Darryl Lee Zini

darryl zini
Darryl Lee Zini, 64, died Sunday, April 3, 2011 at the John F. Keever Hospice Solace Center. A native of Iron River, MI, he was the son of the late Leno and Emma Zini and Lydia and Marvin Sitkoski and was also predeceased by his sister, Marvis Ann Sitkoski. Darryl was a self employed metallurgical engineer, a manufactures representative and president of Z-Tech Carolina. In Asheville, he was a member of the Monday Night Cribbage Club and CIAO, the Carolina Italian American Club. He graduated from Iron River High School in 1964 and Michigan Tech in 1968. He is survived by his wife, Sara Foxworth Zini; daughter, Tara Gorton and her husband, Fred, of Mesa, AZ; son, Michael Zini of Baltimore, MD; three step-children, Tami Kranz and her husband, Mark, of Columbia, SC, Rhonda Fritts and her husband, Jeff, of Columbia and Ron Hatchell of Columbia; and six grandchildren, Shaelee and Gunner Gorton, Logan and Kelsey Kranz and Jordan and Joshua Fritts. A memorial service will be held in Asheville at 1:00 pm Thursday at the Basilica of St. Lawrence with the Rev. Fr. C. Morris Boyd officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:30 until 7:00 pm Wednesday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian and also following the service at Laurentine Hall at St. Lawrence. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the John F. Keever Hospice Center, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.

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  1. Sara, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. May God give you strength and comfort during the coming days.
    Karen Messick

  2. Darryl you were, and are, a well loved member of the 1964 graduating class of Iron River High School. You found joy in everything you did, and we will miss you keenly. Thanks for the memories.

  3. Darryl, you were such a ray of sunshine! I hope you shine on each of us and let us each glow a little brighter. Sara, anytime you need anything….

  4. Mike and family,
    I’d like you to know how sorry we are to learn of your dad’s death. We have many wonderful memories of times together at St. Joseph’s and in scouting. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Much love, ‘Mama’ Sloan

  5. Sara, please accept my sincere condolances. ‘Zini’ was a ray of sunshine in all of our lives. Always full of life and an inspiration to others. Please know you have many friends and are loved. Sincerely, ‘Khaki’ Clayton

  6. Darryl, I will miss you. A great worker. Always had a story about something to brighten up the day. Your Koldweld family prays for you.

  7. Please accept my most sincere condolences on Darryl’s death. He was a most talented and energetic man and a friend while he lived in South Carolina.

  8. Sara, please accept my condolences for you and your family over the loss of Zini. Although I had met Zini only a few times i can’t help but remember he always had a smile on his face and brought joy to everyone in the room. A great man, may he rest in peace.

  9. Dear Sara and Family, we are so very sorry for your loss of a wonderful husband, dad, and man. He was a good friend and we have wonderful memories to keep close in our hearts. Please know that we share in your loss deeply. If there is anything we can do, we are only a phone call aways.

    Much love and God bless,

    Dennis and Susanne Rizzardi

  10. Sara, I am so sorry about Darryl. We go back to grade school and as what usually happens we drifted our own way over the years. But, I will always remember Darryl as a happy and wonderful person to be around.

  11. Thank you Darryl for sharing your sense of humor and good stories. You will be missed. Bless you, Sara and family.

  12. Dear Sara and Family, Frank and I want to express our sympathy to you all. Darryl was such a wonderful guy and friend. We are glad we got to know him through CIAO. We want to let you know we are there for you. Hope you will be able to attend CIAO when you feel up to it. Love, PJ and Frank

  13. Darryl was a great guy. We went thru grade school and high school together. Had a great time in Boy Scouts.

  14. Sara, you have been through a difficult time and will grieve the loss of Darryl. May God give you the strength to get through to the time when you will have only pleasant memories of your life with Darryl.

    I will miss the the upbeat attitude that Darryl had and opportunity to be amused by him with some wild story.

    Peace be with you.

  15. Sara – I share your sadness at the passing of Darryl. What a wonderful man. I only wish I had met you and Darryl much earlier. Please stay in touch.
    Love & Peace,
    Doris Mergner

  16. Sara & family, please know you are in our prayers. The world would be a better place if there were more people like Darryl with his great attitude and wonderful smile. May God bless you.

