Obituary of Arnold F. Zdrojewski

Arnold F. "Arnie" Zdrojewski, 71, of Jamestown, NY, passed away Tuesday, January 31, 2023, leaving a legacy of compassion and justice. He was born September 14, 1951 a son of Arnold L. and Rose Zdrojewski. In 1977, he made the best decision of his life and married Joanne, thus beginning 45 years of unending love and adventures. Together they raised three children, three dogs, and several accidental hamsters. After moving to Jamestown in the late 1970s, Arnie's booming voice and personality quickly became a fixture of the local social justice scene. He was active with numerous organizations including the Peace Center for the Southern Tier, and his early adoption of the internet made him and Joanne especially valuable leaders. Over the years, he served in multiple leadership roles in the PTA, both locally and at the state level. He was proud to serve as a board member for Prevention Works (formerly CASAC) for many years. Until Tuesday, Arnie was the president of the local NARFE chapter for government retirees, and he was their treasurer at the state level. Between these activities, Arnie also worked for the Social Security Administration, a career that fit with his passion for helping others. Arnie's faith was an important part of his life, and he shared that faith through decades of commitment teaching Faith Formation classes. He particularly enjoyed supporting young people preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Arnie embodied the vision of St. Francis who suggested his friars "preach by their deeds." He helped others whenever he could and was generous with this time and talents. Arnie found joy in spending time with his family, playing cards, picnicking, sitting with his puppy, and leading his trivia team to frequent victories. Arnie is survived by his wife Joanne, his children Anne (Evan) Barnes, Mary Zdrojewski, and Tom Zdrojewski, and his devoted puppy Yoda. He is also survived by a brother, Bob (Tina) Zdrojewski, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of whose exploits he loved to follow on social media. A memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday February 6, 2023, at St. Mary of Lourdes Parish in Bemus Point, NY. Friends will be received from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Lind Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to Prevention Works, Inc., FeedMore WNY, and Peaceprints of WNY.