Each year, the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging honors senior citizens who are making a difference in their communities and present a positive image of aging.
There is one award recipient for each county in the Agency’s service area (Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca, and Wyandot.)
Awardees must first be nominated by an individual or organization involved with seniors. They are then selected by the Agency based on the impact of their contributions and accomplishments within the community made after reaching age 60.
The Agency has announced that John Kastelic has been selected as the 2017 Outstanding Senior Citizen for Richland County. He and eight other recipients were honored on Thursday, Aug. 24 at a ceremony hosted at Hawkins Corner.
Kastelic served six years as an auditor with Ernst and Ernst and 38 years as the Chief Financial Officer of three hospitals, retiring from MedCentral Health System. He is a very service-oriented man and has served and volunteered in many capacities over the years.
As an active member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, he is also a servant leader for the church. He co-chaired the capital campaign for $3 million dollars. Kastelic serves as a funeral sacristan, is the Financial Chair for the church and school, and has served on several other committees. Additionally, Kastelic serves as a Prison Ministry volunteer through the Diocese of Toledo at RICI every Sunday night to the incarcerated.
Kastelic is a member of the RAP Board—Richland Alternative Program Board, an alternative program for DUI to complete an educational program in lieu of jail. For the past eight years, Kastelic has served as a Mentor Dad with Richland Pregnancy Services to counsel dads by spending three hours every Tuesday for this mission.
Since 2009, Kastelic has served the Area Agency on Aging on the Finance Committee. He officially joined the Board of Trustees in 2014 and has also served as a member of the Senior Services Levy Committee.
Kastelic has served on the Mansfield Memorial Homes Board since 2006 and is the Treasurer. He serves on the Finance Committee and has assisted with the Foundation Board and Strategic Planning Committee.
Two days a week, Kastelic volunteers at OhioHealth in Mansfield directing and transporting patients.
“The amazing thing is that these are active commitments. I tease him that he is busier than when he was working, and his response is that they are all things he loves to do,” said John’s wife, Patti Kastelic. “John is truly driven by his servant heart. His gift is his financial acumen. Together he has maximized these gifts.”
The Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc., located at 2131 Park Avenue West in Ontario, provides leadership, collaboration, coordination and services to older adults, people with disabilities, their caregivers & resource networks that support individual choice, independence and dignity.
