John S. 'Jack' Levisky, Ii, Ph.D.

YORK – John S. “Jack” Levisky, II, Ph.D., 74, passed away Saturday, November 3, 2012 at his home. He was the husband of Essie J. (Nelson) Levisky to whom he was married for 14 years. A celebration of life tribute service will be held at 2:30 PM Friday, November 9, 2012 in the Collegiate Performing Arts Center at York College of Pennsylvania, 441 Country Club Rd., York with Rev. Fred Nowell officiating. A flag folding presentation will be provided by York County Veterans Honor Guard. Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Road, York is in charge of arrangements. Born February 23, 1938 in Swoyersville, PA a son of Mary (Prebola) Levisky of York and the late John S. Levisky, he was a graduate of Grove City College, earned his M.S. from Rochester Institute of Technology, and both his M.A. and Ph.D. from Cornell University. Dr. Levisky was a Professor of Forensic Anthropology at York College of Pennsylvania for 33 years. During his tenure at York College, Dr. Levisky also taught both Statistics and Research; served as Chair of the Behavioral Sciences Dept. for eight years; and was President of the Academic Senate for two years. He had numerous professional papers and reports published. He was qualified as an “Expert Witness” in many court cases that received both local and national coverage. Dr. Levisky participated on multiple Forensic Scientific Teams as Forensic Anthropologist in exhumation, examination, and reporting on skeletal remains. He was a member of Northeast Forensic Anthropological Assn., American Anthropological Assn., American Assn. of Physical Anthropologists, Society for Medical Anthropology, and Society for Anthropology of Religion. Prior to teaching at York College, Dr. Levisky served as a Bomb Disposal Officer, Photographic Engineer, and was an Asst. Professor of Aerospace Studies at Cornell during his 20 year career in the US Air Force. He retired from the Air Force with the rank of Major. Dr. Levisky enjoyed many hobbies, most notably being a model railroader, flying ultra light airplanes, photography, and playing the accordion. In addition to his wife, Dr. Levisky is survived by a son, John S. Levisky, III and wife Michele of Akron, PA; a daughter, Laura A. and husband Dr. Alan Hess of Morgantown, WV; three stepsons, Brian Myers of Vidalia, GA, David Myers of Monticello, FL, and Scott Lawson of Thomasville, GA; a stepdaughter, Kelly Licciardi of Jacksonville, FL; four grandchildren, Tom, Jon, Sam, and Alea; one step grandson, David, four step granddaughters, Kimberly, Andrea, Brianne, and Nicole; one great granddaughter, Teghan; and two brothers, Joseph Levisky of Colorado Springs, CO and Benjamin Levisky of Shiloh. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the John S. Levisky Fund, c/o York College of Pennsylvania, 441 Country Club Rd., York, PA 17403-3651 or to Lutheran Home Care and Hospice, Inc., 1651-A Mt. Zion Rd., York, PA 17406.