Epilepsy affects people of all ages, races and ethnic groups
The mission of the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County is to improve the lives of people affected by epilepsy through education, advocacy, research and connection. For 70 years, the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County has provided free programs and services to anyone who needs them. Steve Zapoticzny is a long-term board member and advocate for the epilepsy community.
#1 I grew up in Woodbridge, New Jersey – went to college at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and joined Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, New Jersey after graduating as a Chemical Engineer. I met my wife Sue who was also working at Merck, and we married in 1972. We lived in New Jersey until I transferred to a Merck Division in San Diego 44 years ago.
#2 Both Sue and I love London. We have visited there about 15 times.
#3 We are now looking to see more of the USA. Last year we visited Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore and in 2024 we visited 6 other National Parks – Arches, Canyonlands, Capital Reef, Zion Bryce, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
#4 Favorite movie: I am a James Bond fanatic. In fact, the retirement party my company had for me was a James Bond theme.
#5 Book recommendations: The last several years I really got into books by Ken Follett. Once I start them, it is difficult to put them down.
#6 I was the first generation in my family to go to college. There are so many people in need and sometimes they just need that little extra for them to get to the next step and beyond.
#7 My wife and I got involved with the Epilepsy Foundation after our 18-year-old son Michael died from Sudden Unexplained Death from Epilepsy. He was a Freshman at Rutger University. We were devastated but it gave us an incentive to remember him by establishing the Michael J. Zapoticzny Memorial Scholarship for those with epilepsy about to enter college or continuing their college education. It has been a wonderful experience to help those in financial need who have not let epilepsy stop them from succeeding.
#8 One in ten people will have a seizure in their lifetime and another one in 26 will receive an epilepsy diagnosis.
#9 My wife Sue developed seizures in her 40’s but thankfully her seizure medications have successfully prevented additional seizures.
#10 Every dollar we raise provides free programs and services to the community including individual, couples and family counseling, support groups, career development, advocacy, information and referrals, college scholarship, targeted programming for pre-teens, teens and young adults and specialized programs with medical experts throughout the year.
Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County
31st Annual Gingerbread City Gala
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
5 pm
San Diego Natural History Museum
1788 El Prado in Balboa Park
www.epilepsysandiego.org
