“Public Service has been my life…” John Slifko at the announcement of his election bid, February 2017.
John Robert Slifko was born in Massachusetts, grew up in Maryland, but fell in love with Reading especially the Centre Park Historic District where he called home for nearly 30 years.
He was valedictorian of his high school class in 1966. He went on to receive a B.A.in economics from Princeton University and a Juris Doctor degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law. Although he earned a law degree, he never worked as a lawyer, preferring instead to put his legal knowledge to use on causes in which he strongly believed. Not wishing to be an attorney, he decided to pursue his real love, working with his hands in the construction and home remodeling business.
Public service and social justice were always the motivators of his life. In 2015 John was appointed to a vacant seat on Reading City Council and was elected as Councilman of District 6 in 2017. But his record of public service predated his tenure on City Council. He served as a member of the Charter Study Commission, the Charter Board and the 2001 and 2013 Charter Review Commissions. John was also involved with the Downtown Improvement District Authority’s Main Street board and the Reading Shade Tree Commission.
John was a lover of nature and especially trees. Through his efforts hundreds of trees were planted throughout the City of Reading. He organized volunteer work crews to cut concrete sidewalks and dug holes to create new tree pits. Then planted, mulched and watered the newly planted trees.
On January 7, 2019, John Slifko fell ill during a City Council work session and died on January 11 after undergoing heart surgery. His untimely death was a shock to all who knew and loved him and to the City that he selflessly served for so long. To the residents of the greater Centre Park neighborhood, John’s passing was extremely difficult. He was not just a neighbor or volunteer, he was a friend and he was family.
Unbeknown to anyone, John left the bulk of his estate to the Centre Park Historic District, Inc. for the sole purpose of the planting of trees in the northwest section of the City of Reading.
In 2021, The Centre Park Historic District established the John Slifko Tree Fund to fulfill John’s final wish. The Centre Park Historic District, Inc. is honored to have been chosen by John to further his vision of community beautification.