John Zaruka
John and Irene Zaruka (Carjonga) grew up in Babylon and attended
West Babylon
Schools starting at South Bay Elementary and graduating from WB High
School in 1969.
John’s was an idyllic childhood with his wonderful parents Bill and
Alice. He lettered in
four sports at West Babylon while maintaining an advanced course
load. He was a
member of the first golf team and has the honor of hitting the first
shot in that program,
(maybe into the lake?). John began his hospitality career at Cedar
Beach where his
parents had a beach concession and golf course. Along with John,
many other local kids
got their first job at “Cedar” where they learned work ethic and the
basics of business,
guest service and, of course, surfing and golf. He loved the
hospitality industry and was
fortunate enough to be accepted into the Cornell University Hotel
School, graduating in
1973. Immediately after graduation, John went to work for
Winegardner & Hammons
operating hotels throughout the US. His first assignment was in
Boise, Idaho, where he
met his love, Linda.
In 1984, the Zarukas decided to move back west and, in 1986,
purchased their own
business, a failing restaurant at a public golf course. The
business plan was to develop a
banquet only business and to deliver quality F&B to the golfers.
Starting with no guests
and no employees, the Wedgewood Wedding and Banquet Center brand is
now the
largest banquet chain in the country, with over thirty facilities
hosting nearly ten
thousand events a year with $50 million in revenue and employing
over 700 employees
in five states. The Wedgewood is a family enterprise. Son Bill
joined the company full
time in 2002 and as President, has overseen this rapid expansion and
daughter Stacy
resides as the General Manager of the original Wedgewood where she
has worked for 25
years.
The Zaruka family believes in sharing their success. For more than
thirty years, they
have become well known philanthropists in Ventura County,
contributing time, money,
and effort raising millions of dollars for charities such as
FoodShare, Boys & Girls Club,
Ventura County Medical Foundation, the Unforgettables Foundation,
and the Turning
Point Foundation. John is Director Emeritus of the California
Restaurant Association, a 30
year member and Past President of his Rotary Club, and a FoodShare
Director. He is
currently President of the Tower Club of Oxnard.
John and Linda currently reside in Camarillo, California, but John
still considers 17 Ross
Rd as his home base. Alice still lives there as she has for all of
John’s 64 years.