Family, friends recall former superintendent

ANSONIA — Every Sunday, Cathy Zuraw would pick up her father — Robert E. Zuraw — for breakfast at Duchess and then take him to Mass.

“After Mass, anything goes,” she said, remembering their trips along the Connecticut wine trail. In one year, the two hit 16 wineries, trying to win a contest for a trip to Spain — they didn’t.

On some days, she said, they would drive hundreds of miles.

Robert Zuraw died peacefully after an illness, family members said, on Friday at the age of 86. He was Ansonia’s assistant superintendent of schools from 1974 to 1977, and superintendent from 1977 until he retired in 1991.

Since 2007, the former Willis School, now home to the Ansonia school district’s administrative offices, has been named in his honor.

“He was a man of principle, always believed in doing the right thing and instilled that in all of his five children,” said Cathy Zuraw, who is Hearst Connecticut Media’s photo editor. “We are all heartbroken.”

Robert Zuraw was born in Derby on Sept. 23, 1931. Known as Bob to his friends and Zeke to his family, he grew up on Riggs Street on Ansonia’s west side and attended Peck School when it was known as Holbrook School, which is also where he began his Ansonia teaching career.

Zuraw graduated from Ansonia High School in 1949, got his teaching degree at New Haven State Teachers College and his master’s at Fairfield University. He taught for one year in East Haven before being hired in Ansonia.

In 1954, Zuraw was drafted into the U.S. Army. After two years, he returned to Ansonia to teach. Four years later, he was the first principal of the newly opened Prendergast School.

“He was a great educator and a good friend,” said Carol Merlone, Ansonia’s current superintendent of schools, who was once hired by Zuraw to teach kindergarten at Peck School. “He will always be in our thoughts and prayers at the Robert E. Zuraw Administrative Offices at 42 Grove St.”

Former Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto said Zuraw was very involved in Democratic politics and with the Derby Elks Lodge.

“He was very supportive of both,” Dugatto said. “He was very pleasant and easy to talk to.”

Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti said he lived on the same street as Zuraw, and knew him since Cassetti was a boy.

“He served the city well, not only as a teacher and superintendent but (as a) public servant,” Cassetti said. “I am proud to have known him, and proud to say he was one of Ansonia’s finest. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”

Services are scheduled for Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at The Jenkins King & Malerba Funeral Home at 12 Franklin Street in Ansonia. A Mass is set for Wednesday at 10 a.m. at The Church of the Assumption in Ansonia, followed by burial with military honors in Pine Grove Cemetery.

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