And now the time has come…

 

After 9 years I lost the ultimate battle against prostate, bile duct, pancreatic, lung and four skin cancers. I gave it my best and defied the stats along the way, but it was time.

 

I am so fortunate for my wife of 60 years, Barbara, daughter Elizabeth, sons Jason and John Jr., and grandchildren Camden, Jack, and Bonnie. I cherish each of them beyond what I can express.

 

I am a native of Mottville, in the Township of Skaneateles, NY. Our family was the first in the area, settling on land deeded for service in the Revolutionary War. Not interested in academics, throughout school I maintained grades only adequate to be eligible for sports. From freshman, through varsity, I was a starter in basketball and football. After high school, I had no aspirations and worked construction as I saw my friends go off to college. Fortunately, the mother of a friend sat me down and insisted I apply to the State University of New York, Alfred, where I graduated with an Assoc in Business Admin. In the years ahead, that was supplemented with numerous in-house management training programs and Advanced Executive Study at Wharton School of Business and Harvard Executive Business School.

 

My first job after college was in asset recovery with a bank. I teamed up with a WW2 submarine commander to repossess – in reality stealing back – automobiles. What we did most was laugh.

 

My real career then began with Dun & Bradstreet, Inc., a diverse Fortune 500 business data company, retiring in 1982 after 18 years. A career-long mentor placed me in the corporate training program. During the first 12 years I was promoted and relocated 10 times.

 

Meanwhile, the Vietnam War happened and I joined the Army Reserves. I was a good soldier and had regrets for decades that I didn’t join full time. On the other hand, I was the gung-ho type and probably would have come home in pieces, as did my great grandfather after confronting a cannon in the Civil War. One of my proudest times was serving as Drill Sergeant, and yet it had sadness because where I bunked was adjacent to an Overseas Replacement Center, where every night the large transport planes took load after load of very young men, mostly to Da Nang.

 

My most significant contribution to the company, and business automation in general, was leading the team that developed and implemented the then world’s largest digitized business financial data input, storage, and manipulation systems. Once the systems were functioning, I became Operations Director of the facility. Boredom set in and I took up residence in a corner office in NYC facing the World Trade Center. The title of Director of National Operations sounded cool, but it wore off and I resigned to become entrepreneurial with a few small businesses ranging from retailing through Sharper Image to manufacturing executive recruiting.

 

Looking back, I think I did OK. Regrets? I had a few but, as they say, too few to mention.

 

May life be as good to you as it was to me. Have faith and it will be.

 

Thank you all for your kindness and support.

 

~ John Ostrander, Sr. ~

 

It is with deep sorrow and tremendous love that the family of John H. Ostrander, Sr. announce his peaceful passing on July 21, 2025, after a heroic battle with cancer. His bravery and perseverance throughout his fight never wavered, nor did the grace and gratitude with which he carried himself.

 

He will be lovingly remembered by his devoted wife of 60 years, Barbara; children: John Jr., Jason, and Elizabeth, three grandchildren: Camden, Jack, and Bonnie; as well as other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Amy, and his brother Charles Jr.

 

Later in life, John and Barbara ventured south to Fort Mill, SC with their family in tow to begin the next chapter of their lives. He traded in the daily demands of corporate life for raising three children with the utmost dedication and attention. Although family was unquestionably John’s highest priority, he also became teacher, mentor, coach, and friend to many in the community. John was known for having high standards, and he was known to uphold them as well. There

were no shortcuts or cutting corners for him. If there was something to be done, whether for himself or others, you could rest assured it would be done the right way.

 

Above all else, John will be remembered for his relentless pursuit of service towards his wife, children, and grand-children. In his eyes they were everything. In his own words, “May life be as good to you as it was to me. Have faith and it will be.”