Amber L. Zapatka

Amber L. Zapatka

…living the life

Amber was born at the stroke of midnight on her due date…little did we know, she was going to be last minute all her life.  At the ripe old age of five, her kindergarten teacher described her as “an assertive young lady” and said no one was ever going to push Amber around…boy oh boy was she right.

Amber mostly played soccer and skied in grammar school and then fell in love with rowing at Lowell High School.  She then went to NAPS (Naval Academy Prep School) and eventually landed at UMass Lowell, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Plastics Engineering, a perfect fit for the little girl who had a natural aptitude for puzzles at daycare.

She began working at Nypro as an intern during her freshman year of college and was still employed there, as a Project Engineer Level II.  She was also certified as a Master Molder Level III Instructor aka Train the Trainer (only 1 of 2 females worldwide to hold this certification).  She enjoyed helping out at the annual kids Christmas party and spent oh so many hours making hundreds of Christmas ornaments for all the staff.

A typical week for her included going to the gym, running a 5K followed by trivia night, volleyball and golf or skiing, depending on the season.  On the weekends, if she wasn’t jetting off to Washington DC, New Orleans or the west coast to see friends, she might be hiking, skydiving, rock climbing, or listening to country music.

She is already sorely missed by her parents Edwin and Lise, sister Marissa, Memere Odile Rivard, honorary sister Catherine Townsend, aunts, uncles, cousins, a multitude of friends she made along the way and her dog, Jazi.

ZAPATKA – Amber L. Zapatka.  Services will be private however a Celebration of Life and ice cream buffet (as we all know, she LOVED ice cream) will be held at Kimball’s Farm in Westford, MA on Thursday, July 30 beginning at 5 p.m.  All are welcome.  Please wear bright colors (or something that reminds you of Amber) and bring photos, videos, memories, etc.  All are welcome to play mini golf, ride the bumper boats, use the pitch and putt and/or driving range and batting cages, etc.  (No motorcycles please).We would like to thank everyone for the amazing amount of support we have received.  Donations may be made to the UMass Lowell Plastics Engineering Department, LHS Rowing Scholarship via Facebook or Pit Bulls and Parolees at www.vrcpitbull.com. 

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