Raymond Zaorski

WATERBURY; Mr. Raymond C. Zaorski, 26 of Waterbury passed away Thursday September 9, 2010 at his home.

Raymond was born September 12, 1983 in Richmond, VA, a son of Charles and Karen (Szczesny) Zaorski and was raised in South Meriden and Wolcott and recently resided with his fiancee Leith T. Sharp in Waterbury. He attended Ben Bronz Academy in West Hartford, The Forman School in Litchfield and the University of New Mexico in Taos where he proudly achieved a 3.0 GPA. He was employed by RPM in Prospect and Michelangelo's Roofing in Wolcott. He served as Sergeant of Arms for the Men's Auxiliary of the Wolcott VFW Post 1979 where he honored his grandfather's service to this country.

From his earliest years, Ray stood out as being outgoing, inquisitive, creative and artistic. These strengths served him well and gave him and others years of pleasure as he explored many areas of interest. He excelled at Model Building, Drawing, Cartooning, Painting, Pottery and Glassblowing to name a few. Although Ray and Andrew were three years apart they shared many of the same interests as children and spent precious and memorable time with each other. Raymond played Wolcott Park and Rec baseball and basketball. He was an avid soccer player for Meriden, Wolcott and Waterbury home and travel teams. Raymond was a member of the loving, supportive family of the United Methodist Church of Waterbury where he attended religious instructions and was confirmed. He looked forward to United Methodist Camps for 5 years where he was taught white water canoeing and ocean sailing skills. In high school he played JV basketball, lacrosse, JV and Varsity soccer where he lettered. While at Forman he was enthusiastically involved with their Outdoor Leadership Program where he learned team building and wilderness skills. He hiked; rock climbed, caved, canoed and white water kayaked. Through his years there, Ray's greatest self esteem came from the skills he honed while on a 21 day wilderness adventure trip in the great northern Maine woods. Through Forman's boat building program, where he was a standout, he excelled at refurbishing old wooden canoes, and building from scratch 17ft wood and canvas canoes. Ray was also well known for his joy of skateboarding, and love of music and playing the guitar.

For the past several years Ray received great personal satisfaction in giving back to others.

Specifically, his membership in the local VFW Men's Auxiliary programs, functions and

fundraisers where he was well-known, appreciated and loved for his willingness to help others, his dedication, stamina, and the humor that he brought to the organization at large.

All who knew Ray well remember how much he loved his family, and his precious Leith. He is remembered for his enthusiasm for life, his friendship, his kind ways, his ability to make

everyone laugh, and most of all his joyous and often times goofy smiles and quirky clothing. His adoring and loving family and fiance hope that's what he will be most remembered and

cherished for. Our Raymond spread love and good nature in every facet of his short lived life. Those of us who have been blessed to be a part of Ray's life can take comfort in the fact that he is now and forever cradled in his creator's arms as Ray once cradled us in his.

Besides his parents of Wolcott and his Fiance of Waterbury he leaves his brother Andrew Zaorski, his paternal grandmother, Viola Zaorski and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his grandparents Robert Zaorski, Sr, Raymond Szczesny and Florence Rogus Szczesny.

Funeral services for Raymond will be held Saturday September 18 at 11:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Waterbury 250 Country Club Road. Burial will be held at the convenience of his family. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church of Waterbury's Youth Camping Scholarships 250 Country Club Road Waterbury, 06708 or to Ben Bronz Academy 139 North Main Street West Hartford, CT 06107-1264 or to the Outdoor Leadership Program at The Forman School 12 Norfolk Road Litchfield, CT 06759-2537. The Alderson Funeral Home of Waterbury 9 Holmes Avenue has care of arrangements.