Christopher Stanley Zbiciak

Chris was born Christopher Stanley Zbiciak in Flint, Michigan to Betty and Stanley Zbiciak, and baptized as a Catholic.

Chris was known for his cheerful whistle, bright smile, and warm greeting “Good morning, brother!” or “Good morning, sister!” He was a hard worker from the age of 12, until he died at the age of 75. He loved his wife deeply, his children, and his grandchildren. He loved his country, he loved the Lord, and he prayed fervently. He was always brave, in all circumstances, action-oriented, and ready to take the lead. He persisted in tough situations, and inspired others. About the length of his life he would say, “I’m here until the Lord decides to take me.” Every night he thanked the Lord for yet another day. He enjoyed the splendid beauty of the islands, and the peace of his home.

He grew up in Michigan with his parents Betty and Stan Zbiciak, his sisters Kathy, and Sue, and his brother Frank, and a large extended family of Polish ancestry, in the land of automotive plants, where WWII veterans raised families and worked for General Motors. Everyone knew all about cars. When he was called to serve his country in the military in 1969, he accepted that responsibility, and was sent to Vietnam as an army combat engineer, and served his tour of duty. He returned to Michigan, enrolled at Mott Community College and worked at Chevy Truck Assembly in Flint. When he recalled the loveliness of Hawaii, where he had R & R, and layovers during his time in the army, he moved from Michigan to Oahu.

There he befriended early leaders of emergency medical services, and built some of the first high topped ambulances on Oahu. He served as an EMT, then MICT paramedic, station supervisor, and flight paramedic on fixed wing air ambulances. He loved being a paramedic - bringing calm, and emergency care to people in crisis, and saving lives. His daughter, Ocean, was born on the north shore of Oahu, as well as his son, Jonah, to a relationship that turned irreconcilable. Later, Chris met his future wife, Carol, who also became an MICT paramedic, and they shared a love for caring for people in emergencies. They married on Maui in May of 1987. On Maui, Chris served as an MICT paramedic, station supervisor, and flight paramedic on the first private helicopter air ambulance in Hawaii.

In the 1980s, when veterans’ health services in Hawaii were all centered on Oahu, and there were no on-island veteran services in Maui County, numbers of veterans on Maui were committing suicide. Chris advocated with his veteran brothers, for the Veterans Administration, and the State of Hawaii to launch much needed health services for neighbor island veterans. He was elected President of the Vietnam Veterans of Maui County. In 1987, the Vietnam Veterans brought a half scale, travelling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall to Maui for display at the Maui Economic Opportunity grounds. Working with other veterans, Chris testified at Congressional Hearings with the support of Senator Daniel Inouye, to fund a new era of Veterans Administration health services in Maui County.

Chris bodysurfed in his younger days in Hawaii, and bobbed in the ocean in his older years. He coached his son’s soccer team. He played chess, and loved a friendly card game with buddies. He loved to read, and was attentive to the news. He dug holes for fruit trees and flowering bushes his wife wanted to plant, loved to hike to waterfalls with his wife and his kids, swim in the ocean, and play with the dogs. He figured out how things worked, and fixed them when they were broken. He was a creative problem solver. He always tried to help Ocean and Jonah, his children, by providing them with opportunities, having high hopes for them, and guiding them.

In 1996, Chris studied to be a paralegal. When he retired from being a paramedic in 1997, he entered the bail bond business. He was often seen at his office 24 Hour Bail Bonds, or the courthouse attired in his trademark aloha shirt and jeans. His business position was another opportunity to assist indemnitors, and clients in distress, and call on his strength and decisiveness. He worked hard to build a sound business that provided a needed service in the community, and a livelihood for agents.

He was active in the Catholic Church serving as a lector, and as the president of the parish council at St Rita Catholic Church in Haiku. He was generous. He had a wonderful speaking voice and people would sometimes ask “Was he on the radio?”, or say “Chris is a good man.”

In April of 2025 he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. He received outpatient chemotherapy on Maui, and had a short rough course. He was always brave and wanted to live. When the physicians determined there was no further treatment to put the disease in remission, he chose to come home on hospice care. He had often said, “When it is time for me to die, I want to die at home.” He was worried about being a burden to his wife, and she assured him, she loved his company, and was grateful she could have him home, and grateful she was able to care for him. His daughter Ocean and his son-in-law Ian, and his grandkids Max, Maila, Jonah Jr, and Malia made visits to assist with his care. He died a natural death at home on 6/30/2025.

There is much more to say about Chris than these comments. Chris will be loved, and missed forever. Eternal rest grant unto Chris, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Education: Grand Blanc High School, 1967. Flint Jr College, Flint Michigan. Mott Community College, Flint Michigan. EMT Honolulu, 1975. Emergency Medical Services Program of the City and County of Honolulu Mobile Intensive Care Technician (MICT), 1977. Paralegal MCC VITEC Program, 1996.

Career: At age 12, gas station attendant. Newspaper deliverer even in deep Michigan winter snow. At 15, Hammady Brothers Grocery clerk. Drafted into US Army in 1969, served in Vietnam. Chevy Truck Assembly, Flint Michigan. EMT Physicians Ambulance Oahu. MICT Paramedic Physicians Ambulance and International Life Support, Oahu and Maui County. Flight Paramedic MICT Mercy Air, Hawaii. Paralegal, Maui. Bail Bondsman 24 Hour Bail Bonds, Maui.

Family: Predeceased by Betty Zbiciak and Stanley Zbiciak (parents). Billy Howell (stepson), Jonah Zbiciak (son). Survived by Carol Petith-Zbiciak (wife), Ocean (Ian) Zbiciak Bassford (daughter), Max Lozada, Maila Zbiciak, Jonah Jr Zbiciak, and Malia Zbiciak (grandchildren). Survived by Frank Zbiciak (brother), Kathy Belles and Sue Salhaney (sisters).

The Family would like to thank Dr. Choi and her staff; the staff and doctors at Maui Memorial Medical Center including Medical Oncology nurses, Lanai North nurses, Emergency Department staff especially nurses Rie, and Rich. The family would also like to thank Haleakala South staff especially charge nurse Norma; Hospice Maui staff; and Gammie Home Care staff. In addition, the family would like to thank EMS for the Taylor Titan; and the Maui Fire Department, Paia station crew, for their skillful, coordinated, essential lift, and carry up the steps to home.

Funeral services: Funeral services will be held at St. Rita Catholic Church in Haiku on Saturday August 9th with visitation beginning at 9 am, the funeral mass at 10:30, and lunch and refreshments to follow. The family requests no flower wreaths. Leis are preferred. On Tuesday August 12th at 9 am, an urn with

Chris’s ashes will be buried in a columbarium niche at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Wailuku, Maui.