Former MTD Editor Ernie Zielasko dies

Dec. 15, 2003

Ernie Zielasko, long-time editor of Modern Tire Dealer magazine during the 1960s, died Dec. 13 after a short illness.

He was 84.

Zielasko started in the tire industry as a public relations writer for BFGoodrich in 1947.

Following his tenure at MTD, where he also served for a period as the magazine's publisher, Zielasko co-founded Rubber and Plastics News in 1971 and launched Tire Business in the early 1980s.

He also was part of the United States Army's 35th Infantry Division during World War II, serving in the European Theater, and was discharged from the Army as captain in 1945.

Zielasko earned numerous professional honors, including the John S. Knight Award, and was elected to the Tire Industry Hall of Fame in 1993.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Rosetta; youngest son, Jeff; and sister, Ida. Survivors include his wife, Mary; sons and daughters-in-law, David and Gwen Zielasko, and Philip and Lisa Zielasko; a brother and sister-in-law; and three grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Congregational Church of Hudson Memorial Fund; 47 Aurora St.; Hudson, OH 44236, or to the Jeffrey W. Zielasko Memorial Scholarship; Rochester Institute of Technology Office of Development; 116 Lomb Memorial Drive; Rochester, N.Y. 14623.