John K. Zephir Sr.

NORTHFORD - John K. "Jack" Zephir Sr., 80, of Northford, died Tuesday, April 8, 2014 in his home. He was the beloved husband of the late Doris Rider Zephir and the late Jean Johnson Zephir.

Born in Baltimore, Md., August 10, 1933, a son of the late Karl J. and Viola C. Smith Zephir, he was a Northford resident for many years. He had been employed as insurance manager for Nationwide Insurance Company for 37 years until his retirement, and previously had been a Maryland State Police officer. Active in politics, he had served on the North Branford Town Council and the Tax Board of Review. He was a member of the NRA and was the proprietor of Zephir's Sportsman in North Branford. He taught as a literacy volunteer and was a parishioner of St. Monica's Church. He was a true family man who loved his family. He enjoyed traveling, golfing, and woodworking, and was an avid fan of UCONN women's basketball.

Jack is survived by his children, Diana Davis and her husband, Richard, of Brandywine, Md.; Kathleen Yanulites and her husband, Philip, of Elijay, Ga.; John K. Zephir Jr. and his wife, Belinda, of Pensacola, Fla.; Susan Mackiewicz, and her husband, Jeffrey, of Wallingford; William Anderson and his wife, Beth, of Moodus; Melissa Dulak and her husband, Harry, of Northford; and Laurie FitzGerald and her husband, Mark, of Hoschton, Ga.; his grandchildren, Amy Bowling and her husband, Bryan; Amanda Davis; Kristin Yanulites; Christian Anderson; Jenna Anderson; Ryan Yanulites; John Mackiewicz; Kari Anderson; Christopher Webster and his wife, Andrea; Kevin Mackiewicz; Emmy Dulak; Elise FitzGerald; Megan FitzGerald; Kendall Webster; Holly Dulak; Maggie Dulak; and Madalynn FitzGerald; his great-grandchildren, Jacob Davis and Chloe Bowling; his brother, Raymond Zephir and his wife, Elizabeth "Vicky" Zephir, of Glen Burnie, Md.; and his special friend, Trudy Cotton, of Meriden; as well as a host of family and friends.

His family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main St., Ext., Wallingford, Sunday, April 13, 2014, from 3 to 6 p.m. Funeral services will be held Monday at 10 a.m. from The Wallingford Funeral Home, when the funeral cortege will proceed to St. Monica's Church, where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment will be in All Saints Cemetery in North Haven. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067-3045; or to the American Lung Association 45 Ash St. East Hartford, CT 06108-3272.

www.wallingfordfh.com