Robert Michael Zieminski

Robert (Bob) Michael Zieminski, affectionately known as “Papa Bear,” passed away peacefully on January 7, 2025, in San Clemente, California, with his loving wife, Leslie, and youngest son, Bradley, by his side. He was born on February 26, 1941, to Walter Joseph Zieminski and Stella Adamczyk Zieminski in Adams, Massachusetts.

Bob’s life was marked by generosity, joy, and a deep connection to those he held dear. He graduated from Adams Memorial High School in 1958. As a young man in Adams, he distinguished himself as a multi-sport athlete, excelling in basketball and baseball. The community’s belief in his academic potential led to a remarkable show of support when the townspeople collectively raised funds for his first year of tuition at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst—a gesture of kindness he gratefully remembered throughout his life. At UMass Amherst, Bob joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics, graduating in 1962.

He then entered the Army, where he served his country proudly as a second lieutenant in Bamberg, Germany. After his military service, he settled in Hartford, Connecticut, where he adopted his first son, Michael, in 1971. His path then led him to Pennsylvania, where he achieved one of his proudest athletic accomplishments: winning the club championship at St. David’s Golf Club—an achievement he could recount stroke by stroke until his final days. He eventually made his way to Southern California, where he would spend the rest of his life and father three more children, Ashley, Carly, and Bradley.

Never pretentious nor entitled, Bob was guided by an almost naïve sense of enthusiasm, going after anything and everything he wanted – allowing him to build a long life full of experiences he could never have dreamed of as a child. Seeing his own father pass away before age 50, he lived life to the fullest, knowing he might face the same fate as Walter. Throughout his successful career as an actuary, Bob masterfully balanced work and family life. After long days at the office, he would still find time to prepare elaborate meals for his family while managing his children’s busy academic and sports schedules – always a very devoted and hands-on father. He took great pleasure in holiday gatherings with his growing family, instilling the values of resilience and integrity in his children, driving his cherished Pontiac Trans Am, sharing generously with others, enjoying fine meals with red wine, and recounting animated stories of his golfing victories. In his later years, he participated in weekly family Zoom calls, volunteered at the local Indivisible chapter in South Orange County where he wrote thousands of letters to voters, and repeatedly said “ja cię kocham” (“I love you” in Polish) to his nearest and dearest (and complete strangers too).

He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Leslie Colleen Zieminski, and his legacy lives on in his four children and their families: Michael Lockwood (Davida Vaccaro), Ashley Chellgren (Greg), Carly Zieminski (Magnús Magnússon) and Bradley Zieminski; grandchildren Walter, Roberta, and Gordon Chellgren; and Sebastian and Magnús Róbert Magnússon. He is also survived by his younger sister, Barbara Racine, and her husband, Dick, and his nieces and their families, and by his first two wives, Nancy Annett and Cynthia Vaughn. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Bob was the consummate family patriarch. His pride and joy were his children and grandchildren. His impact on the lives he touched remains a testament to a life well-lived and a heart that gave selflessly. A celebration of life will be held on July 26, 2025 in Suan Juan Capistrano, CA. Instead of flowers, please consider donations to Democratic Women of South Orange County (where Bob was a long-time supporting member alongside Leslie) or Bob’s elementary school, Saint Stanislaus Kostka School .