Master Stone Mason/Bricklayer, Carpenter and Artist. Born in Hamtramck, Michigan, his parents were Stephan and Stefania Kurkowski Zakrzewski of Poland. He was a student at St. Florian's School in Hamtramck, but left due to the economics of the Depression. He then trained with his father in traditional, old-world European techniques as a Master Bricklayer/Stone Mason.
Ed Zak (as he was best known) moved to Los Angeles after WWII and worked on the homes of many Hollywood stars, specializing in fireplaces, block and stone facing and intricate brickwork.
Ed returned to Michigan in the early 1950s. He married Armandina Gubbiotti on June 11, 1955, and built a home for his new in-laws on Detroit's East Side, where they all lived until 1961. Ed and Dina then moved to the expanding community of Warren and immediately made many improvements to his new home, including adding an extended porch, built-in entertainment center, backyard patio, cupola with weather vane and a stone grotto.
He built and restored countless buildings including the Ford Auditorium, St John's Hospital (Detroit & Macomb), the library and various other buildings at Macomb County Community College (South Campus), many buildings in the Warren Woods and Warren Consolidated School Districts as well as many, many beautiful residences all over Detroit.
Upon his retirement, Ed and his family moved to Sugar Land, Texas. He was a 40-year member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Local 1 (formerly Local 2) of Michigan, a 27-year member of Knights of Columbus, St. Basil Council 4204 and a member of St. Lawrence and St. Theresa Catholic Churches of Sugar Land.
Ed was well-known in the neighborhood, entertaining hardware store staff, grocery store employees and neighbors with stories of Lana Turner's fireplace and other tales of his construction days. He sculpted, made beautiful jewelry and doted on his dogs, first Brutus, then Lucky. He was always the first to say "hello" and quick with a smile and a witty one-liner. In his last years he suffered from Alzheimer's, but Ed enjoyed many productive years of retirement surrounded by his wife, mother-in-law, daughters, and his beloved dogs.
Thank you to :
Miss Renee for her kind sponsorship of this tribute. Like Mr. Z., she is an honorary Italian and wonderful friend.
...and to everyone who left a remembrance for my wonderful dad. I'll do my best to leave at least one flower for a loved one of yours.
Ed Zak (as he was best known) moved to Los Angeles after WWII and worked on the homes of many Hollywood stars, specializing in fireplaces, block and stone facing and intricate brickwork.
Ed returned to Michigan in the early 1950s. He married Armandina Gubbiotti on June 11, 1955, and built a home for his new in-laws on Detroit's East Side, where they all lived until 1961. Ed and Dina then moved to the expanding community of Warren and immediately made many improvements to his new home, including adding an extended porch, built-in entertainment center, backyard patio, cupola with weather vane and a stone grotto.
He built and restored countless buildings including the Ford Auditorium, St John's Hospital (Detroit & Macomb), the library and various other buildings at Macomb County Community College (South Campus), many buildings in the Warren Woods and Warren Consolidated School Districts as well as many, many beautiful residences all over Detroit.
Upon his retirement, Ed and his family moved to Sugar Land, Texas. He was a 40-year member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Local 1 (formerly Local 2) of Michigan, a 27-year member of Knights of Columbus, St. Basil Council 4204 and a member of St. Lawrence and St. Theresa Catholic Churches of Sugar Land.
Ed was well-known in the neighborhood, entertaining hardware store staff, grocery store employees and neighbors with stories of Lana Turner's fireplace and other tales of his construction days. He sculpted, made beautiful jewelry and doted on his dogs, first Brutus, then Lucky. He was always the first to say "hello" and quick with a smile and a witty one-liner. In his last years he suffered from Alzheimer's, but Ed enjoyed many productive years of retirement surrounded by his wife, mother-in-law, daughters, and his beloved dogs.
Thank you to :
Miss Renee for her kind sponsorship of this tribute. Like Mr. Z., she is an honorary Italian and wonderful friend.
...and to everyone who left a remembrance for my wonderful dad. I'll do my best to leave at least one flower for a loved one of yours.
