Bernard P. Dzielinski
Bernard P. Dzielinski, 94, of Ridgefield, beloved husband of Mrs. Shirley (Anderson) Dzielinski, passed away on Monday, February 6, 2017.
Mr. Dzielinski was born on July 24, 1922 in Terryville, CT; a son of the late Peter and Katherine Rapacki Dzielinski. After graduating from Terryville High School, Mr. Dzielinski joined in the US Army on February 27, 1943 and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Upon his return from the war, he attended the University of Connecticut majoring in Economics, where he graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor’s degree and 1952 with a Masters. It was while at UCONN where he met his wife Shirley Anderson. They were married in 1953.
A resident of Ridgefield for the past 49 years, He was very active in youth sports in Ridgefield; serving as the President of Ridgefield Babe Ruth Baseball and the Ridgefield Townies Basketball League. Mr. Dzielinski was also involved in Ridgefield politics and government. He was a Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee for ten years; a member of the town Pension Board for 12 years, eight as Chairman, Chairman of the Board of Finance and a member of the Board of Selectmen.
Upon his retirement from IBM, Mr. Dzielinski took to his love of farming he grew vegetables that he sold at area farmers markets. He was especially known for his potatoes, several varieties of which he grew using land he leased at the old Fairfield Hills Mental Hospital in Newtown.
He was honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Connecticut Agricultural Alumni Association in 1996 and is a long time member of Alpha Zeta, the National Professional Agricultural Fraternity.
Mr. Dzielinski has been a member of the Fairfield County Farm Bureau Board of Directors since 2003. He also serves as a CT Farm Bureau State Director, and in 2007 became a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of CT Farm Bureau. Bernie was currently a member of the CFBA Investment Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors of the CFBA Service Company.
Mr. Dzielinski is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley. He is also survived by four sons: Paul and his wife, Susan; Peter and his wife, Jo Ann; Greg and his wife, Heather and Bruce and his wife, Deborah. In addition to his wife and four sons, Mr. Dzielinski is survived by eight grandchildren: Stefan, Amanda, Henry, Adrienne, Heath, Zachariah, Alexander and Sarah Grace; by four great grandchildren: Alexandra, Jacob, Nicholas and Parker; as well as a brother, Casmier and his wife, Jane. He was predeceased by his sisters Lucy, Nellie, Bernice, and Celia, and by his brothers Henry and Frank,
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 1:00 PM at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church; 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Ridgefield.
Friends will be received on Friday, February 10, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UConn College of Agriculture Charles J. Zwick Program Fund in his memory. All Gifts should be made payable to the “University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc.” and sent to 2390 Alumni Drive: Unit 3206; Storrs, CT 06269.
Please include Bernie’s name and the fund name on the check to ensure that the gift is properly recorded