<p>Colonel <em>Edward John “Zab” Zaborowski</em> was born in Wanamie, PA to Joseph A. Zaborowski and Dora R. Antonaitis Zaborowski. His father was an anthracite coal miner, and both parents were first generation Americans, as Ed’s grandparents had emigrated from Europe in the 1890s. Ed graduated from Newport Township High School in 1950.</p>
<p>In high school, he started to date his future wife, Jeanette Golembieski, who was a cheerleader at rival Nanticoke High School. After high school, Ed was offered a minor league baseball contract for $4,000 to pitch in the New York Yankees’ farm system, but instead he chose to attend Wyoming Seminary Preparatory School, where he was named Outstanding Athlete of the Year. </p>
<p>Ed received his appointment to West Point from the late Congressman Daniel J. Flood. He entered the Academy on July 3, 1951, assigned to Company D-1. Years later, as a battalion commander, Ed had the privilege of escorting Congressman Flood and his wife, Catherine, during the sinking of USS Wilkes Barre so that the ship could serve as an artificial reef off the coast of Key West, FL.</p>
<p>Beast Barracks was a trying time for Ed, and he sent his father a letter soon after arriving at the Academy. The letter stated, “Dad, just say the word and I will come home.” Ed never heard the word from his tough coal miner Dad, and soon he adjusted to cadet life.</p>
<p>Ed was very proud of being a member of the Football Team and playing for Head Coach Earl Blaik and Assistant Coach Vince Lombardi. He was a center on the team until injuries prevented him from further participation in his senior year. Many years later, after his retirement from the military, he was very proud that he was in a picture with Vince Lombardi in a Sports Illustrated article discussing Academy football during the Blaik era.</p>
<p>Ed’s only regret at the Academy was he believed he should have applied himself more academically. He admitted to being lazy until one professor called him on the carpet and threatened him with spending Christmas vacation at West Point unless his grades improved. Ed did improve his grades, but he always believed, and did regret, that with a little more work he could have finished higher in class rank.</p>
<p>Ed and Jeanette were married soon after graduation in June 1955. While Ed was at West Point, Jeanette studied at Mercy Hospital in Wilkes Barre, PA and graduated as a nurse. They raised two sons, Michael and Edward Jr., and a daughter, Annamarie. Michael followed Ed’s footsteps in the Army with a commission through Gettysburg College ROTC, retiring as a lieutenant colonel, while Ed Jr. graduated from Vanderbilt University, becoming a high school mathematics teacher. Annamarie, a graduate of the College of William and Mary, initially went into banking but ultimately became a high school special education teacher. Ed was proud that all three children completed graduate degrees.</p>
<p>Ed’s 21-year military career included overseas tours in Korea (1963-64) and South Vietnam (1968-69). He commanded the Key West Air Defense in the Florida Keys (1971-72). He served two tours in the Pentagon, the Department of Army Staff (1969-71) and the Department of Defense, first serving under Dr. Schlesinger and then Donald Rumsfeld. Ed attended the Army’s Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. His 21 years of military service culminated with his selection to brigade command; however, he turned down this honor based on a family decision that it was not the right time to move the family.</p>
<p>After military retirement in 1976, Ed went to work for BDM International in McLean, VA as a vice president. However, after seven successful years with BDM, he and Jeanette decided to move back to where they had grown up in Shickshinny and Berwick, PA and purchased two Ben Franklin’s stores. Ultimately, they sold both stores but retained the framing part of the business. He named it “Upstairs Gallery” and continued to work well into his 70s, when he sold the business and retired for good. Ed and Jane also sold their lakefront property at Shickshinny Lake and moved to nearby Dallas, PA into a retirement community.</p>
<p>Ed was a devout Roman Catholic, going to Mass at the Academy every morning during his four years there and staying connected to the Church with the family during his military career. Upon his return to Pennsylvania, he and Jane became ecumenical ministers. He chaired the Library of Congress Local Legacy Program and received an honored for his work.</p>
<p>His military decorations included the Legion of Merit with two oak leave clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Vietnamese Service Medal with five campaign stars, Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal, Parachutists Badge, the Department of the Army Staff Medal and the Department of Defense Staff Medal.</p>
<p>Ed and Jeanette have eight grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Among Ed’s proudest moments was watching his grandson Matthew enter the Academy on July 2, 2007 as part of the Class of 2011. Ed was hard working and unselfish and instilled in his children and grandchildren that anything was possible with the right amount of effort and dedication. He did not believe in excuses and set a high moral standard in everything he did. Ed Zaborowski embodied the motto “Duty, Honor, Country” and served God, family, the Army, and his country faithfully.</p>
<p><em>— Children, LTC Michael Zaborowski and Annamarie Z. Marasco</em></p>