Dr John B. B. "Jack" Oblak

1942 - 2017

Dr. John (Jack) B. Oblak
1942 - 2017
WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Dr. John (Jack) B. Oblak, 74, formerly of Ithaca, NY and San Carlos, Calif., passed away peacefully due to complications from pneumonia at Chester County Hospital in West Chester, Pa., on Thursday, March 23, 2017, surrounded by his family.
Jack was born on June 1, 1942, in Little Falls NY. His late parents were Henry J. Oblak of Little Falls, NY and Lillian W. Farber of Piseco, NY. A graduate of Herkimer High School, Class of 1960, and SUNY Geneseo in 1964, he received his Master's degree in Theatre Direction and Production in 1966 from the University of Nebraska and his PhD in Theatre History, Criticism and Dramatic Literature in 1971 from the University of Kansas.
After working at the Lakewood Summer Theatre as the technical director during the summers 1965-1967, he authored "Bringing Broadway to Maine, a History of the Lakewood Summer Theatre, 1900-1969." The Lakewood Theatre in Madison, Maine, holds the distinction of being the longest-running professional summer theatre in the country. During his lifetime, he served as the technical director of more than 50 productions and as the artistic director for more than 60 productions.
Jack enjoyed a long and distinguished career in higher education, starting at Indiana State University in 1969, where he served as acting director of theatre and assistant dean of academic services. In 1979, he moved with his young family to Ithaca, NY where he served for 21 years at Ithaca College in capacities ranging from Dean of Humanities and Sciences to Vice President of Student Affairs and Campus Life. In 2000, he accepted a position as President of College of Notre Dame in Belmont, Calif. During his tenure, he implemented changing the name to Notre Dame de Namur University and increased the endowment. In 2008 he and his wife moved back East to be closer to their grandchildren. His treasured experiences at NDNU included meeting Sr. Helen Prejean during the world premier of her stage adaptation of "Dead Man Walking", in which he appeared as a priest; he also played the ghost of Christmas past in "A Christmas Carol."
While in retirement, he became a consultant for the Registry of College and University Presidents, serving at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, and at the Academy of Notre Dame in Tyngsboro, Mass. He continued to be involved in the theatre as recently as February of 2016, when he directed an original play at the Shawnee Playhouse in Shawnee, Pa.
Jack left three enduring legacies: his love of family, love of theatre/higher education, and belief in equality, social justice and community. Agencies benefitting from his time and energy include the Sequoia Health District, United Way of Tompkins County, the Tompkins County Foundation, Tompkins County Southern Tier Catholic Charities, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Hanger Theatre, Community School of Music and Arts, and others too numerous to name.
Jack believed that higher education is a privilege, in return for which one should make a contribution to the greater good and benefit of others. This was engrained in him and passed on to his children. His greatest achievement was his family and it was this love of family that motivated him and his wife to enlarge their existing family through adoption. In Terre Haute, Ind., he and Janiece founded a support/advocacy group for families of mixed race adopted children.
He leaves his wife of 49 years, Janiece Bacon Oblak and their children: James Jeb Bacon Oblak and his son Malcolm, of Swarthmore Pa.: Jonathan Bacon Oblak (Alexandra Oblak) and children Hannah, Phoebe, Maxwell, and Lila of Manhattan NY; daughter Jolynn Oblak of Rockland County, NY; and daughter Jessica Oblak Ho-Sang (Omar Ho-Sang) of Oviedo, Fla. and children Dominic, Jasmine and Matthew. Known affectionately by his grandchildren as "Pops", they will miss his numerous stories, sense of humor, and positive outlook. He is survived by two half brothers, David Farber of Morehouse, NY and Irving "Cap" Fuller (Carlotta) of East Herkimer, NY, and a stepsister, Janet Atutis (Peter) of Little Falls, NY.
A celebration of his life will be held in Ithaca, NY, in early June.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to:
The Dr. John B. Oblak Scholarship Fund at Ithaca College
Attn: Gift Processing
Ithaca College
953 Danby Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850
Gifts can be made online or by check made out to Ithaca College; memo to Dr. John B. Oblak
Scholarship Fund. The scholarship will be awarded to a theatre arts
major demonstrating financial need