Born in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, one of eight children of immigrant parents, John Kozitzky learned the value of family, perseverance, and hard work from humble beginnings. He attended the Temple University School of Pharmacy on scholarship, graduating in 1943, and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

After World War II, he returned to the School of Pharmacy as a faculty member until 1950, when he joined Merck. Over a distinguished 35-year career there, he held positions of increasing responsibility in sales, training, and sales leadership.

Mindful of the opportunity his scholarship had given him, John believed that the more one has, the more one can share, and he generously supported the School of Pharmacy and the Owl Club, where he was a familiar face at Temple football and basketball games. He remained proud of his Temple education throughout his life. His greatest pride was his family: his wife, Betty, four children, seven grandchildren (one a Temple alumnus), and fifteen great-grandchildren.