Obituary of John Krestic

John Krestic of Chautauqua County, a leader in local school music, has died at the age of 101. During his teaching career, his Amherst Central High School bands were pre-eminent performers, making appearances throughout the state and winning top ratings at adjudicated festivals. He led local and state efforts to assure that all students in the state would have excellent music education in their schools. During his teaching years, he also directed the award-winning Tonawanda American Legion Post 264 band. In his many years of retirement, his fine woodworking brought further recognition. John was born in Harvey, Illinois, on July 7, 1914, to Frank Krestic and Sally Nedescu Krestic. After his father died when he was 3 years old, his mother returned with him to Western New York, eventually marrying August Petrella, and he grew up attending school in Lancaster. Article Photos John Krestic John Krestic passed away in Buffalo on February 3, 2016, after suffering a stroke a few days earlier. He is survived by his children, Karen Ackerman of Berkeley, California, and John M. (Nancy) Krestic of Silver Creek, and his grandchildren Kihm Krestic (Alan) Betz of Havre de Grace, Maryland, Laura (Aaron Leventhal) Ackerman of Albany, California, John G. (Doreen) Krestic of Alden, New York, Cyrani Ackerman of Los Angeles, California, Stephen (Lynn Onsted) Hawes of Seattle Washington, Susan Hawes (Tim) Schuman of Kenmore, New York, 12 great-grandchildren and a sister, Florence Jasen of Alexander, New York. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Helen, sisters: Margaret (Eino) Salminen and Mary (Lawrence) Blair, and brothers: Michael (Jenny) Petrella and Eugene (Caren) Petrella. While finishing his bachelor's degree at the Fredonia Normal School (now SUNY Fredonia), he began his teaching career in Jamestown, Farnham and Hamburg, teaching part-time, as well as working at other part-time jobs. In 1936, he married Helen B. Kelsey of Marilla; they met playing in a community orchestra in the Marilla area. After graduating from Fredonia, John taught instrumental music at Silver Creek Central School, from 1937 to 1944, and built an award-winning band program there. During those years, John also played professionally in the Carborundum Band broadcasting over the Columbia Radio Network from Niagara Falls, NY, and was Director of Music at the Churchill Tabernacle at a time when it broadcast for eight hours each Sunday on WKBW radio. In 1944, he accepted a teaching position at Amherst Central High School from which he re-tired in 1969. As chair of the Music Department, he built an outstanding school music program with excel-lent teachers and community support. While at Amherst, his bands were consistently top-rated and were invited to perform at numerous state and national conferences. He served briefly in the U.S. Army late in WWII, playing in a service band in Fort Lee, VA. Near the end of his brief time in the service he declined an offer to enter officer training that would prepare him to lead in the occupation and re-building of Japan, instead choosing to return to music education. From 1947 to 1951, John organized and directed the Buffalo Bills Football Team Band, selecting 130 out-standing student performers from WNY schools to participate. He also conducted the Tonawanda American Legion Band to eight consecutive state championships from 1948 to 1955, directed the University of Buffalo band from 1950 to 1959, and taught music education courses at Rosary Hill College (now Daemon College) from 1949 to 1962. John took a sabbatical in 1950 to earn his master's degree at the University of Michigan under the tutelage of Dr. William Reville. In 1948, John organized and served as the first President of the Erie County Music Educators Association. He was a member of the New York State School Music Association, serving as guest conductor and adjudicator at numerous NYSSMA events. He hosted several area festivals at Amherst HS. From 1960 to 1962, he served as Zone 1 Representative to NYSSMA and was chairman of the band section of the NYSSMA Manual for 10 years. After retirement from Amherst he taught instrumental methods and supervised student teachers at SUNY Fredonia for several years before moving to Sarasota, Florida, where he took up golf and bridge. John and Helen moved back to Silver Creek in the early 1990s to be closer to family. John was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Amherst, serving as president for a time. He ran Snyder Photo Service, a commercial and portrait photography business out of his home in the 1950s and '60s. He was the first to introduce Kodak type C color processing in the Buffalo area. Summers were spent at the cottage he and Helen built in Hastings, Ontario, where he pursued his life-long interest in fishing. Later in life, he enjoyed woodworking. In 2000, his hand-crafted model fire truck won first place and best in show at the Chautauqua County Fair and subsequently first place at the New York State Fair in Syracuse. He enjoyed raising and consuming fresh vegetables and fruit in his Silver Creek garden until the age of 95, and in those later years he participated in the Silver Creek Senior Center, telling a joke at the end of each meeting. He also bowled with the Senior Bowling League in Fredonia, into his 90s. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the New York State School Music Association Scholarship Fund, 718 The Plain Road, Westbury, New York 11590. Friends may call at the Hole-Parker Funeral Chapel, 160 Central Avenue, Silver Creek, on Friday, February 5, 2016 from 7 to 9 p.m. Burial will be private at the Union Cemetery. To send condolences or remembrances go to holeparkerfc.com. Service Information