Vincent Steph- en Zdanowicz, 69, died on Wednesday, February 7, 2018. He was at his home in Eastham, Massachusetts with his wife Mary Theresa Zdanowicz and his friend Deeann Deet from North Carolina. Family members visited him from Milford, Connecticut in the days before his death. His mother, Pearl Zdanowicz; sister, Patricia Mason; niece, Kristen DeNardo, and 2 nephews Fred Mason and Brian Mason survive him. He maintained relationships with friends all over the country from all stages of his life. He was a modest man and everyone loved him. He was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and graduated Fairfield College Preparatory School in the Class of 1966. He received a BS degree in chemistry from Fordham University and a PhD in chemistry from Rutgers University. Vincent was a Principal Investigator for the National Marine Fisheries Service, an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He began his career at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center Milford Laboratory, Connecticut, where he met his wife Mary. Later he moved to the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory on Sandy Hook, New Jersey. Mary followed him and they were married in 1982. He was an expert in the application of laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry, a cutting edge technology used by only a handful of laboratories around the world. He had many accomplishments and received many honors during his career. He was awarded a Bronze Medal, NOAAs highest award, for excellence in analytical chemistry. He was appointed to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Marine Environmental Quality Committee. He was the only American appointed to the Committee at the time. He was a member of the editorial board of the Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, an international journal. He was appointed as an advisor to Postdoctoral Research Associates in a program administered by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. After September 11, 2001, he worked for the Department of Homeland Security, where he continued to develop applications of laser ablation technology in forensic studies. He received the Anti-Terrorism Award in 2004 at the Annual U.S. Customs and Border Protection Awards Ceremony. After retiring to Cape Cod, he missed being in the laboratory. He volunteered at the Water Quality Laboratory of the Barnstable County Health Department and was eventually hired part-time. He loved going to sea aboard NOAA research vessels. He volunteered with FEMA and travelled to Mississippi in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He enjoyed playing cards with his friends. He was a kind soul and he will be sorely missed. Services will be held in Connecticut in April 2018. In lieu of flowers charitable contributions may be made to Fairfield College Preparatory School, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824. For assistance making a donation please contact Development Office Fairfield Prep or 203 254-4237. For online condolences, please visit www.nickerson funerals.com .
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My sincere condolences to Vinnie's family and wide circle of friends. I got to know Vinnie when I went to sea with him on the east coast, and we bonded instantly. Such a funny and kind and wise person! Somewhere I have a photo of him "making himself a sandwich" at 1 am in the ship's galley, which involved Vinnie using mustard and mayo to stick cheese and bread to his face, complete with holes cut for his eyes :) If you knew Vinnie, you understand....
Regards to all,
Tracy Collier
May 16, 2018
So sorry to hear of his passing. We were friends at the University of Bridgeport. He was a great guy. Will always remember him
Linda Hannah
April 4, 2018
May the God of all comfort grant you peace at this difficult time.
February 23, 2018
The world lost a wonderful man the day Vinny passed. The love that Vinny had for Mary was beautiful as is her continued love for him.Tom and I had the priviilege of having Vinny and Mary as our neighbors on Portland RD in New Jersey .....auwwww....the fun we all shared with them and the group. Those were the best times of our lives!
Continued love and sympathy to our dear Mary and Vinny's family.
DeeAnn and Tom Deet
Whispering Pines, NC
February 21, 2018
Dear Aunt Pearl, Patricia, and Mary-
So sad to hear about Butchie. My deepest sympathy and love.
Dianne Kaczmarczyk
February 21, 2018
Dear Mary. I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I've known Vinnie since the Deepwater Dumpsite 106/Northeast Monitoring Program/Ocean Pulse days and admired his intellect and laid back manner. I was lucky enough to catch up with him for dinner once or twice when I had work in DC while he was at DHS and again a few years ago on the Cape for lunch (kept missing you). It always was a treat to talk with him and watch his face light up when he laughed. I sent him an email last week, and then received the info from Donna Johnson about his passing. He was a terrific guy.
My sincerest condolences to you and his family.
Sharon MacLean
February 16, 2018
Mary, we are so sorry for your loss. It has been many years since Shell Ave.- those were crazy times. We were so amazed that you guys kept Maxie and Lola going for so long. Condolences to all the family.
Joe & Colleen Kubinski
February 16, 2018
Mary,
So sorry to hear of Vinnys passing, a wonderful man who made such a positive contribution to the planet . A great friend to Ruben who loved him dearly . Our Condolences and love to you at this time of great sadness
Prue and Ruben Abreu
Australia
Prue Cullen
February 15, 2018
I remember Butch from when we were kids in Bridgeport, CT. Butch's mother Pearl Haley and my father Francis Charity were first cousins. Condolences to his wife, mom, sister and extended family. He certainly left an impressive legacy.
Linda Charity-Musial
February 14, 2018
My sincere condolences to his wife and family.
Walter Duda
February 14, 2018
Mary,
My deepest condolences. I know you have lost a wonderful fellow traveler, and I was struck again at the Prep reunion with how the two of you so shared your life in retirement, as you had when I met you in Virginia. Vinny was a modest man, but a thoughtful and kind man in my experience, and I always enjoyed his wry sense of humor. We had many years go by since we reconnected, but I was so glad that we had. I am happy also that I got to meet you and learn about your work in mental health. I hope you will, in your time, stay in touch, and that we can see each other again back East or in California if you get out here.
My thoughts are with you.
Vic Frazao
Vic Frazao
February 14, 2018
So sad.
Patty Denhup
February 14, 2018
We wish to extend our deepest sympathies at this difficult time.
The Staff of Nickerson Funeral Home
February 8, 2018
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