John Michael Demcisak

John Michael Demcisak, Sr., 85, currently of Woodstock, IL died on Sunday, February 5, 2023.

He is survived by his wife, Marian (nee Griffiths); children, Michael Demcisak (Jan Russell) of St. Louis Park, MN, Suzanne Steinberg (Brian) of Crystal Lake, IL, and Andrew Demcisak, Grand Junction, CO; and five grandchildren, Phillip Steinberg (Kayla) of Crystal Lake, IL, Victoria Steinberg of Appleton, WI, Fairlight Steinberg of Appleton, WI, Jake Demcisak of St. Louis Park, MN, and Jacy Demcisak of St. Louis Park, MN. He is also survived by extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael John Demcisak and Mary Anna Ragozzino; stepfather, Pasquale Ragozzino; brother, Byron Demcisak; and sister, Mary Anne Kronmuller.

John was born June 29, 1937 in Pottstown, PA. He completed his education through high school at Girard College in Philadelphia, PA, Class of 1955. He attended Amherst College, graduating in 1959 with a degree in political science. He received his LLB from Columbia University School of Law in 1962.

John married Marian Griffiths in 1962. They welcomed John Michael in 1964, Suzanne Louise in 1967 and Andrew Griffiths in 1970.

John worked for Philadelphia law firms for 11 years before opening a solo practice in Hatboro, PA, in 1973. He moved his office to Willow Grove, PA, in 1981 until his “official” retirement in 2002. He continued to serve family and a few friends from his home in Hatboro until his move to Woodstock, IL in 2019.

All his life, John was committed to working for the benefit of whatever community he lived in. After moving to Hatboro in 1968, John spent the next 51 years immersing himself in the civic life of the borough. John served for 12 years as the lone Democrat (of seven members) on Hatboro Borough Council, during which time he was the primary author of the revised zoning code. After leaving Council he was appointed to the Zoning Hearing Board, where he served for a number of years. He brought his legal and organizational talents to numerous area and outside organizations, including Lehman Methodist Church, the Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum, the Union Library, the Hatboro YMCA, Elm Street Hatboro, as well as various taxpayer and other organizations in both his own and surrounding counties. He was instrumental in the formation of the Lake Florence Association, a group of property owners on Lake Florence in the Pocono Mountains, PA, where John and Marian built a cabin.

John was a strong proponent of public education and worked for the improvement of area schools. He also participated in the Girard College Alumni Association, where he received the Award of Merit in 1990.

John was a talented amateur photographer, a woodworking enthusiast, and avid do-it-yourselfer. His projects graced the family home, their children’s homes, Lake Florence cabin, and elsewhere. This enthusiasm extended to the Property Committee at Lehman Methodist Church in Hatboro, where he was a member for over forty years.

John’s life was a model of service to his family, his friends, neighbors, and community. His first concern was always for others, whether it was giving up free time to attend his children’s events, acting as family lawyer for his extended family, going out of his way to help a client or neighbor, or applying his skills organizing and negotiating to improve the community.

He modeled his life after words attributed to Stephen Girard.

“My deeds must be my life. When I am gone, my actions must speak for me.”

Farewell, John Demcisak. Your deeds were your life.

A memorial service is planned for March 11, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, 8505 Church St, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012. The service will be live streamed on Zoom.
A gathering for Pennsylvania family and friends will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in John’s name to RCLPC (address above) or to the property committee at Lehman Memorial United Methodist or a charity of your choice.