Adam Bazarnik, longtime produce retailer with Nugget Market, was 43
Adam Bazarnik, longtime produce retailer with Nugget Market, was 43
Adam J. Bazarnik, corporate director of produce and floral for Woodland, CA-based Nugget Markets, died unexpectedly Sept. 12 at his home in Sacramento. He was 43.
Mr. Bazarnik spent more than 25 years at Nugget, joining the 12-store chain at the age of 16 as a grocery bagger as a high school student in his hometown of Davis, CA.
“I started as a courtesy clerk, but it was a small, family-owned market, so you did whatever you had to,” Mr. Bazarnik told The Produce News in a 2009 interview. “I stocked shelves, would throw some freight — whatever they wanted me to do.”
Upon graduation from high school, Mr. Bazarnik began helping out in the produce department while studying audio engineering and music production at American River College in the Sacramento area.
But his involvement in Nugget’s produce program continued to grow, and by age 22 Mr. Bazarnik became a produce manager and decided the retailing track offered more opportunity for advancement than the music business.
Within a couple of years, Mr. Bazarnik was given an opportunity to work with the chain’s corporate development team on building a new store in the Sacramento area. That successful endeavor led to his joining the chain’s store development team as produce specialist in 2003.
Born in Santa Barbara County, CA, on Feb. 12, 1975, Mr. Bazarnik is survived by his parents Linda and Brian Smith of Shelton, WA, and Ted Bazarnik of Sacramento; brother Neal Bazarnik of Sacramento; half-brother Greg Bazarnik (Brandy) of Roseville; stepsiblings Patty Mendisco of Polaris MT, Erinn Whittemore of Davis, and Brian Smith of Pleasant Hill; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Mr. Bazarnik will be remembered by family and friends for his optimism and generosity, which were evident in the countless hours he spent helping his brother survive and recover from neuroinvasive West Nile Fever. He was also a fan of concerts and music festivals, and played his guitars to unwind.
The family and close long-time friends held a private viewing on Sept. 19. There will be a celebration of Mr. Bazarnik's life at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 (Halloween was his favorite holiday) at Old Soul Capitol Mall, 555 Capitol Mall in Sacramento.
