Obituary of Ronald Edward Zawadzki

Schenectady, NY- Ronald Edward Zawadzki was born June 23, 1943 in Northampton, MA and died April 10, 2016 in Schenectady, NY of Chronic Heart Failure complications. Ron grew up in Florence and Leeds MA and graduated in 1961 from Northampton High School. He spent one year at UMASS Amherst and then received an appointment to the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. After graduating With Honors in 1966, he sailed for 3 years with American/Export Isbrandtsen Lines leaving as an assistant First Engineer. Ron was on the last ship to pass through the Suez Canal before it closed in 1967. He then worked for 35 years @ Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in West Milton and Niskayuna, NY. Both his parents, Margaret (Fischer) Zawadzki and Edward Zawadzki, predeceased him. His survivors include his wife of more than 48 years Clementine (Kulikowski), their son Ronald Mark Zawadzki, daughter-in-law Leah (Crofford) and the three “grands”: Ben, Kate and Joe whom their dziadziu (grandpa) doted on, Ron’s sister Susan (Zawadzki) Enselek and his niece Natalie Kulikowski and brother-in-law Chester Kulikowski and sister-in-law and Jolanta (Pacewicz) Kulikowski. He had greatly appreciated the wonderful care provided by the cardio group @ Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, Albany Med’s transplant team (Dr. Ed Philbin) and Tufts Medical’s transplant team (Dr. David Donofrio). Ron had suffered a massive heart attack 11 years ago and these people kept him alive for an extraordinarily long time. So please have that cardio stress test. Ron loved visiting the “grands” in CA, cross country skiing, hiking in the National Parks, diving in the Caribbean, enjoying seafood on Cape Cod and Clem’s cooking, touring with Clem’s garden club, and talking about his around-the-world Merchant Marine travels. The best was attending the Union College Concert Series every year since coming to the Schenectady, NY area. If any one would like to donate in his name, please consider the Union College Concert Series, 807 Union St, Schenectady 12308. There will be an open house on Saturday May 14 from 2pm to 7:30pm to raise a glass to Ron’s memory and share a story at Ron and Clem’s, 227 Juniper Dr, Schenectady, NY 12306. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family on this memorial tribute.