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Patrick Morrison posted a condolence
Thursday, November 9, 2023
My name is Patrick Morrison. I was a student in John's (Mr. Streko to me) first or second year at Long Valley Middle School in 1976. I really enjoyed the trip to the shore to net fish and collect other creatures for the salt water aquarium, the trip to Stokes with the visit of Leonard LaRue, and embalming the snapping turtle back in class. I've thought about the class and John as a teacher many times, but a random thought occurred today and I decided to look him up. I doing so, I stumbled apon his obituary. I regret that I didn't reach out sooner. We owe a debt to all the people who have had a positive affect on our lives. I owe John such a debt. My sincerest condolences.
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Joe Nazzaro posted a condolence
Monday, October 23, 2023
John was an outstanding lacrosse player that I had the privilege to coach. We became good friends over the years and enjoyed some time together on the golf course and at outings. He was a good man of many talents and had a generosity of spirit always willing to help. He will be fondly remembered and will be missed.
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Karin Peterson posted a condolence
Sunday, October 15, 2023
My heartfelt condolences to the Streko Family. I honestly am at a loss of words to express how much John meant to me and to everyone who knew him. I knew John since I was 11 yrs old and was close to him my whole life. He was a second father to me and much more than that..mentor, counselor, coaching buddy, etc. He was an amazing man who was all about everyone else and he cared about so, so many people. It was an honor and privilege to coach with him at WMC for 9 years and I have so many wonderful memories just from coaching with him, let alone other memories. He gave so much to so many including his family, his work colleagues, his students and his athletes. He left an indelible mark on all of those who knew him and he will always be remembered as someone who was authentic, real, approachable, kind and just fun to be around. I will miss you, John, but I trust that you are in the arms of a loving God. You finished the race of life and all of us are cheering you on into your next journey..you are well loved and always will be..
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CHRIS KIMKER posted a condolence
Saturday, October 7, 2023
I met John when our boys were old enough for little league baseball in Mine Hill. So that’s around 1978. We quickly realized that we both had a common goals for our boys. Good training for organized sports. Getting them to do their best and oh yes, our goal was for them to win. Play hard, do your best and if possible, win.
We clicked and went on to coach midget football together in Wharton. Little did I know at the time that John was a high school standout athlete and a college scholarship athlete. He had all the tools and skills which I was lacking but John never flaunted his talents and we made a great coaching team.
We did have winning little league baseball seasons and in 1981 took the Wharton Pee Wees football team to an undefeated season.
In between those seasons we also took on Cub Scouting. John was a natural fit for scouting programs. Again I didn’t know his background was environmental science and physics. My favorite memory was John’s guided tour of Tillman’s Ravine in Stokes State forest. He shared details with the boys that would have otherwise remained unnoticed.
I could never come up with a brainstorm that John balked at. I wanted to set up a batting cage in my back yard and needed a fourth tree (post). John and I cut down a tree in his back yard and drug it down Randall Av to my back yard and buried it 3’ into the ground. Batting cage went up and the rest was history. He never even thought it couldn’t be done. We just did it.
Our next challenge was the ball field behind Canfield Av School. The right field was way too short so we launched a push on the town and school to enlarge the field. Together we got all interested parties together and cut down trees and groomed a reasonable sized baseball field. Once again we did it together never once thinking we were nuts. Just driven.
As time moved on we went from our children’s activities to more adult adventures. John of course was very involved in high school sports so I just kept updated. He did have another passion for bird banding. He took me with him once and what an adventure that was. He actually had me holding a red tailed hawk.
The point I hope I made clear is John’s incredibly diversified skills and interest in so many things. After reading his history, so very well laid out in his obituary, I am not at all surprised at the adventures and experiences I had with him in the “earlier years”.
I am proud that I could be considered one of John’s friends.
Thanks John, my friend, rest in peace. You clearly earned your spot in heaven.
Chris
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George Schroepfer posted a condolence
Saturday, October 7, 2023
John Streko was my friend and colleague for 20+ years. We first met in Sept 1992 when I started my second year of teaching at WMC. When I look back, the word that leaps to mind is “shared.”
