Community mourning passing of man who helped shape Mission Viejo

The Mission Viejo community is mourning the loss of its Hometown Hero – Mark “Ziggy” Wilczynski – who died Tuesday at the age of 95.

Ziggy, whom Council Member Trish Kelley affectionately nicknamed "Mr. Mission Viejo," was involved with this community for more than four decades.
 
“Ziggy was the most caring and genuine individual you could ever meet,” said Mayor Wendy Bucknum. “His passing is a huge loss to our community.”

Ziggy was born in Poland and served in the Polish underground army before he came to America in 1950.  He moved to Mission Viejo in 1971 and was a former employee of the Mission Viejo Company – where he literally helped to build this great community.  He started a wheelchair tennis camp for kids and become involved in all things Mission Viejo.  Ziggy worked on projects with the Mission Viejo Activities Committee, Cultural Heritage Association, the City’s Heritage Committee and the Mission Viejo Recreation Centers.

He kept our history alive by creating displays on the Olympics and local sports stars; the history of community parks and facilities; our City’s armed forces heroes; and presidential visits to our town through a display case at the Mission Viejo Library. Ziggy was a longtime volunteer at the library, beginning when it opened in 1997.

Throughout the years, Ziggy's zeal brought him many accolades in the Polish community and Polish/American Congress. He rubbed elbows and had cocktails with Richard Nixon before he was president and knew Pope John Paul II "very well." 
 
Ziggy literally worked day and night in service of this community. Because of that, he was named the City's 1989 Citizen of the Year and in 2006 was the first recipient of our Community of Character award. In 2014, Ziggy became a Mission Viejo Hometown Hero and a year later, his name was etched on the City’s Wall of Recognition. For his unwavering community service, he was also recognized as the State of California Volunteer of the Year.

A few years ago, an independent publication featured Ziggy as its “Resident of the Month” where he was photographed toasting with his favorite Polish vodka.
 
Indeed, Ziggy had a zest for life, family and his wife Nina.

“Ziggy embodied the spirit of caring and giving and showed a remarkable commitment to making Mission Viejo a better community," said Council Member Trish Kelley. "His contributions are etched into the fabric of the City he loved so dearly."