Wojciech "Mark" Zawada

Wojciech Zawada “Mark” was born in Trzemeszno, Poland on September 17, 1935 to Jozef and Helena Zawada.  He was the youngest sibling to his deceased brother, Boleslaw and surviving sister, Maria.   He weathered WWII with his family in the Polish countryside.  Enduring lots of challenges during those difficult times, he nonetheless succeeded by becoming a Medical Doctor specializing in Endocrinology, as well as a Professor at the Medical University of Wroclaw.  He married Anna Maria Zawada in 1962.  Wojciech was an active participant in an anti-communist underground political movement, Solidarnosc.  During martial law in Poland he and his family were forced to leave the country.  Wojciech, his wife, and their two children came to the USA to seek political refuge in 1982.  Wojciech made sure that his two children, whom he preceded in death, Michael and Gregory, received an excellent education and grew up to be incredible people, following his example.

Wojciech held many jobs until his final position at the Arkansas Department of Health as the Director of the newborn screening laboratory division, from which he retired in 2002.  Wojciech lost his first wife, Anna, to ovarian cancer in 1998. Wojciech enjoyed classic literature, contemporary art, camping, hiking, spending lots of time outdoors and traveling in the company of others.   In 2000 he married again to Anna Gallus-Zawada, whom he met in Mountain Home, AR through a mutual friend.  Together, they led a very nice and calm life in Little Rock for 21 years.  Their children, Gregory and Anna’s daughter, Natalie married each other in 2006.

Sadly, Wojciech became ill with renal insufficiency and Alzheimer’s disease which led to dementia.  He resided at the Memory Care of Little Rock in the last year of his life, where he was treated with excellent care.  Wojciech passed away Tuesday August 10th, 2021 at the age of 85.  He leaves behind his wife, Anna Gallus-Zawada, his two sons, Gregory and Michael Zawada and two daughters-in-law, Mita Das and Natalie Zawada.  He is survived by three grandchildren, Katherine, Anna and Alice Zawada.

A funeral service is scheduled for Friday 8/20/2021 at 10 am at the Forest Hills Cemetery.  Due to Covid-19 no indoor gatherings will be conducted.  Mask wearing is highly encouraged and appreciated.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Arkansas Alzheimer’s Association.