Always amiable and rarely without a smile, 'Krezzer' sat next to me for most of our high school days. Our parents were medical friends and we each had younger brothers to watch (or watch out for).
John's foremost aspiration was always to follow his dad's footsteps into medicine -- a goal that ultimately eluded him -- but seeing his brother Phil attain that goal made him very proud.
One other thing he was proud of was his ultimate victory over Pontiac.
When his dad presented him with the offer of a new car -- any one he wanted -- John chose a Pontiac Firebird. He and his dad went over to Phil Hesli's Arrow Pontiac and ordered up just the car John wanted. And then they waited. And waited.
When two and a half months had gone by, they went back to dig into what the trouble was.
Turns out, John's car specifics were throwing a fit with Pontiac's assembly line. Seems that his color combination was being continually rejected. Evidently no one at Pontiac had anticipated that anyone would ever order a bright orange Firebird with a green interior. And the system wouldn't allow it to be made.
So Dr. Krezowski and Phil Hesli started climbing the corporate hierarchy in Detroit (Hesli sold a lot of cars for Pontiac), being rebuffed for another two months. (Tom Krebsbach would have better insight into this type of situation than I.) Finally, Hesli got someone to approve a 'one-off' that would need to be specially made for John.
So six months after the initial order, John proudly took possession of the only orange and green Firebird ever to be made. That victory always made him smile.
Bruce, Kudos to you! Your tribute to Krez was a work of art, capturing the real essence of the always friendly, upbeat, smiling, and just overall good-naturedness of this most loveable character of our class! Thanks. Your words moved me greatly as I suspect they have, or will have, many others of our remaining classmates.
Bruce Lick
Always amiable and rarely without a smile, 'Krezzer' sat next to me for most of our high school days. Our parents were medical friends and we each had younger brothers to watch (or watch out for).
John's foremost aspiration was always to follow his dad's footsteps into medicine -- a goal that ultimately eluded him -- but seeing his brother Phil attain that goal made him very proud.
One other thing he was proud of was his ultimate victory over Pontiac.
When his dad presented him with the offer of a new car -- any one he wanted -- John chose a Pontiac Firebird. He and his dad went over to Phil Hesli's Arrow Pontiac and ordered up just the car John wanted. And then they waited. And waited.
When two and a half months had gone by, they went back to dig into what the trouble was.
Turns out, John's car specifics were throwing a fit with Pontiac's assembly line. Seems that his color combination was being continually rejected. Evidently no one at Pontiac had anticipated that anyone would ever order a bright orange Firebird with a green interior. And the system wouldn't allow it to be made.
So Dr. Krezowski and Phil Hesli started climbing the corporate hierarchy in Detroit (Hesli sold a lot of cars for Pontiac), being rebuffed for another two months. (Tom Krebsbach would have better insight into this type of situation than I.) Finally, Hesli got someone to approve a 'one-off' that would need to be specially made for John.
So six months after the initial order, John proudly took possession of the only orange and green Firebird ever to be made. That victory always made him smile.
Rest in peace, old friend. We'll miss you.
Robert Doyle
Bruce, Kudos to you! Your tribute to Krez was a work of art, capturing the real essence of the always friendly, upbeat, smiling, and just overall good-naturedness of this most loveable character of our class! Thanks. Your words moved me greatly as I suspect they have, or will have, many others of our remaining classmates.