Zygie J. Stankiewicz, 92, of New Bedford, died March 7, 2004 at Alden Court Nursing Care & Rehabilitation Center after a brief illness. He was the husband of the late Olga (Kolaczewski) Stankiewicz.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Joseph A. and Josephine (Kowalska) Stankiewicz, he lived in New Bedford all of his life. He was a graduate of New Bedford High School and attended Swain School of Design.
He was a communicant of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. Mr. Stankiewicz was formerly employed with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare for many years until his retirement, and at one time he had been the acting director of the New Bedford office. He later was employed a court officer for the Bristol County Superior and Probate Courts.
During World War II, he served in the U. S. Army with the 805th Medical Air Evacuation Transportation Squadron, serving in the China-Burma-India Theater and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater. He was a recipient of the Air medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the American Campaign medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign medal, the Good Conduct medal and the World War II Victory medal. Mr. Stankiewicz was a member of the Polish-American World War Veterans, the Polish Benefit and Social Society and the Massachusetts Retired State County and Municipal Employees Association.
In his youth, he played basketball, baseball and softball and later was a high school basketball referee and coached CYO basketball.
Survivors include 4 nieces, Patricia Carignan of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Joan McGuirk and her husband Bill, of Westford, Ann Hurley and her husband Bill, of Hudson, and Susan Arena and her husband Eric, of Acushnet; his late nephew's wife, Jane Ross Stankiewicz of Marion; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was the brother of the late Stanley Stankiewicz and uncle of the late Stanley J. Stankiewicz.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New BedfordWednesday, March 10th at 8 AM.Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church at 9 AM.Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
Visiting hours Tuesday, March 9th from 4-6 PM.
Interment St. Mary's Cemetery.