John Stephen Zelazny

John Stephen Zelazny, 91, of North Beach, MD formally of Keeseville, NY, passed away on September 9, 2023 at the Annapolitan Assisted Living after fighting a long battle with Cancer.

John was born in Schenectady, NY to Michael and Gladys Zelazny. He married Nancy McCauley in 1956 in Plattsburgh, NY. He attended Saint Adalbert Catholic Academy and Mount Pleasant High School in Schenectady, NY. He enlisted into the U.S. Army in 1950. He left the Army in 1953 after serving in the Korean War, spending most of that time in Germany. In 1954 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He served in the Vietnam war with over 100 combat missions earning him the United States Air Metal among many other metals and awards. He retired from the Air Force in 1971 as Staff Sergeant.  He then went on to work for LP Trucking hauling propane until his retirement in 1990. In his later years he relocated to North Beach, MD where he was very involved in the community and loved his neighbors. He spent weekdays at the North Beach Senior Center and weekends downtown at the local farmer’s market. He was fondly known as the Mayor of North Beach by all his neighbors. John enjoyed the past few months at the Annapolitan, where he was very involved within the senior community and made many friends. He enjoyed many exciting senior outings, visiting the chickens, happy hour and was the bingo champion. John loved all things outdoors, hunting, fishing, and gardening. He always had the biggest garden and loved competing with his neighbors to see who had the best garden.

John is preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, his brothers, Steven, Edward, Richard, his sister Sally, his parents, daughter-in-laws, Bonnie Zelazny and Kathy Zelazny and grandson, Jayden.

John is survived by his children, Holly Vedder, Jeff Zelazny, Chris Zelazny and Timothy Zelazny. His grandchildren, Crysalyn and Dan Wilson, Jordan LeClair, Terran LeClair, Kyle Zelazny, Rachel Zelazny, Jacob Zelazny, Bryan and Nicole Zelanzy, Belinda Edwards, Steven Zelazny, Michael Zelazny and Kathryn Zelazny. Great-Grandchildren Madelyn, Ava, Nash, Jett, Wren, Audrina, Zoey, Riley, Avery, Atlas, Peyton, and Sutton.  

John is also survived by his cousin through marriage Evelyn Breitkreuz, his special friend Emelinda Belliotti and all his beloved neighbors.

At John’s request there will be no services. A future private military burial at Arlington National Cemetery will commence. John has requested that all donations be made in his memory to the Clinton County Honor Flight. This organization was very dear to his heart. He was honored to participate in an Honor Flight himself with his late best friend Clarence Raynor. A memory he has always cherished.

A special thanks to all of John’s doctors and nurses at Calvert Memorial, Calvert Light Infusion, The Annapolitan and Hospice of the Chesapeake.