Charles Zurick

Charles “Chuck” Zurick, 99, a resident of Keene, New Hampshire and former resident of Englewood, Florida, passed away peacefully at the Woodward Home in Keene, New Hampshire following a period of failing health.

He was born September 7, 1913 in Macedon, New York, the son of John and Mary (Federation) Zurick. He grew up along the famed Erie Canal when it was at its busiest in terms of barge usage and transportation. It formed the backdrop for many a boyhood adventure. He was a 1931 graduate of Macedon High School and went on to receive a degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He then went to work as a tool and die maker in the Research and Development Department of the Kodak Company. On June 20, 1940 he married the love of his life, Thelma Rose whom he met at age 19. The two of them were a “dynamic duo”, and they spent more than 65 wonderful years together as loving marriage and business partners. Chuck took very good care of himself and was always very physically active. He was proud of his athletic pursuits; he played on a storied high school championship basketball team, and later a semi-pro baseball league. He was also proud of his tenure of more than 30 years as a high school basketball referee in upstate New York. In retirement, Chuck found his “second love”, the game of golf. When he and Thelma were not tending to their “snow bird” nest in Englewood, Fl., or boating through the Intercoastal Waterway, he could be found honing his golf game with a closely knit community of supportive friends. Chuck had participated in several Senior Olympic events in both Florida and New Hamphire.

Chuck was a very hard worker and through many of the small business efforts which he and his wife worked together, his proudest accomplishment was a small lakefront family resort called SunAqua, which he helped build and operated for nearly 20 years, starting in the late 1950s. It was one of the first resorts on Canandaiqua Lake – one of the Finger Lakes in upstate New York wine country. He and Thelma met a host of people who fell in love with the scenic area as customers of the resort and remained friends for years afterwards. Chuck was a talented handy-man, who could fix just about anything and invent practical mechanical solutions. He was an active member of the Finger Lakes business community during a formative time of planning the area as a vacation destination. He and Thelma were blessed with two children, Craig and Marcia. They were ‘hands-on” parents whose early expectations for them to assist in the family business provided a lifelong guide for success in childhood and later on, success with their own families. Chuck and Thelma believed in the value of hard work, following a career with passion, and treating others with fairness and dignity. This attitude was certainly a contributor to Chucks’ longevity. He was also very proud of his four grandchildren that they shared his love of the outdoors, the water and keeping healthy. They also followed after his do-it-yourself approach to solutions, commitment to education, importance of family and finding their own career paths.

He is survived by his daughter: Marcia Zurick-Thompson and her husband Gregory of Keene,NH, his son Craig C Zurick and his wife SueAnn of Randolph,NJ, four grandchildren: Benjamin, Adam, and Nicolas Zurick, and Mariah Zurick-Thompson, a sister-in-law: Margaret Zurick, beloved niece and her husband: Joan and Ron Davis of Hilton,NY, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his wife: Thelma Zurick, his three brothers: John Zurick Jr., Nicolas Zurick and Michael Zurick and his sister: Anna Zurick-Maybee.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Woodward Home, 202 Court Street, Keene, NH, on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Woodward Home, Activity Fund, 202 Court Street, Keene, NH., 03431. S