Obituary: Jack Zwecker

Jack Zwecker died peacefully Jan. 28, 2020. He was born in the Bronx, N.Y., in 1921. He is the son of Samuel, an iron worker, and Ethel, immigrants from the Ukraine and Austria.

Jack was the youngest of three children. They lived in a two-bedroom, one bath, five- story walkup tenement building.

He loved collecting stamps and coins. Bright beyond his years, he entered college at 16. He attended the City College of New York and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1942.

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After graduation, he worked for General Motors in New Jersey on torpedo bombers for the war. Then he returned to New York and worked as a technical writer for Jordanoff Aviation, writing maintenance manuals for the armed services. At that time, he was drafted into the Army and was assigned to Camp Lee, Virginia. After basic training, he was assigned to Air Corps engineering work at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, until the war ended. After the war, Jack answered an ad in the paper to design overpasses for the Georgia State Highway Department for the south leg of I-75 and I-85 in Atlanta. The lure for going was a paycheck from $75 to $100 a week.

He met the love of his life, Sophie Goldenberg, in 1950 at a Progressive Club dance. They were married seven months after the day they met.

In 1953, Jack started his own structural engineering company and worked for over 50 years. Jack loved animals. He was an environmentalist before it was popular. He may have forgotten some names, but never forget an address or phone number. He was an avid news watcher and was always up on current events and sports.

His greatest love was his family and he was very proud of his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his children Mark and Lori Zwecker and Elisa and Bobby Ezor; grandchildren Haley, Lindsey and Mitchell Zwecker, and Danielle and Zachary (Lara) Ezor.

He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 70 years, Sophie Zwecker, his parents, and brother and sister. He was to turn 99 on Feb. 10. He lived his life to the fullest and we are so grateful to have had him in our lives for so long.

A memorial service was held Jan. 30 at Ahavath Achim Synagogue followed by a graveside service at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ahava preschool at Ahavath Achim, Weinstein Hospice or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta, 770-451-4999.