Steven Zelenski

Steven G. Zelenski, age 64, died peacefully at home on April 2, 2009. He was born September 22, 1944, in Philadelphia to Erika Baumann Zelenski and Joseph Zelenski. He is survived by his wife, Tamara England-Zelenski, his son Alex Zelenski and his daughter Nicki Zelenski, all of Madison, his stepson, Joel Meyer-England, of Los Angeles, and his mother, Erika Zelenski, of Philadelphia. He is also survived by many England and Dobra in-laws and relativesâ?¬?and Baxter, the black & white wonderdog. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jane Dobra Zelenski, his father, and his grandparents. Steve recently retired from the Central Wisconsin Center, where as a Developmental Neuropsychiatrist he worked unceasingly to help deliver the best care possible to the Centers residents. Steve was also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the UW Hospitals Department of Psychiatry. Prior to moving to Madison in the early 1990s, Steve did research and clinical work at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, served as chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Oberlin Clinic, and was in private practice. Steve loved intellectual challenge. He received a B.S. from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy & Science, a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Rhode Island, and D.O. from the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, Des Moines. Steve was a founding member of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry, an organization created to enhance the clinical outcomes of persons with intellectual disabilities. He also served on a Dane County Board of Supervisors advisory subcommittee on community supports for adults with developmental disabilities. Steve loved computers (as long at they were Apples!) and projects of all kinds. His pockets were always filled with rubber bands, paper clips, screws, and grommetsâ?¬?for which he always found a use. He traveled as much as he could in the last few years, and visited the Amalfi coast of Italy, Paris, Prague, and Vienna, where he explored the city where his mother grew up and found his maternal great-grandfathers home. An open house will be held from 1â?¬??4 on Saturday, April 11, 2009, at the University Club on the UW-Madison campus (803 State St.) with a celebration of Steves life starting at 2:00. Memorials may be made to the Steve & Jane Zelenski Memorial Fund for Humanity in Medicine, c/o Michael Best & Friedrich, 1 S. Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53701, or to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), 2141 Rosecrans Ave., El Segundo, CA 90245. Steves family would like to thank the doctors and staff at the UW Hospital for their care and many kindnesses over the past four years, Marilyn Schwarz for her loving and sensitive help and support over the past weeks, and the many friends who have kept Steve in their thoughts and prayers.