Zygmunt J. Wartski

Zygmunt Wartski was born in Brooklyn, NY to Florence Ludkowski and Joseph Wartski, the youngest of four children. At the age of 17, he found a way to enlist in the US Army to join the war effort even though he was underage. That passion to serve was evident then and served as a lasting hallmark that defined his life. Ziggy proudly served until the end of World War II and reunited with his mom and adoring family in Greenpoint. He lived his entire life as a proud World War II veteran.

Ziggy met his wife, Wanda Kaftan, at a dance in Greenpoint shortly after he returned from his US Army service in the Pacific. As a strong and loving couple, they were married for 67 years and raised their two sons in Whitestone, Queens, holding high the values of family, prayer, education, patriotism, and never forgetting the sanctity of freedom.

Ziggy was an entrepreneur. He owned a multitude of businesses, and the list is long: fish market, bar and grill, diner, pizza shop, and a greeting card store. His business model was one of success: he bought a fledgling business, developed it, and sold it only to find another opportunity to rebuild and grow. Ziggy had an eye for opportunity: he had the foresight to establish his card and gift shop in the Concourse of the World Trade Center when the Towers were newly constructed. In fact, he even selected a location so close to the subway entrance that every commuter passed his store on the way to and from work. No matter the business, his customers loved his outgoing personality, his optimism, and his endless storytelling. He eventually left the world of small business ownership and retired from government service in his later years.

What Ziggy brought to the world is immeasurable: he welcomed friends and strangers, he was a kind and thoughtful neighbor, a dedicated usher at the 5pm Mass, a member of many veteran service organizations, and an American Legion Post Commander. He volunteered at his sons’ high school helping with the Father’s Club activities and cooking for the other volunteer dads. He loved to cook, and if you ate at his house, he sent you home with food. He freely gave advice, had strong opinions, and was stubborn if he thought he was right. It turns out, he was usually right.

Ziggy was predeceased by his wife, Wanda; his sisters, Hedy and Veronica; his brother, John; and his nieces, Lucile and Claire. Surviving Ziggy are his sons, Joseph (Deborah) and James (Donna); five grandchildren, Joseph, Diana, Christina, James, and Michael; three great-grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews, family, friends, and neighbors all who have a sense of loss from his passing.

The family of Zygmunt Wartski will be receiving visitors at Frederick’s Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY on Saturday, August 5th (7-9 p.m.) and Sunday, August 6th (4-8 p.m.). On Monday, a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:45 a.m. at Saint Mel’s Roman Catholic Church, 26-15 154 Street, Whitestone, Queens. An interment will follow at Mount St. Mary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you kindly consider a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.frederick-fh.com for the Wartski family.