John B. Kish

John B. Kish, age 82, died September 10, 2026. He was born on June 26, 1944, in Potsdam, NY, to John W. and Margaret A. (Simf) Kish. He attended SUNY Brockport, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1966.

John then began his 33-year long career in Albion at the old grammar school on Academy St., as a fourth-grade teacher. When the current high school was opened, he moved to what is now the middle school, where he taught sixth grade until his retirement in 1999. During this time, he was included in the 1994 edition of “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers,” and was recognized for his pioneering development of integrated special education instruction by the NYS Council on Exceptional Children. The middle school National Junior Honor Society named him Educator of the Year for 1998-99. John believed that all children are capable of learning to the best of their abilities and beyond, and deserve to be educated with their peers in the same classroom. His memory of students’ names was astonishing.

Reflecting his North Country childhood, John also ran a working farm until his passing. There he raised beef cattle and hogs, and used the acreage for crop farming. He also became involved in standardbred harness racing. Also astonishing was his memory of whose land was whose over many years throughout Orleans and Genesee counties.

John is survived by his sister, Marianne (Dennis) Oakes; his daughters Katherine (David) Engle, and Barbara Kish; stepdaughter Katie (Micheal) Knorr; nephew Benjamin Noreau; niece Erin Noreau Yezzo; and grandchildren Karen (Ian) Frasch, Thomas Engle, and Michael Engle. Deserving special recognition are dear friends Charles and Margaret Swan, Amanda Krenning-Muoio, and Phares Zimmerman.

John’s life and career will be honored at November’s ACS Board of Education meeting. There will be no calling hours, and memorial services will be at the family’s discretion. If you would like to make a donation in John’s memory, please consider Open Door Mission in Rochester, or Mercy Flight EMS in Batavia. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, Albion.

To share a memory of John, visit www.mitchellfamilyfuneralhomes.com.