Michael Peslikis, 89, of Bowling Green, OH, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2026 following a brief illness. He was born in 1936 to John and Helen (Magalios) in New York, NY.
Michael grew up in Queens, NY, and majored in music at Queens College. He later did graduate work at both Harvard, and the University of Michigan, and also obtained a master’s degree in Popular Culture from Bowling Green State University. He married the love of his life, Cindy (Evans) Peslikis in 1962, and they had a son, Jason, both of whom survive in Bowling Green.
Michael was an extremely talented, accomplished, and well-respected musician and pianist whose career spanned over seven decades. He displayed an incredible versatility, as he was proficient in a wide variety of genres, including classical, jazz, blues, rock, ragtime, and show tunes. Michael performed in countless venues over the years, including nightclubs, theaters, hotels, weddings, and private homes. He also notably backed Howie Mandel, Rodney Dangerfield, Cab Calloway, and others in theaters and hotels. Michael was also a composer and had a seemingly innate ability to improvise on the keyboards which is why he had a special affinity for the jazz and bebop genres.
Michael was also an intelligent, thoughtful, long-time educator, who left a lasting impression on many of his students. Scores of his former students have shared many fond memories of their time spent in his classrooms. Michael taught music, popular culture, and the humanities from the elementary level up to the graduate college level at many different academic institutions. These schools were located in New York; Istanbul, Turkey; Athens, Greece; and northwest Ohio.
Michael was also a consummate chef, which paired nicely with his well-known hospitality. Whether he had known you for years, or was meeting you for the first time, he was always quick to offer guests something to drink, often listing multiple beverage choices. Staying true to his family’s Greek roots, some type of food was likely to also be provided in short order. Michael and Cindy hosted many outstanding dinners and parties over the years, which will be fondly remembered by all those who attended.
Michael’s other interests and hobbies included gardening, fishing, swimming, ping pong, reading, history, languages, photography, and trivia. He loved watching Jeopardy and working on The New York Times crossword puzzles. While Michael possessed a quick wit, he was also known to often crack a good dad joke as well.
Michael will be remembered as a vibrant passionate soul. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, uncle, and was a friend to many. The next time you hear one of your favorite tunes, or a bad dad joke, or enjoy a delicious meal, we ask that you think of Michael and keep his memory alive. A celebration of life will be held this summer.
