Stephen J. Zardis, formerly of Marblehead and Malden, died Thursday, May 31st at Brockton V.A. Hospital where he had resided for the past 7 years. Stephen was a 1965 graduate of Cathedral High School in Boston and attended Boston College for two years before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He served in Vietnam where he was directly exposed to Agent Orange. He was honorably discharged and returned home in seemingly good health until he was diagnosed with “atypical multiple sclerosis” several years later.
Stephen became aware from other Vietnam Veterans of strange and rare problems affecting their health. After some research he became convinced that his health problems and those of his fellow Vietnam comrades were caused by exposure to Agent Orange. Despite his confinement to a wheelchair, he worked selflessly to spread the word and promote the cause of the origin of the veterans’ health problems and served as the lead Plaintiff in the Agent Orange Class Action lawsuit filed in Massachusetts Federal District Court in 1979.
Mr. Zardis’ health problems were eventually determined to be combat-related and he was awarded 100% disability. He built an accessible home in Marblehead where he resided for many years until declining health forced him to sell the home in 1999. While living in Marblehead, Stephen became an accomplished abstract impressionist artist and had numerous showings of his works to benefit charities.
Stephen was determined not to let the chemicals that ravaged his body defeat his spirit. He often stated that Agent Orange had changed his life, but had not taken his life. He had a brilliant mind and was always thirsty to learn more. His courage, dignity and refusal to allow his health problems to embitter him served as an inspiration to all who met him. Stephen invested wisely and in 2003 donated one million dollars to his alma mater, Cathedral High School, the largest donation by an individual donor in the school’s history.
He was the beloved son of the late Emmanuel and Irene (MacFarlane) Zardis and is survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. His family and friends would like to acknowledge the doctors and staff who saved Stephen’s life times too numerous to count and made his life so very much worth living. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Joseph’s Church, 770 Salem St., Malden on Wed. June 6th at 11:30AM. Visiting hours omitted, and interment is private.