Joseph Zuro

Colonel Joseph E. Zuro, USAF (Ret.) Joseph Edward Zuro, 85, once praised as an "icon in military education," and a veteran of World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars, died Monday in Gulf Breeze Hospital. Colonel Zuro served as an enlisted man in the Navy in WWII, then 25 years as an officer in the Air Force before retiring as a full colonel in 1975. During his Air Force career, he earned a Ph.D in Human Factors Engineering from Purdue University. Upon retiring, he joined Troy State University as Associate Professor, Academic Dean and Coordinator of the Florida Region Headquarters until he was promoted to Director in 1985. Under his direction, the TSU Florida Region grew from a little over 100 students to more than 5000. He retired as Director of the Florida Region in 1994, but continued as a graduate level professor until 2000. In addition to his Ph.D, Dr. Zuro earned a B.A. in Psychology from Duquesne University, and a M.A. in Psychology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He published numerous journals, manuals, articles and studies and attended seminars at Oxford and Harvard universities. He is a past member of the American Psychological Association, the Human Factors Society, the National University of Continuing Education Association and served as president of the Florida Advisory Council on Military Education from 1986 to 1990. Born in McKeesport, PA, he was the son of Mary Gaspar Dzurov and John Dzurov, immigrants from Czechoslovakia. Dr. Zuro was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force ROTC in 1948 and recalled to active duty in 1950 during the outbreak of the Korean War. In 1953 at Turner AFB, Georgia he met and married Mary Batts, of whom he later said, "I knew at first sight she was the one I wanted to marry." They were married for 57 years before her death last August. He served continuously on active duty until his retirement in 1975 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. While stationed at Randolph AFB, Texas, from 1965 to 1970, he served as Chief of Research and Evaluation for Air Force Personnel. From 1971 to 1975, he was Director of Evaluation and Program Research for the Air War College at Maxwell AFB. He taught at the Air War College and the University of Maryland's Overseas Division at High Wycombe, England. Of all of Dr. Zuro's many accomplishments, he was most proud of his roles as husband and father. His wife, Mary, was his best friend and the love of his life. The family they created together was a source of great joy to him. He loved his children passionately and made his pride in them apparent. He was respected, admired, and dearly loved by each of them. He will be greatly missed. Dr. Zuro is survived by two daughters: Jan Marie McConnell (Brad), Ft. Worth, TX, and Carol Monroe (Rick), Pensacola; two sons, Owen (Elizabeth), Columbus, OH, and Alan Joseph, Panama City, FL; 6 grandchildren: Mark Zuro, Salt Lake City, UT; Michael Zuro, Keizer, OR; Matthew Zuro, Medina, OH; Julianne Johnsen, Imperial, PA; Andrew Zuro, Columbus, OH; and Sarah McConnell, Ft. Worth; 30 great-grandchildren; sister, Mary P. Dzuro, McKeesport; and a brother, George Dzuro (Carol), Glassport, PA. Funeral services will be Monday, 11:30 a.m. at Rose Lawn Funeral Home, 2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway in Gulf Breeze, with burial following at 2 p.m. at Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS Pensacola. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made in Dr. Zuro's honor to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

Visitation

Visitation

Rose Lawn Funeral Home
2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Sunday, July 31, 2011
4:00 PM

Service

Funeral Service

Rose Lawn Funeral Home
2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Monday, August 1, 2011
11:30 AM

Cemetery

Burial

Barrancas National Cemetery
One Cemetery Road
Pensacola, FL