John S. Drabik, 84, vocalist, museum director

John S. Drabik, former director of exhibits at the Museum of Science in Boston, singer with the Boston Lyric Opera, and World War II veteran, died of degenerative heart disease on Sept. 24 at Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in Cambridge. He was 84.

Mr. Drabik was born in Bedford, Ohio, where he attended high school. In 1943, he joined the Army, working in the north of France to save food supplies from being raided and sold on the black market.

He was honorably discharged in 1946 but soon reenlisted, and was again honorably discharged in 1949.

While he served in France, he worked for six months to rehabilitate a local church.

When parishioners discovered he was a self-taught pianist and organist, they asked him to play at the wedding of President Dwight Eisenhower's chauffeur, with Eisenhower present. Mr. Drabik accepted.

He moved to Boston in 1949 to attend the New England Conservatory of Music and met his future wife, Jean Ellerson, who was his voice teacher. The couple wed that same year.

Mr. Drabik graduated from Boston University in 1956 with a bachelor's degree in science. He went on to teach the subject in the 1960s, working for four years at Reading High and at Beaver Country Day School in Brookline.

From 1969 to 1978, he served as director of exhibits at the Museum of Science in Boston. After leaving the museum, he returned to his first love - performing. In 1979, he joined the professional choral ensemble at the Boston Lyric Opera, where he sang in numerous productions until his voice began to weaken in 2002.

"He was a very private, quiet man who we all loved deeply," his daughter, Elizabeth Roy Drabik-Fredd of Falmouth said.

Mr. Drabik also leaves two other daughters, Mary Ellerson Gazaway of Atlanta and Ursula of Santa Fe; and three granddaughters. He was predeceased by his wife, who died in 1975.

A cocktail party celebrating his life will be held Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Skating Club.