Life Trustee John “Jack” Kreischer ’65 didn’t have the easiest start at Syracuse University. As a first-year student, he struggled to adjust to college life. But everything changed when his high school sweetheart, Lynn Duncan Kreischer ’66, received a full scholarship to Syracuse and joined him on campus the following year. “That salvaged my status as an alumnus,” he says with a smile.
With renewed motivation, Kreischer found his footing—singing in the Hendricks Chapel choir, improving his grades and pursuing a degree in accounting. He went on to build a successful career as a certified public accountant, first landing a job at the world’s largest international public accounting firm, then becoming chief financial officer of a real estate developer, and ultimately founding Kreischer Miller, now one of the larger independent regional accounting firms in the country.
“Syracuse University was a great place when I came here as a student,” he says. “It’s an even greater place today.”
I had an inquiring mind, a desire to grow my knowledge base, and I knew how to go about gaining knowledge. And that’s the most important thing we can teach students today.
Jack Kreischer ’65
Life Trustee Jack Kreischer ’65 is joined by his wife, Lynn ’66, and their daughter, Jennifer ’88, at the 2025 Alumni Awards Celebration, where he received the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award.
At the 2025 Alumni Awards Celebration in April, Kreischer was honored with the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award, recognizing his loyalty and service over the past 50 years. “I feel very blessed to receive the Eggers Award,” he says. “My involvement with the University has been a great reward. I’ve loved every minute of it.”
In reflecting on what he considers the key to involvement, Kreischer cites the importance of feeling like you’re making a difference, learning new things through interactions and meetings, and having fun. “If it’s not fun, there are too many other things to do in life,” he says. “And all three of those points have been the case in my involvement with Syracuse University.”
Charting a Course for Generations
Three generations of Kreischers gather for a selfie on a family outing: Brian ’91 and his wife, Sarah (both on left), and their children, Odessa and Ben, join Jennifer, Jack and Lynn. Odessa and Ben represent potential fourth-generation Syracuse University students for the family.
Kreischer grew up in the Syracuse area and enrolled at the University in 1961. His father, a member of the Class of 1941, was a professional musician and orchestra leader, and young Kreischer played saxophone professionally to earn his way through school. Music also brought him and Lynn together. They met through a high school band concert exchange between his school and Lynn’s in Pennsylvania. “Lynn stayed with my sister, who was also in the band,” he says. “We fell in love at first sight!”
The Kreischers’ children, Jennifer Lynn Kreischer ’88 and Brian Kreischer ’91, continued the family’s Orange tradition. They both majored in accounting at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and have had successful careers while staying engaged with the University. Since 2017, Jennifer, who retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers and is now a senior consultant with Kreischer Miller, has chaired the Lubin School of Accounting Advisory Board at Whitman. Brian, a managing partner at Frank, Rimerman + Co. and chair of the international board of Baker Tilly International, is a former co-chair of the University’s San Francisco Regional Council.
Jack and Lynn Kreischer watch the Syracuse University Marching Band perform on the Quad before an Orange football game.
Lynn Kreischer is a chair emerita of the School of Education Board of Visitors, and together the Kreischers have supported initiatives at the School of Education, Whitman, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, Syracuse University Athletics, the Schine Student Center, the Office of Alumni Engagement and Hendricks Chapel. “We’ve been particularly interested in Hendricks Chapel and are quite ecstatic to see the progress that’s being made there and how it’s influencing student lives in such a positive way,” he says. “That’s been really important to us.”
Inspiring Intellectual Curiosity
Kreischer, who joined the Board of Trustees in 1991, is a past president of the Syracuse University Alumni Association Board of Directors and has served on the Joseph I. Lubin School of Accounting Advisory Board at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. In 1989, Whitman recognized him with the Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award, and in 1999 the University presented him with the Outstanding Alumni Award.
For Kreischer, college is a time to grow, and he believes it’s important for the University to supplement that growth and inspire intellectual curiosity. He considers himself a lifelong learner and credits much of his professional success to life experience. “I had an inquiring mind, a desire to grow my knowledge base, and I knew how to go about gaining knowledge,” he says. “And that’s the most important thing we can teach students today.”
Whenever he’s on campus, Kreischer enjoys interacting with members of the University community—“I love the people,” he says—and is inspired by his fellow trustees and their commitment to the University. He is especially moved at Commencement and considers it a blessing to participate as a trustee. “When we go through the graduation procession, you realize there are thousands of people—parents, grandparents and family members—and they’re so proud,” he says. “You understand the commitment and the sacrifice they made to send their students to Syracuse. And we want to make sure that those dreams and aspirations can be attained.”
