July 7, 1914 – Feb. 3, 2016
John Krestic, a music teacher and school band leader, died Wednesday under Hospice care in Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, a few days after suffering a stroke. He was 101.
Born in Harvey, Ill., Mr. Krestic grew up attending schools in Lancaster. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Fredonia Normal School and taught instrumental music at Silver Creek Central Schools from 1937 to 1944.
During those years, he played professionally in the Carborundum Band, which was broadcast over the Columbia Radio Network from Niagara Falls. He also worked as director of music at Churchill Tabernacle during the time when it was broadcast eight hours every Sunday on WKBW radio.
In 1944, he took a teaching position at Amherst Central High School and eventually became chair of the music department. In 1950, he took a sabbatical to earn a master’s degree at the University of Michigan. He worked at the high school until his retirement in 1969.
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