  17. Sara, we are all so sorry to hear the shocking news about Darryl. We will keep you and your family close in our hearts and in our prayers and thoughts during this sad time and in the days to follow.Love, Inez, Elaine & Sonny and our families.

  18. When I think of Darryl I just think of his smile and such enjoyment of life…he will be missed here among us…

  19. So sorry to hear of Darryl’s death. He was such a nice,polite and fun person and I’m so happy that I saw and visited with him at our last class reunion. My prayers and thoughts are with all of Darryl’s family and may God give you strength at this difficult time.

  20. Sara & Family,

    I am so sorry to hear of Darryl’s passing. All my memories of Darryl are with a big smile and twinkling eyes. He was larger than life. My deepest sympathy to you and your family.

  21. I am sad for you–he was such a vibrant person. He will be missed by so many people. May you have peace as he does now.
    Connie

  22. Sara & family…. we are so very sadden to hear about Darryl. Our love and prayers are with you and all the family. Darryl was such a good friend and loved by so many. We will truly miss him.

  23. Dad,
    I cant put into words all the emotion I am feeling, Please know that you always be in my heart and soul, i will treasure the memories we were able to create with My family, Shealee and Gunner always loved their NONO! So please know that we will always love you! I thank you for our relationship as father and daughter although maybe not traditional in the meaning it was special. Please rest in peace, watch over your grandchildren, as they grow…. LOVE TO YOU ALWAYS, Your Daughter Tara

  24. My deepest sympathy for your loss of a wonderfull man, Darryl’s smile and personalty will always be remembered by us all.
    Love
    Larry Patience

  25. Dearest Sara –

    Please know that I have been and will continue to pray for you and your family. Darryl was a wonderful person and the two of you created so many happy memories together.

    May God Bless you and keep you in his care.

    Sincerely,
    Jan Richardson

  26. Sara and family. You all are constantly in my thoughts and prayers at this MOST difficult time. ‘Zini’ was such a treasure and, he will be greatly missed. I don’t think I ever talked to him and asked him how he was doing without the word ‘FANTASTIC’ coming from his lips! I remember all the wonderful times we had, largely because of his joyful spirit. May God bless you all and keep you, and may you find comfort in knowing that he is now with our heavenly Father.

  27. MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO SARAH AND FAMILY. KNOWING DARRYL FOR ONLY A SHORT TIME; A MAN OF GREAT INSPIRATION AND POSITIVE ATTTITUDE… I WISH I CAN LEAVE THIS WORLD AS HE DID. I WILL MISS HIS WONDERFUL SMILE AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE. SARAH AND FAMILY; YOU WILL MISS HIM DEARLY BUT BE THANKFUL THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO SHARE YOUR LOVE AND LIFE WITH HIM.. I WILL MISS HIM AT CRIBBAGE COUNTING FOR ME. REMEMBERING HE, WHO HAS ACCENDED TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF BEING. ONE DAY TO MEET AGAIN MY FRIEND.

  28. Dear Sara and family,

    We send our sincerest sympathy and love at this time of loss for you and we wish you fond memories of cherished moments to warm your hearts. Darryl certainly warmed our hearts with his friendliness, kindness and humor. We were blessed to know such a noble man. We continue to keep you and Darryl in our thoughts, our hearts and prayers.

    Warmly, Terry and Esi Ostovar

  29. Daryl was a coulpe years younger than me but we hung around together in high school and played intermural basketball on the same team. Unfortunately I do not remember the name. Will have to think about it.

  30. Daryl was a coulpe years younger than me but we hung around together in high school and played intermural basketball on the same team. Unfortunately I do not remember the name. Will have to think about it.

  31. Sara and Family
    My deepest sympathy to you and your family for your loss. ‘Zini’ will be missed by all who knew him! You are in my thoughts and prayers. May God comfort you in your time of sorrow.

    Sandra Thomas

  32. We are so sorry to hear about your loss. Darryl will truely be missed, he brought us so many smiles.

  33. Sara~
    We are so sorry for your loss. We are thinking of you and praying for you.
    Love from our family,
    Kory and Lisa Hauser

  34. Thank you for being a great man of God, thank you for the great in inspiration of your faith, you will be truley missed, and I am glad to know that your are now walking with Jesus.


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