John Sybalsky
John Dahl Sybalsky
27 Mar 1953 - 25 May 2009
Clubs & Associations
CALLERLAB
Stanford Quads
Tech Squares
Biography
John hails from the East Coast, having grown up in New York. In 1971, his freshman year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he joined Tech Squares and learned to dance; by 1973 he was teaching square dancing as a gym class. A move to California in 1980 led to a lively schedule of Challenge dances and workshops. A founder and current caller for the Stanford Quads, John also travels widely, calling weekends around the country, and serves as a permanent staff member at the American Advances and Challenge Convention.[1]
Quick Facts
- called Plus thru C4
- club caller for Stanford Quads, Interlocked Squares, and Top Cats
- named one of the SCVSDA's "Top Ten Callers" 2000, 2002, 2005-2009 [2]
- on the IAGSDC convention calling staff at
Service
- served as parliamentarian and on the Board of Governors of CALLERLAB
Obituary
SUNNYVALE, CA John Sybalsky, 56, resident of Sunnyvale, CA and a former resident of Poughkeepsie died suddenly May 25, 2009 while visiting with family in Poughkeepsie.
John was born on March 27, raised in NY and attended MIT receiving a BS in Computer Science & Engineering. By 1982 John relocated to Oakland, CA. In the 1980s John founded Venue a software development company dealing mainly in LISP. Since 1997 John and his wife Jill developed other software ideas for Venue.
While attending MIT, John learned to Square Dance. By 1973 he was calling and teaching others. John advanced to calling C4, the highest level in Square Dancing. John met his wife Jill through square dancing as she too is a caller.
Together they taught dancers and traveled calling all over the world. John also called locally for 3 clubs. John joined Callerlab in 1979 and was elected to their board of governors in 1988 and has served continually since then. Jill, who is a genealogist, did John's family history and proved John's connection to many famous relatives and veterans of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
Due to Jill's efforts John joined Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) via his 4th great grand father Thomas Wason.
John is survived by his wife Jill of Sunnyvale, CA, his step-son Wayne Marci of Sunnyvale, CA, his mother Helen of NY, his brother Bill of CT, his niece Julia of CT. He was predeceased in Jan. 1997 by his father John. John will be interred next to his father in Indiana.
John's wife Jill and the rest of the Sybalsky family request that donations be made to the John Sybalsky Memorial Fund. The Callerlab Foundation, 200 SW 30th Street, Suite 104, Topeka, KS 66611. 785-783-3665. Please note on your check that your donation is for the John Sybalsky Memorial Fund.
A memorial service and square dance will be held at a future date.[3]
Arrangements have been entrusted to Parmele-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 110 Fulton Ave., Poughkeepsie.[4]
Remembrances
- Memorial page Friends of John Sybalsky
- more memories were published in the June 2009 issue of The Call Sheet
- Remembrance from Barry Leiba
- Clark Baker tribute website
Memorial Panel
- 4LR | Stanford Quads
Photos
Obituary (Poughkeepsie Journal)
Videos
John calling Plus (patter) at the Santa Clara County Fair, August 2007
