Zdenek Marek, later known fondly as “Zee,’ passed away in Phoenicia, New York, on March 29, 2019, at the age of 93. He is best remembered for helping the Czechoslovak team win gold at the 1949 World Championship before defecting to the United States.
Marek was born and raised in Prostejov and started playing hockey only because his older brother had flat feet and didn’t want to play. Zdenek inherited his brother’s skates and stick and went on to develop into a fine player with his city team. But because he showed promise, he was also allowed to practice with the famed LTC Praha team, and in time he became a member of the national team’s B squad.
Politics and tragedy took Marek a step further. In 1948, Czechoslovakia became a Communist country and confiscated personal property, but the main Czechoslovak team also was lost in a plane crash on November 8, 1948, precipitating the need for players for the 1949 World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden.
Marek joined the team and scored one goals in two games. The team won four out of five games in the medal round, losing only to the Americans, 2-0, and on that strength they won gold. At a gala banquet that night, Marek created an opportunity to “disappear.” Despite having two guards to watch the players, he convinced them to let him leave the dinner to say goodbye to a woman he met. Passport in pocket, he left the party and never returned.
All the other players boarded a train that night to return to Czechoslovakia, and when names were called to ensure everyone was on board, another player said “here” for Marek, so his absence wasn’t known until the team arrived home.
Alone in Stockholm and not speaking a word of Swedish, Marek got more good luck when members of the U.S. team helped him defect. Marek arrived in the U.S. and earned a full scholarship to the University of North Dakota. He received permanent residence status in 1950, and after graduating settled in New York City where he became a prominent fashion designer fofwomen’s dresses under the label Marek, Inc.
His designs populated some of the fanciest clothing stores on Fifth Avenue, but he was also an accomplished tennis player and violinist. Later in life he moved to Phoenicia, and that is where he spent his final years.
Marek was born and raised in Prostejov and started playing hockey only because his older brother had flat feet and didn’t want to play. Zdenek inherited his brother’s skates and stick and went on to develop into a fine player with his city team. But because he showed promise, he was also allowed to practice with the famed LTC Praha team, and in time he became a member of the national team’s B squad.
Politics and tragedy took Marek a step further. In 1948, Czechoslovakia became a Communist country and confiscated personal property, but the main Czechoslovak team also was lost in a plane crash on November 8, 1948, precipitating the need for players for the 1949 World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden.
Marek joined the team and scored one goals in two games. The team won four out of five games in the medal round, losing only to the Americans, 2-0, and on that strength they won gold. At a gala banquet that night, Marek created an opportunity to “disappear.” Despite having two guards to watch the players, he convinced them to let him leave the dinner to say goodbye to a woman he met. Passport in pocket, he left the party and never returned.
All the other players boarded a train that night to return to Czechoslovakia, and when names were called to ensure everyone was on board, another player said “here” for Marek, so his absence wasn’t known until the team arrived home.
Alone in Stockholm and not speaking a word of Swedish, Marek got more good luck when members of the U.S. team helped him defect. Marek arrived in the U.S. and earned a full scholarship to the University of North Dakota. He received permanent residence status in 1950, and after graduating settled in New York City where he became a prominent fashion designer fofwomen’s dresses under the label Marek, Inc.
His designs populated some of the fanciest clothing stores on Fifth Avenue, but he was also an accomplished tennis player and violinist. Later in life he moved to Phoenicia, and that is where he spent his final years.