William Lesko

Kerrville William J. Lesko, 82, of Kerrville, Texas died Sunday, July 2, 2006 of complications from cancer at a local care center.A pioneer in educational television, Bill was born to Maria Cheffa and John Lesko on May 18, 1924 in New Kensington, PA. After serving his country in the U.S. Army Air Force China Burma India Theater of war in World War II, he attended the University of Pittsburg on the GI Bill and graduated with a B.A. in English writing in 1949. In 1952 he earned a Master of Science degree in television program production from Syracuse University, the first University in the nation to offer a complete television program production curriculum.From 1953 1964, Bill was or of educational television for St. Louis University, where he created and administered a fouryear certificate program for adults, Community Campus, which was offered on both commercial and public television stations, a precursor of the distance learning programs that came into prominence in the late 1990s.He also served as or of television for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Instruction Harrisburg, PA, the Mifflin County School District Lewiston, PA, Ulster County Community College Kingston, NY, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, PA, and the University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND. In each of these positions, Bill conceived, developed and produced thousands of public service and educational television programs to meet the needs of the various communities he served. He retired from the University of North Dakota in 1989.Bill and his wife, Flora Bartoli Lesko, whom he married in 1954, moved to Vicksburg Village in Kerrville, TX in 1998. As a proud member of the Kerrville Host Lions Club, he conceived and developed The Lions Den, a community service television program produced by the Kerrville Independent School District and broadcast on cable channel 2. In 2001, Bill was named Lion of the Year for his contributions to the club and the Kerrville community.He served on the boards of numerous professional, educational, church, community, and service organizations. In Kerrville, he served on the Host Lions Club Board of Directors, the Vicksburg Village Homeowners Association Board and as commander of the CBI Veterans. He served as President of the Grand Forks Lions Club from 1992 1993. A member of the Knights of Columbus for over 50 years, Bill served as Grand Knight and District Deputy as a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota.The three pillars of Bills life were his family, his career, and the Catholic Church. A parishioner of Notre Dame Catholic Church, Bill was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Notre Dame ACTS community. He championed Catholic education and developed presentations for mens retreats, study groups, and meetings.Bill was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife two daughters, Silvia Jo Lesko of Denton, TX and Angela Marie Lesko Keane of Layton, UT two grandchildren, Kerry Ann Keane and Joseph Keane, IV, along with a host of many loving friends and neighbors.Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 6 PM, Wednesday, July 5, 2006 in the Kerrville Funeral Home Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 PM, Thursday, July 6, 2006 at the Notre Dame Catholic Church with Fr. Mike Peinemann serving as officiant. Entombment will be at 10 AM, Monday, July 10, 2006 in the Mausoleum of Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell, PA.In lieu of floral arrangements, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Notre Dame ACTS Community, or to the Bill Lesko Memorial Scholarship Fund, Tivy Media Technology, 3250 Loop 534, Kerrville, TX 78028.Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Kerrville Funeral Home.

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