I did not attend the Citizens Police Academy tonight. Instead I attended the wake of a man I grew to deeply love and admire–my friend Joe Zdonczyk. Joe passed away Tuesday after a short bout with cancer. I had spoken with him a few weeks ago after he had gotten out of the hospital.

I met Joe about three years ago at Stop and Shop in Cheshire. He was gathering signatures which would allow him to run for Governor. He successfully gathered over 30,000 signatures mostly HIMSELF. Pretty good for a 79 year old man, in fact a respectable feat for a person of any age.

We started talking and I told him about my issue in trying to get my Underground Town Hall shows on Channel 15. Joe had two shows on Cox Cable 15 in Cheshire: “Stop, Look, Listen and Enjoy” and “You and Me Against the World” which I appeared on with him a few years ago discussing the problems I was having in Cheshire with the airing of my shows and attempting to start a Police Commission. Joe went out of his way and he cleared the way for me to get my shows on the Cable Public Access without any more delays.

When I was attempting (and still am) to get the Police Commission, I called Joe because I respected his opinion and I knew other people did also. He was respected and always acted in a dignified manner while at the same time, being firm in his belief in the Constitution of the United States and peoples rights.

I knew if I could get Joe to come to the Town Council meetings or the Ordinance Committee meetings, it would make an impact (and it did). Whenever I called for this man to help me, he did and he did it gladly and gracefully.

Could you imagine if Joe lived here? He would be getting the same questions and the same treatment as others who try to stand up for what is right. “What’s his motive”? Yes, everything someone does always has to have an ulterior motive to some people. They can’t believe there are still people out there who believe in peoples rights to control our government and to speak freely without retribution. Well, Joe was one of those people.

I will always remember seeing him sitting in the back of the Town Council chambers. I would always look to see if he would show up. And you know what, he always did and I was never disappointed.

I will miss you Joe. I lost a supporter, a friend and someone I could count on-no questions asked. It will take me a while to remember not to call for you anymore. But I know you will be happy to know that many of us out there will remember you and continue your fight.

Founded Concerned Citizens Party

WOLCOTT — Mr. Joseph A. Zdonczyk, 79, of 63 Deepwood Dr., Wolcott, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008, at Wolcott View Manor. He was the husband of Ana R. (Ca­beltes) Zdon­czyk. Mr. Zdon­czyk was born in Waterbury on Nov. 2, 1928; a son of the late Frank and Natalia (Majewski) Zdonczyk. He was an Army veteran serv­ing during World War II. He attended Catholic University in Washington, DC, and UConn in Waterbury. He was a resident of Wolcott since 1963 and was the co-owner of Dell Amusement in Waterbury. He was the founder of the Concerned Citi­zens Party of Connecticut, an affil­iate of the Constitution Party whose goal is to restore American jurisprudence to its Biblical foun­dations and to limit the federal government to its Constitutional boundaries. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. Besides his wife, he leaves a brother, Ted Zdonczyk and his wife Mary of Cheshire; three nieces, Carolyn Soltis, Bonnie LaVigna, and Allyn DeMaida and their husbands; three grand­nephews, two grandnieces, two great-grandnieces, and one great­grandnephew. His funeral will be held on Thurs­day, Feb. 21, at 9 a.m. from the Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 N. Main St., Naugatuck, to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 100 East Farm St., Waterbury, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Burial with military honors will fol­low in Calvary Cemetery, East Main Street, Waterbury. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Carolyn’s Place, 137 Grandview Ave., Waterbury, 06708. For more information, please visit www.fitzgeraldzembruski.com.