Veteran played key role in establishing memorial

By Sandy Illian Bosch sbosch@pioneerlocal.com October 25, 2011 11:22AM

World War II veteran and Burr Ridge resident Steve Zaher, here pictured in 1998, died Oct. 20. Among Zaher's various military commendations was the French Legion of Honor. | File photo

Decorated World War II veteran Stephen Zaher of Burr Ridge wasn’t afraid of much. But the 92-year-old said more than once that he feared he wouldn’t live to see his longtime dream of a Burr Ridge Veterans Memorial come true.

“He did see it,” said Leonard Ruzak, who served on the Veterans Memorial Committee with Zaher.

Zaher died Oct. 20, four months after the dedication of the memorial outside Burr Ridge Village Hall.

Zaher was an original member of the committee, which worked for more than a decade to raise money and plan for the memorial.

“He played an important part,” said Ruzak, bringing in some large donations.

“We’re all going to miss him,” Ruzak added.

Shirley Zaher said her husband was a wonderful, faithful man who, despite his many military commendations, was never comfortable being called a hero.

“He really didn’t like being singled out,” Shirley Zaher said.

Of the many honors he received, Shirley said her husband was most proud of his bronze star and the French Legion of Honor, awarded to him in 2008, 63 years after returning home from the war.

The medal, the French equivalent to the U.S. Medal of Honor, is given to those who defended French freedom on French soil. Daughter Stephanie Zaher said the medal would be displayed on her father’s lapel during his visitation and services.

Despite the human tragedy her father saw as an Army Ranger, his daughter said Zaher never lost his childlike sense of humor. The eulogy she prepared for his funeral Mass includes a story about what she long believed to be a cookie-eating Teddy bear.

Whenever she had to leave her beloved stuffed bear behind, her father would give her bear a cookie. When the family returned, the cookie was always eaten.

“One day I caught him, stuffing that cookie into his mouth as quickly as he could,” she said.

“He would do things for me that were so magical,” she said. Years later, he would share that same love and sense of humor with his seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Zaher was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, nee Stalmasek. He is survived by his second wife, Shirley, nee Gorski; his daughters, Lois (Jim) Bartunek, Carol (Tony) Kopta, Mary (Eric) Norton and Stephanie Zaher; his brother, George (Suzanne) and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation is from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Adolf Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Ltd., 7000 S. Madison St., Willowbrook. Services will begin with prayers at the funeral home at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, before proceeding to St. John of the Cross Church for Mass of Christian Burial at 9:45 a.m.

Zaher will be buried at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.

Link To Full Story: 

http://burrridge.suntimes.com/news/8408842-418/wwii-veteran-played-key-role-in-establishing-burr-ridge-memorial.html

 

Stephen Zaher, Army Ranger Veteran, WWII, age 92, at rest Oct. 20, 2011. Beloved husband of Shirley, nee Gorski and the late Helen, nee Stalmasek; loving father of Lois (Jim) Bartunek, Carol (Tony) Kopta, Mary (Eric) Norton and Stephanie Zaher; dear grandfather of seven and great-grandfather of eight; loving brother of George (Suzanne), the late Charles Zaher and the late Goldie Snoble; fond uncle to many nieces and nephews; great friend to many. Visitation Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Adolf Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Ltd., 7000 S. Madison St., Willowbrook, IL 60527. Funeral Wednesday, Oct. 26, prayers 9 a.m. at the funeral home, proceeding to St. John of the Cross Church for Mass of Christian Burial at 9:45 a.m. Interment; Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=154242767

Denialism

Denialism is the employment of rhetorical tactics to give the appearance of argument or legitimate debate, when in actuality there is none. These false arguments are used when one has few or no facts to support one's viewpoint against a scientific consensus or against overwhelming evidence to the contrary. They are effective in distracting from actual useful debate using emotionally appealing, but ultimately empty and illogical assertions.

http://www.care2.com/news/member/577339509/574408



How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic




articles in "How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic," a series by Coby Beck containing responses to the most common skeptical arguments on Global Warming. There are four separate taxonomies; arguments...

http://www.care2.com/news/member/577339509/580467

Please View News & Sign Petitions listed in the Comments if you agree!

DENIALISM THREAD

http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=116&pst=788533  


Global Warming Denialism is a disorder. It is an extremely Dangerous disorder that Threatens to KILL the human species and all animals if we allowed it to.

I personally know a number of people that deny climate change. That is what has brought me to put this in the news here at Care2. This is a serious issue. If denialists are allowed to spread Lies unchallenged and poison the opinions of too many people, their disinformation could easy result in many people dying. If people do not realize the truth and do not take action against Global Warming, the consequences will almost certainly be deadly for large numbers of people. Those people may even be you or I.

If Global Warming continues unchecked, considerable areas of densely inhabited land will be permanently flooded. Millions will be forced to migrate to new areas. Such huge numbers of refugees will be certain to result in conflicts and great hardships.

Floods and changing weather patterns will cause areas that are currently prime farmland to experience crop failures. These crop failures are likely to occur worldwide. The result will be massive famines.

Huge numbers of refugees suffering from famines will be a likely breeding ground for all sorts of nasty diseases. There will be many deaths and much suffering.

Hearing claims that global warming is untrue is scary. The possibility that those false claims may be believed by gullible people is even more scary. They are scary to me because their denial could very well result in death and suffering for myself, my loved ones, nature, wildlife, & humans all around the planet.

It's so sad that these people are so willing to cause the deaths of other humans just to increase their own profit margins. When it comes down to it, a lot of the denialism is because of the Love of Money.

Big companies DO NOT care about you or the environment. All they care about is filling their bank accounts up with money. They lie because they have to in order to keep making billions and they do not care who they hurt while lieing.

This is still the same old Republican Denialism that is being funded by the oil companies. The Republican party has long been dedicated to using any means necessary to help the rich keep getting richer. They couldn't care less if the planet goes to hell, just as long as they can keep their fat donors raking in the money.


                     

Imported from external blog