John Peter "Pete" Sencevicky

John Peter Sencevicky passed away on May 12, 2017 at Fraser Health Care, Hilton Head Island, SC. Pete was born November 20, 1932, the youngest of five children of Alexander and Nadine Sencevicky, South River, NJ. He is survived by his wife, Greta (Cooke), and two nieces, Emily (Winn) Dean, San Diego, CA and Karen Winn, Lexington, KY. As a student of South River HS, NJ, he did compete in football and track. His friends started a band and needed a string bass player. Pete arranged to borrow a string bass and take one lesson from the high school band director. In exchange, he played tuba in the marching band. This was the beginning of Pete’s musical career. After serving in the US Army during the Korean War, Pete entered Trenton State Teacher’s College, NJ. Upon graduation, he taught elementary students in Rockaway Twp., NJ. After earning his Master’s Degree in Administration, he served as Principal at his Rockaway Twp. School. Inspired to work with special education students, he traveled to Yeshiva University, NYC and earned a Master’s Degree; he then pursued further graduate studies at Kansas University, Kansas. Upon returning home to Sussex County, NJ in December 1972, he and Greta were married. Pete completed the school year as Principal of Montague Public Schools. In September, he returned to Montague as a special education teacher. In September, 1973, he joined the staff of Newton Public Schools, NJ as a special education teacher. Following his retirement, he and Greta moved to Hilton Head Plantation, SC in August 1988. In September, he joined the staff of Beaufort County’s Dale Elementary School as a special education teacher. In the fall of 1992, he became an adjunct faculty member of the Technical College of the Lowcountry. In northern New Jersey, Pete’s musical career included stints with numerous bands and pianists. He had a long-time gig with the Buffalo Disaster Jazz Band which produced an LP. Upon arrival in the Lowcountry, he noticed an absence of Dixieland music. In June 1992, he invited all Dixieland musicians to Cheryl’s Le Cabaret for a jam session. Seventeen musicians appeared; they formed the Dixieland Jazz Society of the Lowcountry. This organization continues today and will celebrate their 25th Anniversary in June at the Jazz Corner, Hilton Head. Currently, the Alligator Jazz Band, as well as two other bands perform locally. In 2002, the Sencevicky’s moved to Belfair and enjoyed many years of comradery within the golf community. Pete joined forces with Alan Waitley and Mike Gauger to form a jazz trio “About Time.” They performed locally and produced three CDs. Pete also performed with Dale Nordby and Joe Bates in the country-western trio that appeared at Cypress’ Preston Health Center and Memory Matters. During the last ten years, he played bass and soloed with the Belfair Chorus. Pete wrote a personal history in a self-published book “Raise Your Hand and Say, ‘Bathroom.’” Pete was a member of the Mt. Manor Golf Club, PA, Newton Golf Club, NJ, Moss Creek Golf Club, and Belfair Golf Club, SC. Pete and his wife enjoyed golf-related travel and European cruises. The Sencevicky’s moved to Hampton Lake in January 2016. A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 pm, May 16, 2017 at First Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head Island, SC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to fund a high school student with interest in Dixieland music to: DJSLC, memo to: Pete Sencevicky Fund, mail to: Ted Druhot, Treasurer, 7 Shelter Cove Lane, #7548, Hilton Head, SC 29928 or Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, PO Box 3827, 7 Plantation Park Dr., Unit 4, Bluffton, SC 29910 or The Literacy Center, PO Box 3725 Bluffton, SC 29910.