John Zukowski
East Lyme — John Zukowski of Niantic passed away peacefully at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital at the age of 87, surrounded by his loved ones April 24, 2022, after a long and full life.
John is survived by his wife, Diane Zukowski of Niantic; his daughters, Sharon Zukowski, and Lynn Kiah and her husband, Joseph Kiah; and his grandchildren, Brett Kiah, Mitchell Kiah, Samantha Dickey and Claire Dickey.
John spent his childhood in Norwich. After graduating from high school, he worked for a couple of years in a factory and decided that was not the career for him. He attended Willimantic State Teachers College in Connecticut, where he met his wife of 65 years, Diane Donaghue (whom he called his “Best Friend”). John’s passion for the environment and children led to his career as a well-remembered science teacher. His students, who often called him Mr. Z or Mr. Zuke, can speak to his humorous passion for learning and teaching, his nature walks, assembling a cow skeleton (that later resided in the Niantic Children’s Museum), the guppy he trained to jump through a hoop and the classroom snake that made its way into the janitor’s closet.
John was first and foremost a teacher but had other simultaneous careers to help support his family. He was a butcher, a painter, and a lobsterman, all physical jobs that required great strength and positive energy, which he had in abundance. He also served in the National Guard, attaining the rank of sergeant. He enjoyed camping, skiing in Vermont, biking and traveling with his family all over the country and the world. John and Diane made many great friends and memories in their travels, especially while wintering in Venice, Fla. John had a passion for seeing and learning new things and shared that joy with his family, friends, and students.
Everyone fondly remembers John’s antics, which made us smile, laugh, and keeps him in our memories. The full-sized decorated live Christmas tree on his car every year, the totem pole he carved that still stands as a neighborhood landmark in his yard and a wide variety of rock paintings and sculptures. John was a character, larger than life, one of a kind and everyone who loved him has a John story. He had a lifetime love for the sea and took joy in fishing, clamming and lobstering on the Niantic Bay and river. Anyone who knows him has had a cup of his buttery clam chowder. He volunteered on the Waterford-East Lyme Shellfish Commission and also spent many years as a member of the Niantic Lions Club.
What people remember most is John’s kindnesses, silently helping neighbors and friends without looking for thanks, his free front yard farmer’s market, the bike bells he bought the neighborhood kids, the nature walks, and bike rides he took them on, were among the many kind acts he bestowed.
In memory of John Zukowski, we ask that you do what he would do; make someone laugh, be kind, help a neighbor, take a walk in the woods. Most of all tell someone a John story.