Obituary of Joseph C. Zamenick

JOSEPH C. ZAMENICK, 90 of Belfast, died peacefully at his home on Sunday, August 8th after a brief period of declining health. He was born and raised in New York City where he acquired a love of movies, plays and books at an early age from his interesting and loving family. Born July 31, 1920 of John and Mae Zamenick, he was of Czech extraction. Brother John has predeceased Joe; sister Florence resides in Florida. Joe served as radio technician during WWII in the China-Burma-India Theatre and continued to regale all with tales of this era throughout his life. Post-war he took advantage of the GI bill to study at NYU and proceeded to a career as job placement interviewer, first with a private firm and then with the State of New York. Joe was a great dater of women, but not until he met Jean Forbes at an Edgar Cayce event in 1954 did he find a true love. They wed on June 1, 1957 and lived on Staten Island and in Pearl River, NY until retiring to Belfast in 1976. Maine, Canadian and New Hampshire seashores were their vacation haunts. During “retirement” the pair taught English literature and creative writing in the Belfast adult education program and continued to deal in antiquarian books as they had in New York. Jean passed on in October of 2002. Joe was most recently feted at a shore-side birthday luncheon, as he turned 90, by a bevy of newly acquired caregiver friends who will miss his friendly nature and ever-flowing stories. In addition to his sister, Florence Pius and her son, he is survived by brother- and sister-in-law, Bill and Betty Forbes of Vermont, their three sons and daughter. Graveside services will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, August 19th at Grove Cemetery in Belfast. Arrangements under the care of Crabiel-Riposta Funeral Home.