Eugene Zychick

Eugene Kenneth Zychick July 6, 1926 to June 30, 2015 Born in Cleveland, son of Julius and Sarah Zychick. A life-long global traveler, starting at age 14 (the beginning of WWII) Gene joined the Civil Air Patrol, Group I, Wing 2 out of Cleveland Hopkins Airport. At age 15 he joined the Merchant Marine serving first on an ore carrier on the Great Lakes and later on the Liberty Ship SS Mathew Maury in the Atlantic ferrying troops from the US and Gibraltar to Phillipeville, Algeria, a staging area for the invasion of Italy. During one voyage, his ship was torpedoed and towed to Gibraltar. When he turned 18 he joined the Navy and was stationed in Shelton, Virginia until he was discharged, Seaman First Class, in 1947. Less than one year later, Gene, along with hundreds of fellow US veterans of WWII, was given an assumed name as he traveled illegally to Palestine to join the Haganah - the group was designated by the Israeli Government as the "Machal", an acronym of the Hebrew words, "Mitnadvay Chutz La'aretz", or Volunteers from Abroad. Gene was smuggled into Palestine, through Marseille, on the S.S. Pan Crescent, arriving in Palestine several months prior to the formation of the Jewish state and continued on as a member of the Jewish Defense Forces for another year where he was attached to the supply wing of the newly established Israeli Air Force, serving primarily on the "Northern Front". At age 23, Gene returned to Cleveland and attended Western Reserve University for two years prior to joining the family footwear-import business (later known as International Seaway Trading Corp. (AMEX)). For the next 30 years he advanced Seaway's efforts as a pioneer in the development of rubber and canvas footwear imports from Japan, Korea and Hong Kong and later from Eastern Europe. In 1980, he formed his own import company known as Bridgestone Trading Company, which he operated with offices in Korea and Taiwan until he retired in 1989. He later settled in Scottsdale, Arizona. Gene was a Mason, Pythian, a member of Lion's International, the American Veterans Committee and the American Veterans of Israel. He was a life-long member of Park Synagogue and a volunteer with "Sar-El" - The National Project for Volunteers for Israel. His wife, Myra, passed in 1985. Gene is survived by two sons, Marvin (Brooke) and Joel (Claire), his grandson Jacob, his sister Charlotte (Larry) Gould and her two children, Tamra (Alan Silverman) Gould and Marc Gould, and great niece Jessie Paine. Services will be held at the Bet Olam Cemetery, 25796 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood, Thursday, July 2 at 1:00PM. Family will receive friends at the residence of Tammy Gould, 22711 Halburton Rd., Beachwood IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SERVICES THURSDAY UNTIL 9PM and FRIDAY 1-5PM. Beginning Sunday at the home of Charlotte & Larry Gould, 4 Louis Drive, Pepper Pike 1-5 & 7-9PM SUNDAY ONLY. Contributions are suggested to Menorah Park Foundation, 27100 Cedar Rd., Beachwood.