Jason H. Zaremba crossed into the light on Saturday Oct. 16, 2021, once again becoming the best version of him. He was 56 years old.
Jay was born at Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee on Sept. 10, 1965 to Marcia Zaremba. After moving to Burlington as a child, he attended Cooper School, BJHS, and graduated from BHS in 1983. His love of tennis was nurtured while playing for the Boys Varsity Tennis Team under the direction of Coach Jeff Pfluger, as well as Tennis Professionals Mike Chody, and Bill Usher.
Following high school, Jay attended Madison Area Technical College and played on the Men’s Varsity Tennis Team. There, he and his partner won the NJCAA Conference, Sectional, and National Number 1 Doubles Championships.
Jay was certified within the highest level of the USPTR and received his training from the Van Der Meer Tennis Academy, Hilton Head Island, S.C. While there, he also served his internship working extensively with world-class juniors.
Within his tennis career, Jay was the Head Tennis Pro at Big Foot Country Club in Fontana, teaching junior and adult programs with his sister Jill, a USPTR Instructor. Jay was also an interim Tennis Pro for Lake Geneva Country Club, and taught tennis for The Brook Club in Brookfield, Racine Country Club in Racine, and coached the boys tennis teams for both Big Foot High School in Fontana and Brookfield Academy in Brookfield.
Jay was an unrelenting Wisconsin sports fan, devoted to the Packers, Brewers, Bucks, Admirals, and Badgers. He loved tailgating with his best friend Marc throughout the years, and made an event of weekly, televised games. Also a lifelong classic rock and heavy metal music fan, he enjoyed going to concerts at Alpine Valley, Summerfest, and venues throughout Madison. One of his favorite songs was ‘Silent Lucidity’ by Queensryche. We believe Jay would want everybody to listen to it, wave a Bic in the air, and think of him. This was the epitome of his personality, uniquely nostalgic.
Unfortunately, Jay was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1996.Yet he always tried to overcome his limitations the best he could. Over the last decade, he was unable to continue teaching tennis, playing recreationally when he could, and worked part time for companies such as Anytime Fitness, Kohls, and Aurora.
Anyone who knew Jay, also knew he was a loyal friend and a devoted family member, who made connections with people easily. He had an amazing sense of humor, cheered on the underdog, and gave everyone the benefit of the doubt.
Charismatic, special, and unforgettable, Jay will be dearly missed by his beloved mother Marcia Zaremba, sister Jill Zaremba Militzer, niece Chloe Militzer, brother in-law Cory Militzer, wife Wendi Zaremba, and many, many friends, and extended family members. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Henry Mueller, grandmother Dolores Mueller, great Aunt Henrietta Bolda, and great Uncle Hank Bolda.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the MS Society of Wisconsin.
A devout Catholic, a private funeral mass will be held in Jay’s honor at noon on Saturday, Nov. 13 at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Burlington. A virtual mass will be made available to friends in the days to follow.
The Militzer family is organizing the mass, inquiries can be sent to Jill Militzer, [email protected], as well as to request the virtual funeral mass link.
-
-
-
-
-