Food Bank Founder Remembered For His Selflessness

Zygmund “Ziggy” Zwierchowski spent most of his time in Forked River hauling thousands of pounds of food around town.

Ziggy, 83, of Forked River was one of the founding members of the Lacey Food Bank and died on June 17, 2011 after enduring health issues and the loss of his wife.

The concept of Lacey’s food bank began in 1986 and Ziggy was a volunteer from the start- stashing, retrieving, packing, and distributing food.

Ziggy’s grandson, Ryan Horne, was six years old when he would visit his grandparents and there would be food everywhere, he said.

“They were storing all the food there. Back then, they needed volunteers literally storing the food in their houses just to make things happen,” Horne said.

Although he had not been as involved in recent years due to his age and health, Ziggy left his mark on the food bank.

“The food bank was very dear to him. He was an inspiration to all the volunteers in town later,” said Guy Burnett, current Chairman of the Lacey Food Bank.

Horne also volunteers at the food bank periodically. As an employee in the township’s recreation department, Horne stays involved as they use their bus to assist with distribution.

“I’m glad to be involved with that. And that’s something I’ll always treasure and try to stay involved in as much as I can because I really like to help out with the community in that way,” Horne said.

Ziggy had a big influence on Horne.

“I’m always going to remember him as the perfect role model because he was someone who was always giving and never wanted to get any credit,” Horne said. “

I think he’s a big reason why I work in government. I feel like I’m giving back to the public because of that.”

Burnett described Ziggy as a “dedicated volunteer and family man.”

“Just about anything that went on in the community, Ziggy was there,” he said.

Ziggy served as the food banks liaison to City Hall and a member of the Republican Club. Burnett remembers Ziggy volunteering every chance he got- even at rabies shot clinics.

Once Burnett took over the food bank in 2000, Ziggy served as a mentor to him, advising him in the proper ways to handle things and telling him, “If you’re going to do it, do it right.”

“It was a pleasure knowing him and working with him,” Burnett said.

Ziggy would watch township meetings faithfully, his daughter Cynthia Ulaky said.

“He loved his town. He was involved as much as he could in this town,” Ulaky said.

“He had the biggest heart than anyone I’ve known,” Ulaky said.

Ziggy would visit strangers in nursing homes just because he knew they didn’t have anyone, Ulaky said.

On top of all his volunteer work, Ziggy enjoyed bird watching, talking about politics, taking long walks, and watching movies and sports, Horne said.

As a big fan of Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, and Al Leiter, Ziggy took a lot of pride in being from New Jersey, Horne said. He was also a fan of anyone with Polish decent like Mike Krzyzewski, the head coach of Duke University’s men’s basketball team.

Horne remembers Ziggy as a “great person who always gave.”

At the viewing, Municipal Clerk Veronica Laureigh told Horne that he reminds her of his grandfather and they possess similar characteristics.

“I took that as a tremendous compliment. One of the best compliments I’ve received in my life. Maybe I’m growing up to be like him,” Horne said.

Ziggy, a U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean War, was originally from Bayonne, living there until he moved to Lacey, 33 years ago.

He served as a police officer for the Port Authority for 20 years, retiring in 1972, and was employed at the Bayonne Post Office for 15 years.

He was a parishioner of the Church of Saint Pius X, where he was a counter of masses, past president of the Lacey Township AARP from 1992 to 1994, past treasurer and recording secretary for the PBA of the Port of Authority, and a member of Lacey’s Health Department, and Senior Advisory Club.

Ziggy was predeceased by his wife Theresa in 2008 and is survived by his children, Brother Walter, Fall River, Mass., Carol and Donald Horne, Forked River, Barbara and Anthony DeRado, Bayonne, and Cynthia Ulaky, his loving daughter and caregiver, Forked River; six grandchildren, Jasen DeRado, Jonathan DeRado, Ryan Horne, Robert E. Ulaky Jr., William Ulaky, and Sarah Ulaky; and several nieces and nephews.