To John Kerecz, my Father
May 16, 2025
Written by: Justin Kereez
I was sitting in a cold, dark movie theater with my neighbor, watching Thunderbolts. It’s 11:30 p.m., and my sister was calling me. I silenced the phone, but she called again and again. Then a text: “911.” I crept out of the theater and called her back. That’s when she broke the news.
I always knew he would be a tough act to follow.
John Kerecz, my dad, was a modern-day Renaissance man. His entire life was spent wanting to make an impact and be remembered by the world. Every idea he had, he did his best to achieve it. Each time he achieved something, he made sure to tell as many people as possible. We heard about his trip to space in a Russian MiG-18 for a long time.
(You can even watch it on YouTube.)
His lust for life was something special. As a child, he trained in martial arts and became an instructor. When I was little, I remember his friends and students gathering in our cinder block-walled basement as their underground dojo. After getting more students, he started to teach kids and adults at the YMCA in Lancaster. Not long ago, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
Later in life, he explored his passion for music. Music was always a big part of my life with him. My fondest memories with him always involve music. The earliest ones are of him howling along with the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and Elvis as we cruised around town in his beat-up teal Camaro.
He loved to be involved in local music scenes; he did whatever he could to be involved. There was a time when piles of CDs would show up at our house for him to review, back when he started with OSH Radio (Old School House Radio). We would drive out to Ardmore from Harrisburg so my dad could meet with Brian to deliver issues of Origivation Magazine before he started to write articles for it. He went so far as to join the rap-metal band 7th Layer as their bassist. In that band, he got to play the Gathering of the Juggalos.
Whoop whoop.
There’s no one on this planet that lived quite like my father. He poured everything he had into his adventures. To him, failure only happens when you give up. We would butt heads over how he pushed me to do more and be better because he knew I could do it. My father could see the limitless potential in others and wanted to inspire them to do their best.
Now more than ever, I understand why he pushed me.
He believed in me.
As I replay memories and go through his things, it helps me realize how blessed I am to get to call him my dad.
I wish I had one more chance to tell him how much he inspired me and to hear him tell me how he went to the edge of space in a Russian fighter jet.
While his life was cut short, he lived more than anyone else I know. I am so proud of all of the wild things he did, and how he wasn’t afraid to do what he did.
We don’t know how much time we have left, and we shouldn’t waste it.
If my dad taught me anything, it was to have courage, follow your heart, and above all:
Live long and prosper.
— Justin Kerecz
From the Publisher, Brian Cronin –
John wasn’t just a part of the That Mag (formerly Origivation) family — he was family. From his monthly column to managing our Central PA distribution, he always showed up — not just for us, but for everyone who needed a hand, a voice, or a platform. He will be missed.
