Q&A: Greenhouse owner overcomes tornado's fury

From The Daily News: July 25, 2009, was not a great day in the life of John Preisach.

On that Saturday afternoon, a tornado ripped through the village of Corfu, damaging several homes and businesses, including Preisach’s greenhouse at 9499 Allegany Rd. (Route 77).

Preisach barely escaped injury himself, but his greenhouse sustained about a half million dollars in damage.

He could have shut down the business, which dates to the 1880s and has been in his family since 1910. But he persevered, rebuilding it piece by piece.  The greenhouse, essentially a one-man operation, reopened the following spring.

None of that should surprise those who know Preisach. He is a graduate of Corfu High School and Alfred State College. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, when he was awarded a Bronze Star.

Today, Preisach, 66, leads a no-frills but active life. He has a television set but seldom watches it, calling it mostly ‘‘mindless’’ entertainment. He spends the bulk of his time working and in pursuits such as reading. He loves history and old postcards and owns several vintage photos of Corfu landmarks.

Preisach has been on the Darien Planning Board for 24 years and is a member of the Town of Darien and Genesee County Republican Committee. He is a trustee of Evergreen Hill Cemetery in East Pembroke, where he has succeeded in getting federal headstones for the graves of three Civil War soldiers and three veterans of the Revolutionary War.

Click here to read the Q&A with Preisach.