Joseph Zdonczyk, R.I.P.
March 5th, 2008 by Peter
Perennial third party candidate–and ardent Connecticut pro-lifer–Joe Zdonczyk has died:
Joseph A. Zdonczyk, who ran unsuccessfully for governor four times on a platform of outlawing abortion, has died at 79 at a Wolcott nursing home after a brief illness…
As founder of the Concerned Citizens Party of Connecticut in 1975, Zdonczyk focused often on abortion, one of the party’s key planks. But he maintained that he was not a single-issue candidate, saying he was also opposed to the death penalty and embryonic stem cell research…
“Joe was passionate about the beliefs he championed, and he would defend and debate them with anyone and everyone,” Rell said. “He was a tireless campaigner, and he earned the respect of many.”
Every so often Joe would invite me to run on his party’s ticket. I always declined. Every so often I would suggest to him that his party make cross-endorsements. He always declined.
But we always understood each other to be on the same side in the great battles of our day and his death is a cause for sadness. He was one of the few who raised his voice in-season and out-of-season on behalf of those who have no voice. May those unborn innocents on whose behalf Joe advocated greet him with love at his final destination. Joe Zydoncyk, R.I.P.
I was personally acquainted with Joe as well. He also invited me to run on the ticket on a couple of occasions, once even as his running mate. I declined as well.
I found Joe always willing to listen, but as far as the Concerned Citizens Party was concerned, that was his baby, and he ran it the way he wanted to run it, be it right, wrong or otherwise. For him, it truly was a labor of love.
Joe is indeed best known for his staunch commitment to the pro-life cause, which truly was very dear to his heart, but in fact, he was extremely well versed on infinite political topics, be they of a social or a fiscal nature. Sadly, I think being a “perennial candidate,” which he has often been correctly dubbed, detracted a certain amount of credibility from his message, but Joe was in fact an extremely intelligent man who did his homework, and I dare say, knew much more about what is really going on than many major party officials currently serving in office.
Yet for all his passion, I never saw or heard Joe ever lose his temper, or ever speak negatively of anyone. Anyone who knew Joe also knew that humble but warm trademark smile of his, his warm, kindly, engaging, yet gentle demeanor, as well as that ever present and very genuine loving twinkle in his eye. Joe loved life. He loved God. He loved his Catholic faith. He loved his country and his community, and he also genuinely loved people, especially the most innocent and vulnerable of people, whom he adopted as his personal charges. Joe also loved a good fight, as long it was for the right cause.
Joe never was elected to political office. Many others have. But Joe always made people think, and many times, about issues that so-called mainstream candidates from both major parties often wanted to suppress, or desperately hoped we would forget.
In a world in which most candidates and officials just make headlines, Joe made his mark, and not with a grandiose spotlight, but with a persistent flicker. For him, it wasn’t politics. It was public service. Joe wasn’t a politician. He was a statesman. Joe didn’t talk to people. He spoke with them. Joe would defend his principles tenaciously, but with endless logic, and not with increased volume. Joe didn’t seek to dominate, pontificate, or even to accentuate, only to educate. The only thing Joe loved better than bending someone’s ear was shaking someone’s hand.
Joe consistently and effortlessly struck the precarious balance of simultaneously being a passionate crusader and the epitome of a gentleman.
Many people disagreed with Joe, and some even found him annoying. But I would be hard pressed to think of anyone who disliked him.
I only knew Joe for a few short years, and not as well as some other people, but knowing him was still my privilege. My life is better for it, and a little piece of me went with him.
Death is a funny thing. It makes us suddenly say important things to people, that for whatever reason, we ironically neglected to say to them when they were alive.
Thank you, Joe.
Hi.
I am deeply saddened with what i have just read.
I knew Joe and his wife Ana. I met him in the Philippines when he visited Ana, my classmate then in Christ the King College.
I am now a lawyer working in the Philippines and would like to get in touch with her.
If you could do me a favor, may you please send her my email address.
Thank you so much.