David Leo Zelechowski

David Leo Zelechowski, 57, died after a long struggle with colorectal cancer on Friday, February 9, 2018 in Gilbert, AZ. He was born on March 18, 1960 in Superior, WI to Eugene and Norma Zelechowski. At the age of three, he moved to Scottsdale, AZ, where he attended Navajo Elementary and Scottsdale High School (class of 1978). In 1985, he married Deborah Schmidt, and together they raised their four children: Jamie, David, Olivia, and Ciarah.

David worked as a chemist at Anacad while earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering at Arizona State University, which he completed in December 1988. He began as a product/manufacturing engineer at Huck International (Tucson, AZ) in 1989; however, David built his career as an executive leader of manufacturing business units for a range of products, including aerospace engine components and professional tools for electricians, among others. David was responsible for manufacturing sites not only throughout the United States, but in Mexico, Germany, Ireland, and England as well. While he was employed at Textron, Inc./InteSys Technologies in Gilbert, AZ, David became a Six Sigma Black Belt and was trained in Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) and Lean. In 2002, he was selected as “Top Gun” Black Belt from Wave 2 and later led other teams of Black Belts. Throughout his career, David, the “firm but fair” leader, built accomplished performance-driven teams and established a positive track record of dramatically improved business results.

Among family and friends, however, David was known for his passion for food and cooking, music and guitar playing, nature and hunting, and kayaking and hiking, as well as for his characteristic stubbornness and sense of humor.

David is survived by his wife, his four children, his three grandchildren (Capri, Abigail, and Ezra—who all knew David as “Papa”), his older brother Donald and wife Patti, his younger brother Michael and wife Joanna, his nieces (Donald’s daughters: Cassie, Misha, Shantell, and Jasmine; and Michael’s daughters: Grace and Carolyn), and his parents, Eugene and Carol Zelechowski. He was predeceased by his mother Norma.

A memorial service in celebration of David’s life will take place at Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery at 12:00PM on February 16, 2018.