CLICK TO READ:   JAN 2024 |  TRANSITIONS NEWSLETTER
The Necessary Pain and Work of Grief     |     What We Can Learn from Blue Zones      |     Join the Remembrance Movement

Richard N. Zanni Sr.

Apr 17, 1953 - Feb 15, 2021

Richard N. Zanni Sr.

April 17, 1953 - February 15, 2021

Obituary

Richard N. Zanni
Gates: February 15, 2021. Richard is predeceased by his parents, Nicholas and Helen Zanni. He is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie (Wells) Zanni; children, Kelly Zanni & Richard (Colleen) Zanni; brother, Fred (Susie) Zanni.

Richard was a life long employee of Sears and Roebuck. He enjoyed watching the Rochester Red Wings, Rochester Americans & the New York Yankees. He will forever be remembered as a wonderful father whom cared deeply for his family. His services were held at the convenience of the family. Interment was held in Westside Cemetery.

My Brother Rich, by Fred Zanni 

He needs no tribute because we all know the exceptional person he was. He did not make a new scientific discovery or make millions of dollars or become worldly famous. What he did was show us how to live life without malice to others, how to treat others with kindness, and to be thankful for what life had provided. And so, we are here today because of those special qualities we respected in him. 

We loved him as a brother, as a husband, as a father and a son. Love is not an easy feeling to put into words. Nor is loyalty, trust, or joy. But he was all of these. Anyone who knew Rich, know how much he loved his family. He worked hard to provide for their welfare. He was such a selfless person. He was such a warm person. He had such a good spirit and huge heart. He fancied very simple lifestyle. It did not take much to make him happy. He was a quietly kind soul, ready to work, or ready to help anyone that might need it. He treated all with a pleasant respect and a zest for life. I do not think I ever heard words of anger leave his lips. 

My brother, Richard was born when I was almost 9 years old. My parents let me name him, probably for fear of jealousy on my part. Our brotherly relationship was anything but traditional. I was always doing things older kids did and he was always the little kid that wanted to follow. When he was 5, I was in high school, when he was 9, I was off to college. When Rich was 13, I was getting married and moving out of the house. We never walked to school together, never played baseball together and never argued like brothers sometimes do. But we always had this quiet bond called family that kept us together in life. He was a brother one could be proud of, because the world saw him as the wonderful person that he was. 

In 1972 dad died at the age of 57, it was devastating. Dad was the backbone of our family and it was hard to see mom functioning without him. At that time, Rich was a senior in high school. For the next several years he was there for mom in every way. Mom was a great cook and homemaker but was fearful of the challenges of the outside world. Like our father, Rich, and later Bonnie, helped mom confront the day-to-day issues of the world with out dad. I think he was mom's favorite because he was the youngest son who was there when she needed him most. 

He and Bonnie have been together since they met in high school. They have been married almost 50 years. Rich was a fine parent, as can be attested to by his two adult children, Richie & Kelley. Richie's a retail store manager in North Carolina, following in his father's profession. Kelley is a school psychologist in Orange County Florida. Like dad, Rich was a loyal employee of Sears his entire working career. He started as a salesperson at the Monroe Avenue store and proceeded to consistently outsell his colleagues. Over the years he rose to management in both the Irondequoit and Marketplace Stores. 

When I was at Marketplace Mall, I would stop to see him to talk or maybe do lunch. There he was known as "Ric" Zanni. He was a well-respected manager who employees loved. Upon one of my first visits, I did not see him on the floor, so I asked if he was in. The employees I asked said he was in the office and did not know I was his brother. I said, "those managers are never around and are always shuffling paper in the office". They let me know that was not the case with Rich. Their response was "not our boss, he's a great guy, he wouldn't ask us to do anything he wouldn't do himself". 

I remember when he came to my daughter's wedding in Baltimore 5 years ago. It was a happy day and Rich has such a great time at the wedding reception. We spent a day together at the 80th annual Zanni picnic. He loved reuniting with the Santangelo and Zanni cousins. 

Rich was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 8 years ago. Somehow through all the chemotherapy and radiation treatments he survived when others did not. He was strong and determined and met this horrible disease with courage. Doctors were amazed how he clung to life when others had accepted their fate. During those years there were good times and not so good times. There were trips to emergency and multiple hospital stays. Through his courage and tenacity, we had him with us for more years than the medical profession had expected. 

But now he has been called to be in a better place. He is now with mom and dad. I am sad that he has left me, but happy that he's with them. 

Services

Services for Richard haven't been added yet. Sign up below to be notified when the services are updated.

Let the family know who you are using our sign-in form below.

Just for verification: we never spam!

Get service directions in your inbox.

we never spam!

Get updates

Sign up to receive a notification daily whenever there is an update on this obituary.

OR
Types

we never spam!

Scroll to Top