Obituary of John A. Zawadzki

John A. Zawadzki, age 75, passed away on December 10, 2023 after a battle with cancer.
Born and raised in Syracuse, NY, John graduated from North Syracuse High School and eventually Syracuse University.  What followed after graduation was a forty-year banking career starting as a teller with First Trust & Deposit Co. in Syracuse, and working his way to regional president positions at HSBC and Fleet Bank.  In 2000, he was elected president and CEO of SBU Bank in Utica, NY. He guided that bank through a stock conversion that created the Partners Trust Financial Group of which he remained president and CEO.
During his career, he served as chairman of the Community Bankers Association of New York, and then as chairman of the New York Bankers Association.  He was a director of Utica First Insurance Co.  
John was deeply involved in community and economic development activities throughout his career serving on many boards.  He was especially proud to have chaired the United Way campaigns in both Utica and Syracuse.
A lover of music, John played piano and enjoyed a family tradition of gathering around the piano on Christmas Eve while the family joined in on song. John had a competitive spirit in all he did and loved sports, especially boating and golf.  He was a former member of the Onondaga Golf and Country Club in Syracuse (he was senior club champion in 2007) and the Yahnundasis Golf Club in New Hartford.  In his earlier years, he was an active runner, completing three marathons for what he said was fun.
Throughout his life, John’s first priority was always on his family, watching his three daughters grow into the ladies they are today, and spending countless hours with his ten beautiful grandchildren were, in his view, the highlights of his life.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years Saskia Zawadzki; his three daughters: Andrea Cuddy, Renee McVige, and Amanda Dunlap; and his ten grandchildren: Jacob, Adam, Connor, Dylan, Chase, Myles, Jackson, Kylie, Amber, and Kelsey.  John will live on in their hearts forever.
Friends may greet the family on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 10am-12pm at the Goddard-Crandall-Shepardson Funeral Home.  There will be a service at the conclusion with entombment to follow in Woodlawn Mausoleum. 
Online condolences, www.shepardsonfh.com.