David Zelnick Obituary

Name: Memorial service for David Zelnick
Start: 2023-06-02T11:00:00.000Z
Location: Westminster Presbyterian Church

ZELNICK, David R.

David R. Zelnick

Age 94, of Troy, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2023, at the Miami County Hospice. He was born February 2, 1929, in Berwyn, Illinois to the late Antonia & Rudolf Zelnick. On August 31, 1952, he married Helen (nee: Comfort) Zelnick whom he met at Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, where he received his BS Degree. Dave is survived by his three sons, Dr. Charles Zelnick (Vicki) of Deer Isle, Maine, Mark Zelnick (Janet) of Huber Heights and Peter Zelnick (Judy) of Troy; 10 grandchildren, Aubree, Karen, Leah, Pam, Elizabeth, Katy, James, Allison, Rachel & Michelle; and by 11 great grandchildren. Dave was the founder of Atlas Vac Machine and he retired from Zed Industries, Inc in Vandalia, Ohio, which he founded in 1969. In 2004 he received the Society of Plastic Industries Midwest Region Founders Award. Dave was an instrument rated private pilot. In addition to flying, he enjoyed fishing – especially at Neebish Island, Michigan. Foremost, he loved his family. Dave was a 54-year member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Dayton. A memorial service will be held there on Friday, June 2, at 11 AM. Interment will be at Neebish Island, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made in memory of Dave to either the Salvation Army, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Dayton, Ohio.

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Published by Dayton Daily News on May 28, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for David Zelnick

1 Entry

peter Z.

June 30, 2025

Fortunate

In the last decade or more now I´ve been proud to tell my fathers story, and each time finishing with his age and exclaiming that up 'til his last month he was still driving..

Almost every time..the response would be, .."You´re so Lucky to still have him";...and each time I would follow with

"I have been fortunate".

We've been fortunate, that´s for sure, but it´s not been by Luck.

Many pieces of Dave´s life may have seemed just to have fallen into place,....to have been at the right place at the right time,... to have had the "best of luck"......but I don´t think that at all.

It was Dave´s good choices that made the difference.

Dave was the youngest of 7 children , raised in the depression, and survived with the strength of his family, his inquisitive nature, and his drive to achieve. He recounted working to help the family, taking whatever job he could find, each time learning and growing;.. one time taking a job driving a delivery truck even before he was of age, and with no real lessons.

It was not luck that he found Helen, but a keen eye that could "see" what was in front of him and the fortitude and wherewithal to act upon it;..asking Helen for her hand just 10 days after meeting her......And once again that was a good call, his best really, as proven by 70 years of caring for each one another ...succeeding together.

His vision led him to choose a line of work in an industry in its infancy, and his insight spawned 4 companies, ( all of them still in business today) providing a comfortable living and the ability to raise his children the way he saw fit.

He did not spare the rod, but was forgiving, and just. His belief in something larger than himself, and its importance to pass down became an endeavor he undertook and taught by example. He showed great charity, not only to his children and grandchildren, but to those less fortunate, while always stressing giving someone a second chance, to do no evil for evil, and to give thanks. It´s hard to imagine a better role model.

So it was not by luck that we were fortunate enough to see him get to 94 years of age;

No it's because ....He worked hard, lived clean, treated fairly, he married the best......... It was by his many wise choices in determining the long continuation of his life, and the wisdom that he imparted on to us, his children, to still be here to see it.

So it is in celebration of a life well lived, and decision´s well-made that
I am proud, thankful and blessed very fortunately to have had Dave as my Father.

peter Z.