MULLEN / INSURANCE EXECUTIVE

Leading claims adjuster
was known for his honesty

Jewler Yoshimasa Ishihara
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Star-Bulletin staff

John P. Mullen, one of Hawaii's most respected insurance executives, died Sunday at his Honolulu home. He was 82.

Mullen headed a leading insurance adjustment firm, one of those that investigate and balance claims for automobile accidents, injury, property damage and other liabilities against the policies that cover them.

After a free trip to the islands in 1958, Mullen, who already had his own claims adjustment business in Los Angeles, came back to Honolulu and on Oct. 1, 1959, founded John Mullen & Co.

Robin Campaniano, a former state insurance commissioner and now president and chief executive officer of AIG Hawaii Insurance Co., called Mullen "an honorable man" who could totally be trusted.

Mullen was honest and forthright, and the insurance industry should learn from his lessons, Campaniano said.

Mullen was born in Scotland and moved with his family to Chicago when he was 8. Later, he studied for the priesthood for nine years, graduated from the University of Mundelein, Ill., and then served in counterintelligence for the U.S. military near the end of World War II. That brought him to Germany where he met his wife to be.

He served as president of the Hawaii Insurance Claims Managers Association and as a director of the Hawaii Insurers Council and the Hawaii Insurance Guaranty Committee. Mullen also served on the state Judicial Selection Committee.

He was an usher at the Holy Trinity Church in Aina Haina for 40 years, helped out at Catholic Social Services and headed the Mullen Foundation, a charity for families and education.

Mullen is survived by wife Maggie, son Terry, daughter Jan and three grandchildren. Services are pending.