Stephen E. Zoldak

Gardner- Stephen E. Zoldak, 72, of Gardner passed away peacefully on June 9,2017 at the Worcester Health Center, Worcester, MA following a 17 year courageous battle against Rheumatoid Arthritis. Steve was born in Gardner on December 8, 1944, the son of Celia (Wolanske) Zoldak and the late Adam F. Zoldak where he was raised and resided all his life. Steve was a life-long member of St. Joseph's Parish and very proud of his Polish heritage. Steve graduated from Gardner High School with the class of 1962 where he was on the basketball, football and golf teams. From there, he graduated from Umass Stockbridge School of Agriculture and worked as a groundskeeper at the Nashua Country Club, the Gardner Municipal Golf Course, and the Winchendon Country Club. He also worked as a landscaper in Leominster and the Oak hill Country Club. His last employment was for the Narragansett School System as a custodian at the high school. Steve's longtime love of baseball goes back decades. He played as a youngster and later was able to serve on Gardner's Little League Board of Directors and helped represent the Central Mass area as assistant to the president during the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA for several years. Steve actively volunteered as a Little League Coach, Senior League Coach, and Assistant Coach for both Legion and high school baseball. While his son, Adam played college ball at Brandeis University, Steve attended all his home games. Over many years, Steve volunteered his time, equipment, and financial support to groom and maintain local ball fields, both Little League and his favorite, Stone Field. He took great pride in presenting and maintaining a pristine field on which to play, always trying to showcase Gardner's facilities positively. Steve was a certified basketball Central Mass High School Board Official. As a referee, he officiated many local and Worcester County games for over 30 years. His varied interests included scuba diving; lifeguarding at Hampton Beach; and rifle and target shooting, being a life member of the Royalston Fish & Gun Club. He was a past federally licensed gun dealer. He was also a lifetime member of the Gardner PACC and Gardner American Legion Post 129. He was a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox and Duke University basketball. Steve enjoyed running, bicycling, weight lifting and swimming and was a longtime member at MWCC until his disease forced him to curtail these activities. In younger days, he might be found a the drag races at the Orange Airport. Steve loved trains, cameras, and watches and collected many of them, including his Rolex. He especially enjoyed listening to Led Zepplin music. His earliest love was for an old Indian Motorcycle, for which he still has the saddle bags and gas tank. But his longtime love goes back to his 1968 black Corvette - "No Satisfaction". Steve is survived by his son Adam of Clinton and daughter Shauna; his 97 year-old mother, Celia, and his sister, Karen Kelley and her husband James of Westminster; and nephew, Jacob "Shortstuff" Kelley of Austin, Texas. Steve's family extends a special thank you and appreciation to the Worcester Health Center, 25 Oriol St. Worcester, MA for their compassionate, excellent care, especially Linda, Sue, and Ve and to the Umass Memorial Hospital especially the Critical Care Unit Team that provided outstanding help and services to Steve and his family. Thank you Dr. Katherine Upchurch for these 17 years....you were always there. A mass of Christian burial will be held Friday June 16, 2017 at 11am at Holy Spirit Church 50 Lovewell St. Gardner, MA Burial will be at a later date. Calling hours will be held Thursday June 15 from 5-7PM and Friday morning, June 16 from 9:30-10:30AM before Mass at Poliks Funeral Home Pleasant St. Gardner, MA Memorial contributions may be made in Steven’s name to the Arthritis Foundation P.O. Box 96280 Washington, DC 20077 To leave an online condolence please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com Poliks Funeral Home is directing arrangements.