Andrew Lisko

Andrew Lisko was an incredible man who led a long, full life. He was born on January 31, 1925, in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and lived through the Great Depression. He dug coal from a backyard mine to keep warm, played violin in over 3000 performances, built homes, fixed automobiles, and trained troops. He died at age 98 in Columbus, Ohio. He started playing violin at age 5 and took lessons from world-class instructors. His brothers earned money to pay the 25 cents a week for his lessons using the profits from their polka band shows. He was a concert-master starting in 8th grade and continuing until he was 95 years old. His goal was to play as long as his fingers and hands had the ability and flexibility, and as long as his mind was sharp and fast enough. He was able to do this up until six weeks before he died. Andrew played with orchestras at the University of Michigan, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Winston Theater Orchestra, Ohio String Conference Orchestra, Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra and the Southeast Ohio Orchestra. His teaching career began at Berea College, moved to Muskingum College and then to Capital University, where he was a music professor from 1954 to 1990. He was the director of the orchestra as well as the violinist in both the faculty trio and the faculty quartet at Capital. Andrew continued to perform with the orchestra there until he was 94. He gave his final recital on his 98th birthday. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzKgVrCYvdM) Over his lifetime, he performed with many renowned classical performers such as Isaac Stern and Yehudi Menuhin, as well as entertainers ranging from Sammy Davis Junior to Frank Sinatra and Diana Ross. He was truly an artist and he devoted considerable time and effort to his practice and performances. During World War II he served as a platoon sergeant in the infantry, training troops for front line combat. He then went to school at the University of Youngstown for his BA and the University of Michigan for his MS. He was chosen as the Ohio Outstanding String Teacher of the Year in 1997 and was twice chosen to represent Ohio to perform with the National American String Teacher Orchestra. He also loved to fish at his beloved cottage in Canada and putter around the house fixing things. He is survived by his wife, Meredith Johnson-Snyder; three children, Karen (Robert Rolley) Mesmer, Daniel (Kim Fields) Lisko and Peggie (Tom) Stasek; five grandchildren, Alex, Jackie, Victor (Shannon), Ashley and Joe; and three great-grandchildren as well as nieces and a nephew. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Bonnie; his second wife, Katherine; brothers, Alec and Peter; and sisters, Julie and Olga, as well as many friends. He was a very loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and brother. Andy also loved Meredith's cavaliers and his beloved cat, Peter. A Memorial Service will take place at Unity Presbyterian Church in Reynoldsburg, Ohio on January 27, 2024, at 11am. A visitation will precede the service at 10am and a light lunch will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Youth Philharmonic of Central Ohio, the Newark-Granville Youth Orchestras, Mid-Ohio Food Pantry or Faith Mission. Andy gave the world the gift of music, over and over again for over ninety years. His gift helped all of us who heard him to realize the range of emotions that it means to be human and how focusing on a craft can make one a true artist who affects the lives of others in profound ways.
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