Zenon was born in Forest City, Pennsylvania to Jonas Kuzmickas and Marcella Obelenus. He was the third child in a family of nine. There were five boys, Jerome, John, Zenon, Ben, and Donald and four girls, Rita, Stella, Alice and Dorothy.
Growing up in Forest City, Zenon always talked about his youth spending time outdoors as often as possible. He related stories about going fishing, hunting, picking low bush blueberries to sell and for Mother’s pies, and gathering coal tailings around the coal mines for Mother to fuel the family stove. Zenon’s father worked as a coal miner to support his family. Zenon stayed in touch throughout his life with Forest City friends, Lee Pauswinski and her late husband Frank and Julius Prezelski and his late wife Mary and Millie Hodnik.

Zenon was very proud of his Navy service in World War II when he served in the Pacific as an electrician on a mine sweeper. While in the Phillipines, he found his brother Jerome (Army) who was then stationed on the U.S. air base in Leyte harbor. They were allowed to spend three days together. Zenon said the Army food was better and Jerome said Zenon’s Navy food on the mine sweeper was better.

Zenon met Josephine Mazur, his sister Rita’s friend, in Forest City. They married after he was discharged from the Navy. As young adults, the Kuzmicky family moved from California following brothers Jerome and John.
In 1951 Zenon and Josephine moved into their newly built home on Clinton Hill in Richmond where Zenon lived forever more. As a young couple, they worked so hard to enhance their home and gardens. They had long-dreamed for a child and when Rhonda was born she filled them with joy.
After college and working for several years, Rhonda met and married Brian Hauck. They adopted two baby girls from China. Zenon loved his granddaughters Josephine (Josie now 14) and Allison (Allie now 11) with all his heart. It was unfortunate that Zenon’s Josephine passed away long before Rhonda married Brian and she didn’t get to see her two lovely granddaughters.
Zenon first worked in plumbing for Val Betti Plumbing on MacDonald Avenue in Richmond. After several years, brothers Jerome, John, Zenon and Ben worked together in their mechanical engineering company called Enterprise Plumbing in San Leandro. The three brothers created a very successful business doing commercial projects as colleges, hospitals, laboratories and mail distribution centers. Zenon retired from the business in January 1, 1990.

Some years later while still working, Zenon and Josephine shared their dreams of a second home in North Lake Tahoe. Zenon worked with sub-contractors to help bring the dream home to completion. Many friends helped with their design, finish work and plumbing on the home, especially friends Don Carter, Stew Calder and Jerry Olivero. Soon after the home was completed, Josephine was told she had ovarian cancer, and she passed away. Over the years, Zenon enjoyed going to his Tahoe home and being with friends and neighbors Evelyn, Judy, Brad and Donna. He especially enjoyed fishing in the reservoirs with his brother Ben and Ben’s son Ronnie.

Many years after Josephine’s death, Zenon and neighbor Julie Winters began a friendship that evolved into a 30 year partnership. They filled those years with joy and happiness with each other and with family and friends.

Zenon was proud of his Lithuanian heritage. Zenon’s name in Lithuanian is: Zenonas Antonas Kuzmickas. His parents came from Lithuania to Ellis Island in New York. They courted in Forest City. His nephew Paul Kuzmicky researched the family genealogy for many years to find the Kuzmickas relatives there. Brother Donald and son Paul were the first to meet the relatives in Lithuania. Later sister Alice and husband Jerry and grandson Joel were able to visit Lithuania. Then, Zenon, brother Ben and sister-in-law Marge and Julie traveled there. It was a memorable trip to visit the Kuzmickas relatives. We were treated royally by cousin Diana Obelieniene Kuzmickas. We met Diana’s sister and her husband and Diana’s son and his wife and two children and her daughter, and her husband and their two granddaughters. While in Lithuania, Zenon and Ben got to see their Mother’s and Father’s family farms. Antanas and wife
Genavaite visited their U.S. relatives with their son Drasutis, who was
working in Chicago. Diana has visited in the U.S. twice. The last visit was in October 2014 for Zenon’s 90th Birthday. Then, Diana’s brother Kestutis and his wife Solveiga and daughter Jone came to California to visit the U.S. relatives. It was a great joy for Zenon to get to know his relatives from Lithuania.

Zenon was a poet also. Throughout his life, he wrote beautiful poems to his family and friends. They provided insight into his deep love of people and nature. He wrote his poems specifically for the individual recipient in mind.
Zenon was a member of Local 159 Plumbers and Steamfitters Union Richmond Galileo Club, Richmond Rod & Gun Club, Richmond Moose Lodge 550, Elks Lodge 1251 and American Legion Post 0340.

Gone fish’n. Our hearts are with you Zenon. “You will always remain in the rivers of our minds,” a sentence from a poem written by Zenon.

A celebration of Zenon’s life will be held for family and friends in late July. An announcement will be sent closer to the date.
Zenon is interned at Sunset View Mausoleum with his beloved Josephine, dear friends for many years — Bob and Winnie Hobbs and Cliff and Mildred Woodson.