Silvestris Zarins

Zarins, Silvestris 8/28/1935 - 3/25/2022 Grand Blanc Dr. Silvestris Zarins, D.O., of Grand Blanc, Michigan, Pt. St. Lucie, FL, and Williamsburg, VA died on Friday, March 25, 2022. Dr. Zarins, a lifelong pediatrician, was born in Riga, Latvia on August 28, 1935. His family soon moved to the family dairy farm in rural Limbazi. There, Sil spent much of his early childhood in the fields and helped to raise livestock. When World War II started in 1939, the Zarins family found themselves under immense pressure from the Nazis on one side and the Russians on the other. Much of Latvia was destroyed. In Sil's own words, "Simple; the War changed everything. From the time the war hit Latvia, until we left our homeland, our lives became survival. Just survive. Make sure there is food for the day. Don't get killed." On October 15, 1944, the family began a seven year journey through a wide variety of European displaced persons camps as they sought to reach the United States. Dr. Zarins was on the run from age 9 to 15. As the family loaded up horse drawn wagons to evacuate, they heard Russian artillery fire upon Nazi tanks in the distance. Those that did not evacuate Limbazi were slaughtered by fleeing Nazis and advancing Russians. In their first year on the road, young Zarins and his family were shipped to camps in Gdansk, Pozman, Frankfurt en der Oder, Neubrandenburg, Hamburg, Schleswig, and Treia. As their train rested at a siding between Schleswig and Treia, the families on-board went for walks. A cadre of fighter planes swooped in, strafed the trains, and destroyed the tracks and cars. There were no fatalities. The family landed in Wedel. In Wedel, they learned there were spies in the displaced persons camp. The spies sold children's names to the Russians. If the children were brought to the Russians alive, the Russians would hold them for ransom from their families. In eleven year old Sil Zarins own words, "I was 11 and there was a price on my head. I was just a kid and there was a bounty on me. There were bounties on all us kids." In 1948, they were shipped to Emden. In 1949, to Wentorf. In February, 1951, they landed in Bremenhaufen. Ten camps. Seven years. In May, after undergoing a lengthy series of medical exams and political vetting, the Zarins family sailed for the US on board the Liberty Ship Sturgis. Liberty Ships were large enough to carry four complete 75 car trains. Instead, the ships were jammed from keel to deck with immigrants. It was on that trip that Dr. Zarins ate his first orange. On June 15, the Sturgis tied up in the Port of New York. They were promptly bussed to Grand Central Station. Six hours later, they left on a train for Detroit where the family sponsor lived. Sil Zarins enrolled in Detroit Mackenzie High School where he was an outstanding student. His father quickly found work in his professional field as an engineer. Three years after they made their way to the US, the Zarins family became homeowners on Lawrence St. between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. Dr. Zarins enrolled at the University of Detroit upon graduation. He began his studies in engineering, but quickly switched to chemistry where he earned a B.Sc with honors. By now, he knew his life's work would be in health care, and he gave much thought to dentistry. However, his friend Dr. Barry Szczesny was a student at the Des Moines College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Szczesny was convincing and Sil Zarins joined his friend in Iowa. Zarins accepted an internship at Flint Osteopathic Hospital. What made his internship perfect was not just the medical training. "That's when I met my dream girl, Delma. She was a clinic nurse and an x-ray tech. She's what made all these years so great." After seeing much death and destruction, Dr. Zarins first considered obstetrics, but was not enamored of the hours. Hence, he opted for pediatrics. In his own words, "as a pediatrician, I learned how to become a real doctor. How to take care of people. How to understand people; their fears and loves and lives. How to reach people in ways that mattered. I also learned how to be a professional, how to make a living, how to provide nicely for my family. I have never once regretted my decision to become a pediatrician. Wherever there were kids, we took care of them. It has always been a blessing." In 1994, Dr. and Mrs. Zarins left Flint, MI and moved to Williamsburg, VA to be more central to their adult children's homes. They spent ten years there. Said Dr. Zarins, "I was fortunate to do some very interesting pediatric work for the US Army at Fort Eustis and at Langley. It was a nice opportunity to serve my country, a country that has done so much for me and my family." In 2004, they left Virginia to avoid the snowy weather and settled in Port St. Lucie, FL. The Florida State Health Department found him a job teaching and supervising in a variety of childcare clinics. He always said, "I am proud that I have contributed to the wellness of youth in Florida." In 2017, Dr. Sil Zarins, D.O. finally retired from active practice and supervisory work. In the words of a beloved colleague, "Sil Zarins was the best kind of doctor. He never let his ego dictate his practice. And most importantly, he was kind. He never caused harm to any of his patients." Dr. Zarins was predeceased by his parents, Edgar and Alide (Za-Za) Zarins, sister in laws Maria and Silva Zarins, mother in law Lucy Walls, and his favorite dog, Champ. He is survived by his wife, Delma, his children: Jason Zarins, Robert Zarins, Taryn Zarins, Tracy Zarins, Danielle (William) Rachilla, Nicole (Ari) Tenenbaum. He was the beloved grandfather of Nickolaus, Kayla, Adam, Elliott, Emry, Ben, Carah, Taylor, Kelsey, Ezra, Reagan and Max. In addition, he is remembered by his great-grandchildren Theodore and Avery, and a host of nieces and nephews. Dr. Zarins is also survived by his brothers Edgar Zarins and George Zarins.