DALLAS TWP. — A blood drive is planned at Misericordia University in memory of a professor and mentor to many students and staff, the late John L. Kachurick Sr.
Kachurick, the former director of the organizational management graduate degree program and associate professor of business, died Oct. 17, 2015, at age 72, following an illness.
“He touched everyone on campus,” Christine Slacktish, coordinator of Academic Reporting at Misericordia University said. “We wanted to honor him.”
The Business Professional Association at Misericordia and the Geisinger Blood Center will host the Dr. John L. Kachurick Sr. Memorial Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14 in the Huntzinger and Alden Trust rooms of the Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall at Misericordia University, 301 Lake St., Dallas Township.
Participants must be at least 17 years old and have a photo identification, Slacktish said. She also recommends donors be well hydrated and eat a hearty breakfast.
According to the Geisinger Blood Center’s website, three gallons of blood can support the nation’s need for one minute. An estimated 4.5 million people would die, nationwide, without donated blood for transfusions.
“He (Kachurick) would have appreciated the opportunity to benefit other people,” said Fred Croop, Dean of Professional Studies and Social Sciences. “He would have endorsed it (a blood drive held in his memory) whole heartedly.”
Before becoming a faculty member at Misericordia University, Kachurick was a co-founder of the Citizens’ Voice newspaper and a reporter. Croop recalled his first encounter with Kachurick was a phone interview in the 1970s.
“I was the business manager at Dallas School District at the time,” he said. “He was very forthright. You always knew where you stood with him.”
Kachurick created several academic programs at Misericordia, including a weekend Master of Science for the organizational management program held in Hazleton. Once online classes were found to be viable, the program was moved online, Croop said.
To make an appointment to donate blood, call Slacktish at 570-674-1219 or email cslackti@misericordia.edu. Walk-in donors will be accepted as well.