John shared his classroom with two ‘rookies’ that first year- Jeff May and myself. He did so very graciously and without hesitation. It was a little crowded, but it helped that he and I both trended toward the Oscar Madison end of the neatness spectrum. The day he returned from the Sandy Hook trip that first year was awesome, and a definite eye opener. The classroom reeked for a few days, but so many cool specimens!
Workspace-wise it worked out that there was a desk for Jeff in the chemistry office across the hall, but John was stuck with me sharing his “office.” The room had approximately 8x8 feet of floor space, including about 4’x2’ for the radiator and 4’x3’ for the desk. We managed to alternate efficiently for the full year (one desk, one computer) without once ever messing up the other guy’s paper piles.
In that tiny space, John happily shared many useful ‘hacks’ (as they’re called now), most notably showing me how to use a spreadsheet (we had Mac’s back then) to create a grading ‘program’. This was years before the commercial programs came out and saved me hours of paper calculations. More than a few of those spared hours were spent talking basketball since we were both fans and students of the game.
Watching John teach was an opportunity that came about later in our time together, when he got transferred to Room C135 with Kevin and me (more office space this time). It was fun to listen in on his classes, which I did whenever I could. Only later did I come to realize that he was a truly great story teller, and recognize the extent to which he was weaving a thorough and expert knowledge base over a few minutes of video.
In the academic milieu, my guess is that one of John’s proudest legacies would be the whale watch multi-day field trip, of which he was the primary and original ‘author’. The whale watch was without a doubt the most successful field trip I witnessed in my entire 31 years in the district. Conceived and executed on an annual basis for over 20 years, he was justifiably proud of its inclusiveness, high expectations, and educational impact. The kids routinely met those expectations and flourished on the road to Cape Cod and back, leaving him proud, happy, and exhausted by the time we returned to WMC, singing the alma mater.
A more somber student-moment illustrates yet another facet of John’s connection to ‘his kids’:
The senior environmental science class had a tendency to attract a fair proportion of knuckleheads. There was one particular student who stood out for persistence and vehemence of disruptive behavior verging on nasty (my own observation/assessment). John dealt with the young man firmly but fairly for the entire year, never losing his cool, exhibiting extraordinary patience. Many years after the student had graduated, he returned to WMC as a part of his twelve step recovery program. He thanked John for his restraint and asked forgiveness, which was readily given. They both were in tears, and John even teared up a little when he shared this story with me.
My favorite recollection of John is not in the classroom, but rather in his element out in the woods. He took legitimate pride in his membership in the Raptor Trust and his role as an official hawk bander. He was also generous enough to invite Kevin and me out to the Kittatinny range on a couple of occasions (Kevin was helpful, I was baggage). It was wonderful to witness him in such a flow state -- identifying groups of birds miles out as they passed through the notch, then handling the netted birds as gently and carefully as possible. Those were long, tiring, and wonderful days, and I am grateful for the memory.
Rest in peace John. You won’t miss counting any of them now.
George S
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Chris K uploaded photo(s)
Friday, October 6, 2023
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Wharton Pee Wee's 1981 undefeated
Bird Banding 2013
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Amy Vincent posted a condolence
Thursday, October 5, 2023
My deepest condolences to mr streko's family and friends. There are a handful of teachers that I remember over the years and he was one. He was at top of that short list. I learned so much about my favorite subject, science. I remember him as a gentle, patient, knowledgeable and cheerful teacher. He wasn't just there for the paycheck. He really loved what he did and was passionate about his subjects and truly cared about his students and it made such a difference in my life. The world will be poorer without him and his zest for life. I don't know how he did it all but their is a star shining brightly for him.
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Steve Altenderfer posted a condolence
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
I was John's science teacher when he was at Hanover Park HS. If you check his yearbook, you'll find a picture of him standing next to me at my from desk, with the caption (as I recall) "Yes, John, you did fail." Of course it wasn't true.
Later, when he worked in Long Valley and West Morris Central, he taught one or perhaps both of my daughters. Thus was the circle completed. We were in touch on Facebook over the years. Such a nice guy, no pretensions, what you saw was what you got.
