VERO BEACH, FL – Joseph Z. Zdrok, 85, died Tuesday, December 26, 2023 in Sebastian River Medical Center after a short illness.
He leaves his wife of 59 years, Carol A. (Wajer) Zdrok; 2 sons, Kenneth J. Zdrok of Atlanta, GA and David E. Zdrok and his wife Ursula of Webster, MA; a daughter, Jodie L. Zdrok of Raleigh, NC; 2 grandchildren, Julia and Matthew Zdrok; and nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by a brother, Edward C. Zdrok, and by 3 sisters, Jennie P. Rzeszutko, Sister Mary Amandine with the Felician Sisters, and Theresa J. Miller.
He was born on February 28, 1938 at home, the son of Zigmont W. and Frances (Piasta) Zdrok and graduated from Bartlett High School in 1956 where he was a member of the only undefeated football team in the school’s history. He then earned a Bachelor of Engineering Degree from Northeastern University in Boston and also a Master’s Degree in Business from Babson College in Framingham, MA.
He lived in Webster all his life before moving to Vero Beach in 2004. He often reflected on what a beautiful place it was to live, because he enjoyed the sunshine, being near the ocean, and even feeding the geese at the pond near his home.
He served in the United States Army Reserves for 6 years and was an instructor in tank division exercises.
Mr. Zdrok worked as a project manager in the Department of Respiratory Affairs at the former American Optical Company in Southbridge for 33 years. In this capacity, he invented components for respirators and traveled all around the world as a company representative. He then was director of the respiratory department at Gerson Company in Middleboro, retiring in 2003. Although if you said he “retired” he’d take issue with it, because he continued to do consulting and expert witness work until his death.
He was proud of his Polish heritage and was fluent in the language, often sprinkling Polish words and sayings into everyday conversation, a tradition his children and grandchildren continue as well. Mr. Zdrok loved polka music. His second career was being a drummer for numerous polka bands in the area, starting when he was 13 years old. He started his own band, “The Concertones,” and played countless parish festivals, picnics, weddings, and anniversary parties over the decades. He also hired bands like Eddie Blazonczyk and Jimmy Sturr to play Webster events.
He was an avid hunter and enjoyed many hunting trips over the years in New England, Canada, South Carolina, and Colorado. He also enjoyed fishing trips with his family from New England to North Carolina to Florida. He enjoyed playing cards his entire life and got together regularly with “the guys” until a few months before his passing. Mr. Zdrok was also a big fan of the Boston sports teams, especially the Patriots during the Tom Brady years.
He and his wife Carol loved traveling with family and friends both domestically and internationally. He spent Thanksgiving 2023 in Las Vegas—he liked his craps and slots—with his family and left them with happy memories. He had a penchant for Dad jokes, silly sayings, and having a giggle fit about something he found much funnier than everyone else. He was incredibly generous and thoughtful, and he delighted in gift-giving.
Mr. Zdrok was very sociable, enjoyed good food and drink, and liked to have fun. He and Carol were a dynamic duo when it came to throwing parties. The Zdrok family Christmas Eve Open House and summer cookouts were legendary among family and friends. He could often be found with a martini in his hand, either making one for a guest or enjoying one himself. In the last photo of him, he’s enjoying a martini on a cruise several days before falling ill. That’s how he’d want to be remembered—smiling, content, and enjoying life.
He was a communicant of Holy Cross Church in Vero Beach and a fourth-degree member of its Knights of Columbus Council #1932. He also belonged to the Elks Lodge # 1774. In Webster, he was active in the TSKK where he served as president for 18 years. He also served on the Board of Health of the Town of Webster for many years.
The funeral will be held on Thursday, January 11, from the Sitkowski, Malboeuf & Hickey Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster, MA with a Mass at 11:00 AM in Saint Joseph Basilica, 53 Whitcomb Street, Webster. Burial will be in Saint Joseph Garden of Peace, with the Webster-Dudley Veterans Council performing the military honors. Visitation will be held in the funeral home from 9:15 to 10:30 AM Thursday, prior to the Mass. Donations in his name may be made to St. Joseph School Fund, 47 Whitcomb Street, Webster, MA 01570.