Wethersfield Obituary: Eugene Ziurys, Jr., 83

Eugene J. Ziurys, Jr., of Wethersfield, beloved husband of Regina (Slivinskas) Ziurys and father of Lina E. Ziurys of New York, passed away on Sunday, June 11, 2017. He was the son of the late Eugene J. Ziurys and Rose (Norkunas) Ziurys.

Gene was born in New Haven on April 6, 1934. After graduating from Providence College in 1956, Gene enlisted in the U.S. Army. His Army service included tours of duty at Fort Myer, Virginia and Fort Buckner, Okinawa, Japan. Gene was proud to be American, always supported our military and veterans, and believed that even in our most divided times, American values and principles are a shining light to the world.

Gene spent most of his professional life in the insurance industry. While at the Travelers Insurance Company, he established the first nationwide pharmacy network. He was a director and board chairman of the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP), as well as chairman of the Health Insurance Association of America’s (HIAA) Pharmaceutical Relations Committee. The big joke at the Travelers was, “Gene did drugs for over two decades.”

During the Reagan Administration, Gene was appointed to the National Advisory Council of the National Health Service Corps. During a break from his insurance career, Gene spent two years as the assistant director of sports information at Yale University. Gene served as a Corporator of Hartford Hospital from 1973 until his death, and was a former member of its board of directors.

Proud of his Lithuanian heritage, Gene was an active member of Holy Trinity Church of Hartford and attended the Lithuanian Mass for over 50 years. He served as chairman of the parish council for several years. Gene was also a member of numerous Lithuanian organizations, including the Lithuanian-American Community of the USA and Saint Casimir’s Lithuanian Society of Poquonock.

Gene enjoyed working and socializing with his many friends in various civic and cultural clubs, including the New Haven Jaycees, the Civitan Club of Wethersfield, the Republican Nationalities (Heritage) Groups Council and the Knights of Lithuania. Always generous and civic-minded, Gene was a regular blood donor, and at the time of his passing he was on his 17th gallon.

\Gene loved to travel and followed the rule, “see the world before you leave it.” His journeys included Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Africa, Argentina and most European countries. Gene was an avid listener of classical music, holding season tickets to the Hartford Symphony for decades. His many other interests included playing cards, cheering for the Yankees, sipping a dry martini, having opinions about slow drivers in the left lane, and showing up for his friends and family whenever they needed him.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Gene leaves two brothers, Bart and Doug, three sisters, Julie, Lucy and Meg, their spouses, several cousins, nieces and a nephew, and his sister- and brother-in-law, Laima and Harry Schonbeck.

Visiting hours will be held at the Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, 1276 Berlin Turnpike in Wethersfield on Friday, June 16, 4-7pm. The funeral Mass will be held at 11am on Saturday, June 17, at Holy Trinity Church, 53 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. Gene will be laid to rest at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Holy Trinity Church, 53 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106 or to the ALS Association (www.alsa.org).

Please visit www.dillonbaxter.com to share a memory with the family.