Dr. Myron "Mike" Michael Zajkowski

Mike was born in Lorain, Ohio on July 12, 1936. He was the youngest of two siblings.

He attended Nativity and St. Stanislaus grade schools in Lorain. He found an opportunity to play football and basketball through the Catholic Youth Organization and earned a scholarship to attend St. Mary’s Catholic High School where he was in the college preparatory program and excelled in both sports.

He enlisted in the Navy after high school in 1955 and was assigned to the USS New Jersey as a naval engineman and became a 3rd Class Petty Officer. After his time in the Navy, he attended Bowling Green State University where he earned his Bachelor and Master of Psychology. He was a dormitory counselor, student aid and tutor, and a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. It was at BGSU where he met his wife, Patricia. Mike and Pat married in 1961. Mike continued post graduate studies at Ohio State University where he earned his doctorate in Human Factors and Industrial Psychology.

Dr. Zajkowski was a college professor for 9 years, at Wayne State University in Detroit and the State University of New York at Buffalo. In 1976 he accepted a role as Senior Scientist with the Naval Training Systems Center in Orlando and the family relocated to Florida. He received numerous awards for accomplishments in his field and wrote many articles that were published. He completed his civil service career with the Navy at the Central Florida Research Park and retired in 1996.

Mike and his family lived in Longwood for 48 years.

He was a Scout Master, a member of the American Psychological Association, Polish Genealogical Society, BGSU and Ohio State Alumni, Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and Annunciation Catholic Church. He and Pat were original Orlando Magic season ticket holders, enjoyed the Orlando Broadway series as season ticket holders for many years and were members of the Citrus Club.

He loved to travel, fish and was an avid reader. He and Pat took many cruises and traveled extensively in the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe and South America. After he retired, he learned to play golf and enjoyed being a member of the Rolling Hills Golf Club. He became very involved in genealogy, researching his Polish ancestry as well as Pat’s Italian and Lebanese family. He had the opportunity to visit family in Poland and was so proud of his heritage.

Family was the light of his life. His greatest wish was to be the best father he could be to his children and always said he was blessed with a wonderful family. Mike and Pat were married for 63 years, had 3 children and 5 grandchildren who Mike adored.

Mike was preceded in death by parents Michael Frank Zajkowski and Stephany Mika Zajkowski, and sister Diane Zellers. He is survived by wife Patricia (Pat) Rufo Zajkowski, sons Michael Zajkowski (Laina) and Mark Zajkowski (Michele), daughter Kristine Bunnell (Christopher) and grandchildren Katharine, Daniel and Evan Zajkowski, Carly and Benjamin Bunnell.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Annunciation Catholic Church on Friday, November 22nd at 10am.