Dr. Joseph John Zukoski, Jr.

Dr. Joseph John Zukoski, Jr. passed away peacefully on January 21, 2022 as he held hands with his two daughters.  He was born March 13, 1942 in Scranton, PA.  A graduate of Scranton Preparatory School, the University of Scranton, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Florida, Dr. Zukoski entered the Navy Dental Corps in 1968, rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant and serving on the U.S.S. Forrestal before his honorable discharge. It was during his naval duty assignment in Norfolk, VA that he took the place of his roommate on a blind date and met his future wife, Nancy Fields, of Panama City, FL.

After his military service and the birth of his first daughter, Joe joined his father, Dr. Joseph Zukoski, Sr. in private dental practice in Scranton, before moving to Ocala, Florida in 1973.

Together, Joe and Nancy built a family and thriving general dental practice in Ocala, where they lived happily until Nancy's death in 2016. Joe spent his final years in New Orleans, Louisiana, enjoying retirement and time with his family.

As a dedicated dentist, he served as President of the Central Florida Chapter of the Florida Dental Association, was one of the first dentists in Florida to achieve certification from the American Board of General Dentistry, and played an integral role in establishing the Dental Assisting Program at the College of Central Florida.

A great believer in public service, Joe was an active leader in many civic organizations throughout his lifetime, serving in organizations such as Leadership Ocala, Fine Arts for Ocala, Big Sun Arts Fest, Historic Ocala Preservation Society and Rotary Club of Ocala. One of his proudest civic achievements was the founding of the Big Sun Arts Fest Children's Concert, attended each year by Marion County Public School fourth-graders who enjoyed a live symphonic and ballet performance of "Peter and the Wolf."

While committed to his profession and his community, he always made time to be an attentive and involved father. Raising his girls on Florida Gator football and basketball, teaching them to ride bikes, drive stick-shift cars, and make proper Irish coffee and whiskey sours, he was always ready with support, advice and humor when they needed it.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife Nancy, his parents Joseph and Lillian Zukoski, and his brother Dr. Thomas Zukoski. He is survived by daughters Lee Zukoski Walker and husband Nate of New Orleans, and Jennifer Zukoski Collier of Panama City, FL. He is also survived by grandsons Atticus Walker, Fenton Walker, and Andrew Collier, sister-in-law Suzanne Rafter Zukoski, and nephews and nieces Bridget Zukoski Walsh, Sarah Zukoski Abrahamsen, Megan Zukoski Azar, Suzanne Zukoski, Tom Zukoski, John Zukoski, David Baird, Phaedra Baird Dugan, and Paul Burgin and their families.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am on Saturday, February 12, at St. Paul's Church, 1510 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA with interment to follow at St. Catherine's Cemetery, 1252 Drinker Turnpike, Covington Township, Pennsylvania. A memorial celebration will also be held in Ocala, FL at 2pm on March 19 ^th at the Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway Street.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Historic Ocala Preservation Society, 712 S.E. Fort King St. Ocala, FL 34471, or to the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, c/o the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala, FL 34470.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., 418 S. State Street, Clarks Summit.