SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man has decided to retire from his job after six decades working as a pharmacist since 1953.
"I've been able to come to work happy every day," said John Mistician.
Recommended Videos
The 83-year-old started as a pharmacist in Pennsylvania. He was later stationed at Fort Sam and married a woman from San Antonio. They moved back to Pennsylvania for a few years, but ended up coming back to Texas and they have been here ever since.
"You have to enjoy what you're doing," Mistician said. "That's about how simple it is."
For the past seven years, Mistician has been working part-time at Laurel Heights Pharmacy. He said over the years, he's seen the industry progress and change.
"I don't think it's as personal as it used to be," he said.
Mistician said the pharmacy used to be a place where people would come to pick up their medication, enjoy a soda, and stick around to chat for a while.
"They're not interested, they just want to grab it and they don't even want to talk to you half the time," he said.
Now that Mistician is retiring, he will have extra time on his hands. He said his wife is excited to have him help out with more chores around the house, but Mistician is excited to spend more time doing his favorite past time: fishing.
Mistician said he will always look back with pride on the decades he spent helping people feel better and stay healthy.
"You feel like you've accomplished something most of the time," Mastician said. "It's just been a pretty rewarding experience."
KSAT News intern Presley Fowler contributed this report.