The world is a better place because of you, John. RIP
Steve Altenderfer
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Paul Rockwood posted a condolence
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Good-bye my friend. Even though we didn’t talk in awhile I always knew you were special. …and thank you for including me in a few hawk-banding adventures with all your stories as we hunkered down in our blind. As you move on to your next life, the karma you gathered will have you soaring high in the sky. Rocky
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Bill “Hank” Steiner uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
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Because of a yearly golf tournament I run, I was fortunate to have had John introduced to the group over 10 years ago. We became close friends and he was truly one of the best people I have ever known. Although I live in Florida, while on a quick visit to NJ a couple months ago I was able to meet John for lunch. As we were finishing our meal John disappeared for a few minutes. Where did he go…to pay the tab of course without telling us! I will miss him tremendously.
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Symantha OByrne uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
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Lauren Thompson posted a condolence
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
So sorry to hear of the loss of Mr. Streko. Although I was young and a student at LV Middle and WMC, I thought he was one of the nicest, easy going, and kindest teachers that I had! What a beautiful tribute to a well like man! My condolences go out to his family and friends and to all who had the luxury of having him as a teacher! Rest in Peace.
Lauren Thompson
WMC Class of 1985
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John Borowski uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
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I hope you are in a rainforest somewhere in the universe!
You touched many lives. Including mine. Thank you for that.
Loved teaching with you! We had many good times together!
John and Trish Borowski
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Jaynie Coleman posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
John, always smiling, always positive, always enthusiastic. Your legacy will carry on and your passing saddens me
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Dave O'Brien posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
John Streko is one of the best teachers I ever had. He was patient and funny and kind and intimidatingly intelligent, and made me think more critically about the world we live in. I was excited to go to his class each day. Thoughts and condolences to his family and loved ones. He will be missed.
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Eric Suhr posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
John had an extraordinary gift of welcoming people into his orbit. He could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, and no one was a stranger. He loved nothing more than connecting his friends. When John said, "I want you to meet a friend of mine" you knew 2 things: you were going to meet a really good person: and, you were going to have a lot of fun. He always made you feel like you were worthy of his time, attentive and always in the present. Rest in peace, good friend.
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Karina Raupp posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
I have so many wonderful memories of Mr. Streko He was my 8th grade science teacher and then he followed us ( or vice versa) to WMC and I had him again in 9th grade. He was a remarkable teacher and taught with humor and compassion. He treated us like people and individuals rather than collective students. It obviously was never just a job to him. It was a calling. There are so many great memories I have of his classes and of him individually. He always went over and above in caring and being there for us. One of my favorite memories, I shared with him somewhat recently.
My 8th grade graduation....being vertically challenged (or gravitationally impaired) I have to walk first. As I walk to the middle of the gym, Mr Streko looks down at my high heels (my pathetic attempt to look taller than a 4 year old), and whispers "don't trip". This was done with the Streko grin and twinkle... You know what I am talking about! EVERY graduation, High School, College, and yes even Grad school that is what I think of....The gift that keeps on giving!!! Thanks Mr Streko LOL!!! There are so many more stories, funny, and touching. Thank you John Streko for the lessons, the laughs and the love. I will carry the memories with me always. Much love to the Streko family.
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Diane Ludlow posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
I always enjoyed talking to John about teaching science and his environmental adventures during retirement. He made the world a better place.
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Glen Bakke posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
What an EXCELLENT synopsis of a life well lived and embraced. A big smile is not an expected reaction while reading an obituary but John understands .
Hugs Kathy and family. It's been an honor being your friends .
Love,
Glen and Elaine
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Deborah Maher posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
John and my late husband were friends for many years. Now they are together in gods home. My deepest sympathy to Kathy and her family.
A Memorial Tree was planted for John Streko
Monday, October 2, 2023
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Tuttle Funeral Home Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
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The family of John Anthony Streko uploaded a photo
Monday, October 2, 2023
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Tuttle Funeral Home
272 State Route 10
Randolph, New Jersey, United States
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In Loving Memory
John Streko
1948 - 2023
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272 Highway 10 Randolph
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