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Judge Howard F. Zoarski of Branford, husband of Elizabeth Zoarski, left this life peacefully on July 10. Howard was born on March 10, 1926, to Catherine McDonough and Frank Zoarski. After his mother’s untimely death, Howard, only a year old, and his brother Bobby, age 3, were raised by their maternal grandmother, Hannah McDonough, in the Hill section of New Haven. Howard graduated from New Haven Hillhouse High School in 1943 before entering the U.S. Merchant Marine at age 17 as a seaman, surviving submarine attacks from German submarines while crossing the Atlantic, and once piloting a merchant ship through the Panama Canal. Howard subsequently enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was stationed in Bavaria, Germany where he was tasked primarily with the repatriation of Eastern Europeans to their home countries after the war. While in Germany, he attended the Nuremberg trials.

With an honorable discharge and the GI Bill for education, Howard enrolled and subsequently graduated from the University of Maryland in 1950. He then attended the George Washington School of Law, where his academic achievements earned him a full scholarship. After graduating from the George Washington University School of Law in 1954 and passing the Bar examination in D.C. and Connecticut, Howard returned to New Haven in 1955 to be closer to family and friends. He joined the law firm of T. Holmes Bracken on the second floor of the Union Trust Building overlooking the New Haven Green, and then took over that practice in 1963. Howard enjoyed 25 years as an extremely successful trial, real estate, probate, and insurance defense attorney before being appointed as a Superior Court judge for the State of Connecticut in 1980, a position which he held until his retirement in 2017 at the age of 91.

Howard and Elizabeth enjoyed 46 years of marriage and were widely known to the local community as a result of Howard’s work as a respected attorney and judge, their attendance at St. Therese Church, and their longstanding membership at the Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club. Howard and Elizabeth were extremely active in golf, tennis, and ballroom dance, both here in Connecticut and while wintering at their home in Naples, Florida. Howard was the New York Giant’s most loyal fan for his entire life, even through the worst of seasons.

Forever a perfect gentleman, Howard will be fondly remembered by friends and family for his polite and pleasant demeanor, his keen sense of humor, and his boundless determination and energy. Howard is survived by his son Gregg Zoarski, grandson Noah Zoarski, wife Elizabeth Howard Zoarski, brother Gerald Zoarski, Elizabeth’s daughter Lisa Mirto, and Elizabeth’s grandchildren, Dierdre and Erica. Howard was predeceased by his brother Robert Zaorski and by his first wife, Barbara Behuniak Zoarski, mother of Gregg.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 20, in St. John Bosco Parish at St. Therese Church, 105 Leetes Island Road, Branford. Burial will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, we are encouraging people to instead use those resources to take time to create a lasting memory with their family and loved ones, or to make a donation in Judge Howard Zoarski’s name to St. John Bosco Parish, 731 Main Street, Branford, CT 06405. For directions or to leave an online condolence, see www.wsclancy.com.