John Orsak

1938 - 2016

Orsak John Orsak, 77, of Palm Desert, CA passed away on Monday, February 15, 2016. He was born on March 5, 1938 in Flatonia, Texas to John Orsak and Mary Margaret Doherty Orsak Holman (Grandma Dee Dee). He graduated from Rosenburg High School in Rosenburg, Texas. He was recruited to Victoria Junior College to play football and received the honor of Victoria Jr. College All American. He received a scholarship to Rice University where he played football and received his Bachelor's Degree. Twenty years after obtaining his bachelor's degree, he completed Executive Development Programs at Cornell University and Babson College. John's professional life spans more than 60 years. He had a love of movies and began working at the local movie theater running the projector. When he was a student athlete at Rice University, he began his career with Dwoskin, Inc. then on to L.E. Carpenter's Sanitas Division, Borden, Inc., Wall Fashion, Inc., Dean Witter, Morgan Stanley, Smith Barney before retiring with Wedbush Morgan Securities. He was known for his innate sales and marketing expertise, maximizing profits through restructuring, negotiating corporate acquisitions and holding a US Patent. John's passions were evident in every aspect of his life. He played golf every chance he got and passed that love to his sons and grandsons. He loved playing football and even more watching John Jr. and Steven play from small boys through college. He ran 26 marathons from Big Sur to New York but the most special marathons were the three he ran with his daughter Catherine, one with John Jr. joining them and seeing Laura complete her share as well. John loved traveling, cooking, people and his faith. He was a follower of Picasso and painted many interpretations of his work leaving a cherished legacy. He believed in the 7 C's of great relationships - chemistry, caring, compromise, commitment, compassion, communication and compatibility that he shared continually with his children and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, one brother Mike Orsak, and his oldest son John Jr. John is survived by his loving wife, Constance Orsak who he adored and who cared for him in these last few years with the utmost love and respect; his children, Laura Orsak Underwood and husband Craig of Fayetteville, AR and Laura's mother Carol Beller Rogers; Catherine Orsak Acotto and husband Carmen of Kansas, Steven Orsak and wife Selena of Scottsdale, AZ; and their mother, Donna DePasquale Mayhew; one sister, Madonna Ballard of Alvin, TX; five grandchildren, Kyle Underwood, Troy Underwood, Brent Underwood, Emily McMahon and Mila Orsak and many friends and colleagues and his little blue MG. Memorials may be made to Desert Arc in honor of John's golfing buddy Patrick. The mailing address is Desert Arc, 73-255 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert, California 92260