Stephen "Steve" Zawojski Jr.'s Obituary
Stephen “Steve” Zawojski Jr., age 84 left his temporary earthly home on Friday, August 6, 2021. He was born on August 31, 1936, in Toledo, Ohio to the late Stephen Zawojski and Ann (Miskow) Zawojski. He was a veteran having served his country honorably in the US Navy 1955-1959. From Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, he graduated with a Fine Arts Degree in 1963. There he met his future bride, Alice Krawczyk. They married on June 22, 1963, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marion, Ohio. He received his MFA Masters of Fine Arts from NY State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, New York in 1966. He taught Ceramics at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri as a Visiting Artist at Goddard College, Plainfield Vermont and locally at Grand Valley State University. He also taught a summer session at Notre Dame. Then Grand Haven became his family’s home where he especially enjoyed giving pottery demonstrations on the wheel to elementary age children to encourage them to use their imagination.
His work has been presented in numerous National exhibitions including the prestigious NCECA (National Council on the Education of Ceramic Arts) where he was a longtime member and chairman on the Technical Committee. He has participated in many ceramic activities throughout the country and received numerous awards. At the juried NCECA 1991 Clay National, his wood-fired vase form was published in its catalogue. He was one of 1200 entries. He became the Evening Program Supervisor at the Careerline Tech Center, Holland, Michigan in 1984 and retired from there. His ceramic works have been exhibited widely in National & Regional shows. Reviews of his work have appeared in the Craft Horizons and Ceramics Monthly. His works have been presented at the French Embassy in New York City, the Evansville Museum of Science of Art, Indiana, and private collections throughout the country.
Steve’s place of peace was known as Medusa Pottery where he spent countless hours contemplating the process of giving his ideas, his beliefs, and his truth-Life. He always let the clay speak through him. All pots beautiful and perhaps not so beautiful, are worthy of use just as we are.Steve will be missed by his wife, Alice of 58 years, sons Peter of Okemos, MI Edward of Kill Devil Hills, NC, and daughter Aliesa (Jerry) Pruszynski of Granger, IN; grandchildren Aleksander and Haven. Sisters Joanne (Sam) Cochran and Nadine Williamson many nephews and nieces. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, August 27, 2021, at St. Patrick-St Anthony Catholic Church with Father Chuck Schwartz officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Military Rites will be performed by the American Legion Charles A. Conklin Post 28 of Grand Haven. Memorial contribution may be made to St. Patrick-St Anthony Catholic Church. Share memories with the family on their online book at www.sytsemafh.com.
The funeral mass will be live streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKWKRTd8WZY
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