John W. Kostecki, MD

John W. Kostecki, MD, of Grand Island, NY and formerly of Williamsville, NY entered into rest on June 8, 2025 at age 90. Beloved husband of the late Marion M. (nee Graham) Kostecki; devoted father of Lynn (Michael) Kostecki-Csanyi, John W. Jr. (Susan) Kostecki, Susan (John) Griffin, Karen (Timothy) McMahon and Pamela (Edward) Clough; cherished grandfather of Alexandra, Ryan, John, Rachel, Jack, Mallory, Dillon, Connor, Nolan and Liam; loving son of the late John and Gertrude (nee McGuire) Kostecki; dear brother of James (late Ann) Kostecki, Theodore Kostecki and the late Edward Kostecki. Relatives and friends may visit PERNA, DENGLER, ROBERTS FUNERAL HOME, 1671 Maple Rd., Williamsville, NY 14221 on Sunday (June 15, 2025) from 2-5pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Gregory the Great Church, 200 St. Gregory Ct., Williamsville, NY 14221 on Monday (June 16, 2025) at 10:30am. Please assemble at church. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery. If desired, contributions in Dr. Kostecki's memory may be made to the SPCA serving Erie County, NY or Niagara SPCA.

Obituary written by Cindy Szymanski Dickey, Jack's niece:

The world lost an amazing and compassionate doctor and an even better husband/father/brother/grandpa this week with the death of my uncle, Dr. Jack Kostecki. Sharing his obituary that will run in Sunday’s Buffalo News. I’m sure he’s sailing along with his beloved Marion. 💗

Dr. John W. “Jack” Kostecki, 90, prominent Buffalo surgeon, avid sailor

As a 9-year-old boy, Dr. John William "Jack" Kostecki was crossing the street near his home in Depew when he was struck by a car. He sustained multiple injuries and was in a full body cast and hospitalized for almost a year.

From his childhood to his adult life, he underwent numerous surgical procedures to try to correct the deformity and alleviate pain in his left lower extremity. Even with these surgeries, Dr. Kostecki was left with a leg length discrepancy, which led him to wear a shoe lift for the rest of his life. These experiences drove him to strive for a career in medicine.

A former chief of surgery at Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Dr. Kostecki was as devoted to his patients as he was to his beloved family. The longtime Williamsville resident died peacefully Sunday at his Grand Island home. He was 90 years old.

Born in Buffalo, he was the oldest of four sons born to John J. and Gertrude (McGuire) Kostecki. He graduated from Depew High School in 1952 and attended the University at Buffalo for his undergraduate studies in chemistry before graduating from UB's School of Medicine in 1959.

Without the means for a higher education, Dr. Kostecki credited his Aunt Louise for his path to medicine. She encouraged and supported him financially throughout his education.

The same year he graduated medical school, he married Marion Mae Graham on June 13, 1959, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Lancaster. The couple then moved to St. Claire Shores, Mich., for his internship year at the Detroit Receiving Hospital (now Detroit Medical Center).

He returned to Buffalo for his surgical residency and became board certified in thoracic and vascular surgery. He practiced in many Western New York hospitals including EJ Meyer (now Erie County Medical Center), Deaconess, DeGraff Memorial, Kenmore Mercy and Sisters Hospital. While at EJ Meyer, he was chief resident and contributed to the training of many general/thoracic surgeons who practiced and are still practicing in the Buffalo area. He was chief of surgery during some of his years at Kenmore Mercy and DeGraff. He was in private practice in Kenmore for many years and worked seven days a week – on call 24 hours a day – devoted to his patients.

"My dad was somehow able to balance being a loving and present father to five children while at the same time going above and beyond for all of his patients," said his daughter, Karen McMahon, a physician assistant. "He rounded on his patients 365 days a year ... this doesn't happen in the medical field today. Any time there was an issue with one of his patients, he dropped everything and rushed to the hospital."

Dr. Kostecki also served in the Air Force Reserves as a surgeon. Following his retirement in the late 1990s, he was a volunteer instructor in the gross anatomy cadaver lab for the UB medical and dental schools, focusing on the chest and abdomen. He loved to teach and was always willing to spend more time with students if they needed extra assistance.

Outside of work, he loved the water and was an avid sailor. His first sailboat was built from a kit purchased by his new bride as a wedding gift. Dr. Kostecki went on to own various watercraft and race Highlanders, Lightnings and J/24s. He sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1988 and later sailed his own boat from Buffalo to the British Virgin Islands, going through the Erie Canal on the way. He and his wife spent winters on their boat there for nearly 20 years.

He enjoyed photography, tennis, golf and squash as well as playing backgammon, chess and cribbage with his children and grandchildren. He also was a season ticket holder for the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres for many years, and attended the Bills' first Super Bowl in 1991.

He was a longtime member of the Buffalo Yacht Club and the Buffalo Canoe Club in Ridgeway, Ont., where he and his family have had a summer residence since the 1970s.

"One of the most giving, smart, witty, blunt, loving and hysterical people I have ever had the privilege of knowing," said close family friend Amy Winklhofer. "Dr. Kostecki was one in a million. If you were ever lucky enough to hear one of his father of the bride speeches, or simply able to have a nice chat, you could count yourself blessed."

Besides his wife, who died in 2023, he was predeceased by a brother, Edward.

Survivors include four daughters, Dr. Lynn Kostecki-Csanyi, Susan Griffin, Karen McMahon and Pamela Clough; a son, John W. Jr.; two brothers, James and Theodore; and 10 grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Monday in St. Gregory the Great Church, 200 St. Gregory Court at Maple Road, Amherst.