A Widow's Plea: 'Please Remember Our Names,' Plum Woman Confronts Drunk Driver Who Shattered Her World

In a moment charged with raw grief and profound loss, Jodi Zastawny stood before the man who irrevocably altered her life and the lives of her children. Her voice, though trembling, resonated with an unwavering strength as she addressed Thomas R. Zucco, the drunk driver responsible for the death of her beloved husband, David 'Dave' Zastawny.

The Plum Township woman's plea was simple, yet devastatingly powerful: "Please remember our names."

The courtroom in Greensburg became a stark arena where sorrow confronted consequence. Zucco, 54, of Derry, received a state prison sentence ranging from three to six years, a consequence of his inexcusable actions on the night of December 28, 2021.

That night, an intoxicated Zucco, with a blood alcohol content more than twice the legal limit, inexplicably drove the wrong way on Route 22 in Salem, triggering a head-on collision that claimed Dave Zastawny's life at just 56 years old.

Jodi's victim impact statement was not merely an account of pain but a testament to a life violently torn asunder.

She recounted the agonizing moments of identifying her husband's body, the haunting image of his mangled vehicle, and the unbearable task of explaining to their children, Alyssa and David Jr., that their father would never come home. "You didn't just kill my husband," she articulated with heartbreaking clarity, "you killed a piece of my soul and a piece of my kids' souls."

David Zastawny was more than a statistic; he was a devoted husband, a cherished father, and a vibrant soul who lived life to the fullest.

He was a man who worked tirelessly, loved passionately, and embraced every moment. His absence leaves an unfillable void, a constant reminder of the senseless act that stole him away. Jodi described how her once-bright world had been plunged into a perpetual twilight, marked by sleepless nights and the gut-wrenching realization of all the milestones Dave would miss: graduations, weddings, grandchildren.

Facing Zucco directly, Jodi implored him to internalize the depth of his actions.

"I ask you to please remember our names," she urged, emphasizing that he didn't just hit 'someone,' but rather a husband, a father, a son, a brother. She challenged him to reflect on the devastation he caused, hoping that the weight of their grief might serve as a lifelong deterrent against repeating such a reckless choice.

Zucco, given the opportunity to speak, offered an apology, expressing remorse for the pain he inflicted and acknowledging that he deserved his sentence.

However, for Jodi and her family, no apology or sentence can ever truly mend the chasm left by Dave's absence. Judge Christopher Feliciani, in delivering the sentence, underscored the profound and permanent impact of Zucco's decision to get behind the wheel while impaired, highlighting the ripple effect of such tragedies on families and communities.

This heartbreaking case serves as a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of drunk driving.

It is a story not just of legal proceedings, but of enduring love, unfathomable loss, and a widow's courageous stand to ensure that the memory of her husband, and the pain of her family, are never forgotten.