Date of Birth:
Sunday, June 22, 1924
Date of Death:
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Age:
85 years old

Kenneth P. “Ken” Zubay

A Memorial Mass for Kenneth Peter “Ken” Zubay, veteran, retired IBM employee and state representative, will be held at 10:00AM Thursday, March 18, 2010 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Military rites will be provided at the church by American Legion Post 92.

Mr. Zubay, age 85, died Sunday, March 14, 2010 at Rochester Methodist Hospital. He was born June 22, 1924 at Endicott, NY. Ken served in the Navy during WWII in the ship repair facility at Norfolk Virginia. He married Mary Elizabeth Callahan on April 22, 1943. She survives and is a retired homemaker and IBM employee.

Mr. Zubay’s IBM service extended over 40 years; first in Endicott, Poughkeepsie and then in Kingston, New York. In 1956, Ken and his family moved to Rochester (as the purchasing manager) to begin forming the IBM Rochester manufacturing and laboratory facility. His early IBM career began as a tool maker, purchasing agent, and then expanded to include the roles of purchasing manager, personnel manager and manufacturing manager. While in Rochester as the IBM manufacturing manager, he controlled the largest manufacturing facility under one roof, west of the Mississippi.

From 1975 to 1982, Ken served as a state representative in the Minnesota State Legislature where, as one of his distinctions, he chaired the House Higher Education Committee with the goal of providing more cost effective education.

Ken was very proud of his many years of involvement with the Ability Building Center which provides employment throughout Rochester for persons with disabilities and other special needs. He lead the fundraising (paver sales) effort that provided the working capital which built the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial. He was also passionate about the Salvation Army and belonged to the Rotary and American Legion.

In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons; Kenneth J.P. (Sarah) Zubay of Boca Raton, FL and Jerry P. (LeeAnn) Zubay of Rochester; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Susan; a daughter, Suzanne Marie, and a brother, Gerald.

Because Ken donated his body to the Mayo Clinic for medical study, burial will take place at a later date in Endicott, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Rochester Ability Building Center.

Friends may call from 5:00PM to 7:00PM Wednesday (3/17/2010) at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and one hour before the 10:00AM service at the church on Thursday (3/18/2010).