Born in Manhattan, New York to immigrant parents of Hungarian and German heritage, John spent his childhood adolescence from the age of 10 to 16 living at Mount Loretto (aka “The Mission” of the Immaculate Virgin) on Staten Island, along with his sister Anna and his identical twin brother Joseph who kept the Nuns and Priests, including the beloved Father Kenny, running in circles with their mischievous “wasn’t me, it was him” pranks.
At 19, John enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving active duty as a trained Corpsman from 1949 to 1953 during which he cared for and attended to the medical needs of service members for both the Navy and the Marines. He felt great pride in serving his country, never lost the urge to help others, and welcomed the opportunity to share his numerous experiences by retelling stories of memorable patients and Officers, some which were difficult and others that were colorfully entertaining.
Following his release from service, John attended Manhattan’s Collegiate Secretarial Institute which offered training to veterans in accounting and business administration, ultimately leading him to a sales position lasting 30 years with Bantam U.S. Toys, and married his sweetheart Frances Cammarata. Together they built a good life for themselves and their two children, first settling in Prince's Bay for several decades before relocating to New Springville in their more senior years. April 2022 marked their 68th Wedding Anniversary and is a testament to their enduring love for each other and for the family.
John also loved the sun and surf of Florida, traveling annually with family to St. Pete Beach and Anna Maria Island by any means possible – autotrain, plane or car – just to get there. He enjoyed bowling, channel surfing, watching the history channel, keeping up with local and global happenings, and looked forward to football season as well as feeding his passion for whiskey sours and dining out whenever the opportunity presented itself. He was, to say the least, the life of the party, with a disarming sense of humor and a spirit that made everyone laugh and smile.
Predeceased by his parents, Emanuel Cieslik & Irene Fuchs, his sister Anna (Robert) Farley and his twin brother Joseph (Christine) Cieslik, he is survived by his beloved wife Frances, his daughter Lynn (Giovanni) Sciove, his son Alan (Denise) Cieslik,three grandchildren, Justin, Dylan and Emma, two step-grandchildren, Gaetano and Christopher, as well as several nieces and nephews.
“Family was always everything to Dad”
and through his love and unrelenting determination, he stayed around for us for as long as possible
against all odds and mounting medical challenges over the years, and now
“Dad will remain everything to us, his family, forever more.”
In lieu of flowers – please share a story or warm memory of John – to uplift the family
A funeral service for John will be held Thursday, August 11, 2022 at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick's Church, 53 St Patricks Pl, Staten Island, NY 10306. Following the funeral service will be a committal service at 12:30 PM at Resurrection Cemetery, 361 Sharrott Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10309.
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