Master Stone Mason/Bricklayer, Carpenter and Artist. Born in Hamtramck, Michigan, his parents were Stephan and Stefania Kurkowski Zakrzewski of Poland. He was a student at St. Florian's School in Hamtramck, but left due to the economics of the Depression. He then trained with his father in traditional, old-world European techniques as a Master Bricklayer/Stone Mason.
Ed Zak (as he was best known) moved to Los Angeles after WWII and worked on the homes of many Hollywood stars, specializing in fireplaces, block and stone facing and intricate brickwork.
Ed returned to Michigan in the early 1950s. He married Armandina Gubbiotti on June 11, 1955, and built a home for his new in-laws on Detroit's East Side, where they all lived until 1961. Ed and Dina then moved to the expanding community of Warren and immediately made many improvements to his new home, including adding an extended porch, built-in entertainment center, backyard patio, cupola with weather vane and a stone grotto.
He built and restored countless buildings including the Ford Auditorium, St John's Hospital (Detroit & Macomb), the library and various other buildings at Macomb County Community College (South Campus), many buildings in the Warren Woods and Warren Consolidated School Districts as well as many, many beautiful residences all over Detroit.
Upon his retirement, Ed and his family moved to Sugar Land, Texas. He was a 40-year member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Local 1 (formerly Local 2) of Michigan, a 27-year member of Knights of Columbus, St. Basil Council 4204 and a member of St. Lawrence and St. Theresa Catholic Churches of Sugar Land.
Ed was well-known in the neighborhood, entertaining hardware store staff, grocery store employees and neighbors with stories of Lana Turner's fireplace and other tales of his construction days. He sculpted, made beautiful jewelry and doted on his dogs, first Brutus, then Lucky. He was always the first to say "hello" and quick with a smile and a witty one-liner. In his last years he suffered from Alzheimer's, but Ed enjoyed many productive years of retirement surrounded by his wife, mother-in-law, daughters, and his beloved dogs.
Thank you to :
Miss Renee for her kind sponsorship of this tribute. Like Mr. Z., she is an honorary Italian and wonderful friend.
...and to everyone who left a remembrance for my wonderful dad. I'll do my best to leave at least one flower for a loved one of yours.
Ed Zak (as he was best known) moved to Los Angeles after WWII and worked on the homes of many Hollywood stars, specializing in fireplaces, block and stone facing and intricate brickwork.
Ed returned to Michigan in the early 1950s. He married Armandina Gubbiotti on June 11, 1955, and built a home for his new in-laws on Detroit's East Side, where they all lived until 1961. Ed and Dina then moved to the expanding community of Warren and immediately made many improvements to his new home, including adding an extended porch, built-in entertainment center, backyard patio, cupola with weather vane and a stone grotto.
He built and restored countless buildings including the Ford Auditorium, St John's Hospital (Detroit & Macomb), the library and various other buildings at Macomb County Community College (South Campus), many buildings in the Warren Woods and Warren Consolidated School Districts as well as many, many beautiful residences all over Detroit.
Upon his retirement, Ed and his family moved to Sugar Land, Texas. He was a 40-year member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Local 1 (formerly Local 2) of Michigan, a 27-year member of Knights of Columbus, St. Basil Council 4204 and a member of St. Lawrence and St. Theresa Catholic Churches of Sugar Land.
Ed was well-known in the neighborhood, entertaining hardware store staff, grocery store employees and neighbors with stories of Lana Turner's fireplace and other tales of his construction days. He sculpted, made beautiful jewelry and doted on his dogs, first Brutus, then Lucky. He was always the first to say "hello" and quick with a smile and a witty one-liner. In his last years he suffered from Alzheimer's, but Ed enjoyed many productive years of retirement surrounded by his wife, mother-in-law, daughters, and his beloved dogs.
Thank you to :
Miss Renee for her kind sponsorship of this tribute. Like Mr. Z., she is an honorary Italian and wonderful friend.
...and to everyone who left a remembrance for my wonderful dad. I'll do my best to leave at least one flower for a loved one of yours.
