Sebastian, FL - John R. Zebryk of River Run Drive, was called to eternal rest on March 21, 2012 at home. Born in South Hadley, MA, he resided in Agawam, MA from 1981 to 2008.
John graduated from Williams College earning his degree in Economics. Very active in athletics (3 sports), he was high school class president and captained the football team. At Williams, he received All New England and Little All American football honors.
After 35 years, John retired from Package Machinery Co. in 1993. At Package, he held multiple managerial positions in all divisions of the company: responsible for a world-wide network of licensees and sales agents; Treasurer of the international subsidiary headquartered in Panama; Director of the European joint-venture company in Switzerland; and Director and Assistant Treasurer of Package, Canada, Ltd.
One of the first 200 in the U.S. to receive professional accreditation as Certified Administrative Manager, he is a past Director of the West. Mass. International Trade Assoc.; past Chair of the International Division of the Society of Plastic Industry and served on the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Industry Sector Advisory Committee. A Korean War veteran, he served with the Army Corps of Engineers in Germany. John was a VP of the Agawam Historical Assoc.; a President of Beekman's Condominium Board of Managers and served at Agawam's Veterans Memorial Cemetery. He was a Eucharistic Minister and team-taught 5th grade CCD with his wife, Sasha at St. John the Evangelist.
Besides Sasha, John loved airplanes and trees and the Agawam Beautification Committee, for 9 years serving as its Chair. He brought a passion and personal vision to expand the traditional role to include wider community ad hoc participation by all civic groups, businesses, and citizens. In his 14 years, he initiated the Memorial Tree Program, worked hard to protect its historic tree belts, increased voluntary funding, and beautified major gateways with landscaped "welcome" signs.
He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Sasha Zebryk; 2 sons, Jay (Anita), of Southbridge, MA; Tad (Cindy), of Fairhope, AL, and 3 grandchildren, Nicholas, Justyn and Anarae.
A Mass of Christian Burial is at 11:00am, St. Sebastian Church, 13075 US 1, Sebastian, FL. Calling hours- 4 to 7pm, Seawinds Funeral Home, 735 S. Fleming St, Sebastian, FL. Memorial contributions: VNA Hospice, 1110 35th Lane # 1 VB, 32960; or St Sebastian's.