Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton City of Warren Mayor Dave Wortman dedicates the amphitheater at Soldiers and Sailors Park in memory of Jim Zavinski, who was a driving force for both the amphitheater and the Music in the Park program. Wortman is joined on stage by Zavinski’s wife, Frankie, as well as their sons and grandchildren. The dedication took place Friday night before the first concert of the 2022 Music in the Park season.

A life of community service will be forever recognized when people descend on Soldiers and Sailors Park on Friday nights for Music in the Park.

Before the music kicked off Friday night, the amphitheater at the park was dedicated in memory of James Zavinski, affectionately known as “JAZ.”

The amphitheater is now the “JAZz Amphitheater.”

Mayor Dave Wortman said Zavinski “exemplified his personal motto of ‘Service Before Self’ in the many ways that he humbly went about the business of tirelessly working for the betterment of this community.”

Zavinski passed away in February at the age of 82 after an extended illness.

While his most public service was probably 20 years as a member of the Warren City Council, that was just the tip of the iceberg.

He was the driving force behind the “Warren Wishes You” sign along the Allegheny River at Christmas, maintaining flower boxes downtown, restoring the fountain at Crescent Park and improvements at Soldiers and Sailors Park, according to information from the city.

Zavinski grew up in Tidioute and worked for 32 years at the former Torpedo Wire and Strip before retiring from Whirley Industries in 2005.

He married his wife, Frankie, in 1963 and they spent the next 58 years of their lives together until his passing.

They raised three sons — James, Jr., Jeff and Mark — and they, along with their kids, joined Frankie on stage for the dedication.

“Jim was a driving force behind the inception of the Music in the Park Program and subsequent construction of this amphitheater where the community and visitors gather to enjoy live musical performances every Friday evening during the summer months,” Wortman said. “He faithfully continued to solicit funds in support of the program and, along with his wife, Frankie, scheduled many years of performances.

“If it was Friday evening, you were sure to find Jim on-site to welcome performers and assist with their setup.”

A proclamation said that the name change was “deemed appropriate… in honor of Mr. Zavinski’s community spirit.

In presenting the proclamation, Wortman called Friday night a “time to celebrate James A. Zavinski, Sr. and call upon all present to join me in raising a round of applause in thanks for all that JAZ contributed to this community.”