Michael Edward Sestak, 71, of Batavia, a respected educator and retired superintendent of Mooseheart boarding school, died from heart failure Wednesday, June 5, in Joliet’s Silver Cross Hospital.
“My husband was a humble man, with such wonderful, simplistic wisdom about him,” said his wife, Mary Ann. “He treasured education like it was a precious gift. He said it was the one thing no one could ever take away from you.”
Born in Thayer, a coal-mining town just south of Springfield, Mr. Sestak was the second youngest in a family of 10 children. His parents were Czechoslovakian immigrants. Neither had more than a 2nd-grade education, but placed a high priority on their children’s schooling and bought books whenever possible to encourage them to read.
“He grew up using outdoor plumbing, but never lacked when it came to learning,” his wife said. “Of his nine siblings, almost all of them had college degrees.”
In 1953, Mr. Sestak graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. In 1964, he received a doctorate from the University of Illinois in educational administration.
Mr. Sestak’s career as an educator spanned five decades as a teacher, coach, principal, college professor, assistant superintendent of business affairs and superintendent. His first teaching job was at Greenfield Junior High School in southern Illinois. From there, he went on to teaching and administrative positions in Aurora at Oak Park Elementary School, Waldo Junior High School, the School Service Center for District 131 and Aurora University. He also taught as a visiting professor for two summers during the mid-1960s at the University of Kentucky.
In 1991, Mr. Sestak retired from Mooseheart Child City, a boarding school for disadvantaged children near Batavia, where he served for 10 years as chief administrator and superintendent.
“Those were some of our family’s best years,” his wife said. “We lived at the school with our children and we all learned so much from the experience.”
A resident of Batavia for the past 11 years, Mr. Sestak previously lived in Aurora. He was very active there, serving as a member of the Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Aurora Water Advisory Board, Aurora Civil Service Commission, and the board of directors of Annunciation Church in Aurora. He also served as the chairman of the Aurora Planning Commission.
He was a member of Holy Cross Church in Batavia, Marywood Garden Club, the development board at Aurora Central Catholic High School, and chairman of the board of Harris Bank in Aurora. He was also active with the Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 84, Loyal Order of Moose 400, The Lucky Fifty Club and Serra Club of Aurora, of which he was a president from 1995 to 1996.
Mr. Sestak was named Citizen of the Year Award in 1977 by the Aurora Lions Club and received the Pilgrim Degree of Merit, awarded by the Loyal Order of Moose.
He also wrote a book titled “A Priest for All Reasons” about his brother, a priest who died at age 46 of colon cancer. The book was published in 1983.
Other survivors include three sons, David, Paul, and Michael; two daughters; Michelle Lage and Teresa Bettag; a sister, Helen Nardi; and 14 grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday in Yurs-Peterson-Moss Funeral Home, 209 South Batavia Ave., Batavia. Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Holy Cross Catholic Church, 2300 W. Main St., Batavia.
