By Nathan Pilling
XENIA — Well-known Xenia resident, accountant and Christian influence Sebert Guckian died at his home Thursday morning.
Guckian, 74, was known by many in Xenia as a man of prayer, as well as for his involvement with Toward Independence, Young Life, the Christian Men’s Fellowship of Greene County and for his professional work as an accountant.
Kenton Hill, one of Guckian’s close friends, described him as “a magnificent human being” who prayed extensively and built relationships through his work.
“His biggest concentration of his Christian life was to concentrate on prayer: praying for the city of Xenia, praying for the needy, praying for the homeless,” he said. “…He prayed for everybody and everything. He really wanted to see people’s lives changed and blessed.”
Jim Kennedy, another of Guckian’s friends, echoed Hill’s sentiments.
“The thing that I would think is typical Sebert was that he was always encouraging people to pray and praying himself,” Kennedy said. “That was one of his very big facets, was a prayer life.”
“I will very much miss Sebert,” said Alan Anderson, whose law offices neighbor Guckian’s accounting firm. “I talked to him every day and probably a couple times a day. He was a very considerate guy. He was a prime example of what a Christian person should be. He helped lots of people.”
At 64, Guckian, a wheelchair user, participated in the New York Marathon to raise money for the Interfaith Hospitality Network’s Schneider House of Hope in Xenia.
“You never saw him being bitter or felt like he was disabled,” Anderson said. “I don’t think he really considered himself to be disabled. He just moved right along.”
Guckian was a 1960 Xenia High School graduate and a 1964 graduate of Miami University.
A celebration of Guckian’s life will be held at the Ledbetter Road Church of God, 325 Ledbetter Road, Xenia, on Saturday, April 16, beginning with a visitation from 10-11:30 a.m. and followed by a service at 11:30 a.m.
