A retired Senior Principal Tax Assessor for 37 years at the City of Buffalo's Assessors Office, in Buffalo's City Hall, passed away peacefully in Buffalo Mercy Hospital, after a short illness. During his service to his country in the U.S. Army, Robert was a member of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, the Army's top ceremonial unit, in Washington, DC. Their unit, the oldest active Army regiment performed at military funerals, parades, wreath-laying ceremonies, but is most known for the units Sentry Duty, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  He was a member of the Father Justin Council #5670 of the Knights of Columbus, in Cheektowaga, New York, a Trustee at the now-closed Precious Blood R.C. Church, in Buffalo, NY and an Alumnus of St. John Kanty Preparatory School, in Erie, PA.

Robert cherished his retirement years, being able to be "Grandpa" to his 13 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren and being able to golf with his family and friends.

Robert was the beloved husband of the late Lorraine S. (nee Lewandowski) Zielinski who predeceased him on November 17, 2004.

A devoted father of Kim (Rich) Jowsey, Cindy (Paul) Gegenfurtner, Tim (Karen) Zielinski, Robert (Linda) Zielinski, Kevin (Denise) Zielinski, Jeffrey (Monica) Zielinski, Jamie (Henry) Dembski and Paul (Joanna) Zielinski.

The loving grandfather of Nicole Jowsey, Douglas (Rosette) Jowsey, Eric Gegenfurtner , Rachel Zielinski, Timothy Zielinski, Corinne (Justin) Puszert, Ashley Zielinski, Daniel Zielinski, Brandon Zielinski, Jessica Zielinski, Alyssa Zielinski, Joshua Zielinski and Jacob Zielinski and great-grandfather of Grace Jowsey and Stella Jowsey.

He was the brother of late Patricia (late Richard) Lewandowski and brother-in-law of Diane (Larry) Wolcott, Denise (Dennis) Hodur and the late Theresa Mondel, late Rosemarie (late Tom) Byrd, late Edward Peplowski and late Robert Peplowski, and also survived by several nieces and nephews.

The Family will be present on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the PIETSZAK FUNERAL HOME, 2400 William St. (near Harlem) where services will be held on Monday at 8:15 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, located at 2851 Clinton Street at Willowlawn Parkway at 9 AM.

Entombment with Military Honors will follow at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Marian Mausoleum, in Cheektowaga, New York.