Stephen R Zentara

Stephen Zentara, age 89, died on December 19, 2025. He was born on July 3rd, 1936 in Whately, MA to parents, Stella (Korpiewski) Connor and Steve Zentara. Stephen grew up in Whately, MA on his family's farm where they grew cucumbers, potatoes, and onions. Growing up in a Polish family, he learned to speak English in grade school. Plumbing and running water was installed at home when Stephen was an older child. He graduated from Deerfield High School. After which, Stephen served in the Army stateside and then attended Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. He was a hard worker, earning money to attend college by raising cucumbers. After receiving a degree in Engineering, he worked as a Civil Engineer for the State of Connecticut designing and building bridges until retirement. Stephen lived in Somers, CT for 58 years with his wife Grace Anne Zentara, raising three daughters. He had a steady faith in God, a source of guidance throughout his life.

Stephen was a man of many talents and loved to tinker, fix, and build. He built two garages at his home and became a skilled welder. Stephen had a mechanical mind and performed the family's auto and home repairs. He also enjoyed athletics. Stephen played basketball as a teenager and, in early adulthood, he became a reputable ping pong player. With a love of the outdoors, he also became an avid downhill skier. Stephen met his wife, Anne Grueninger, in Killington, VT when they were both visiting for a weekend of skiing. In addition to being a graceful skier, he is also remembered as a graceful ice skater. Stephen enjoyed pond skating and the slopes with his family, as well as many ski trips with his daughters when they were older teens and young adults.

Stephen was also an avid and skilled outdoorsman. He loved to hunt and fish as a child and on into adulthood. When younger, he and his brother often brought home fish and game for the family to eat. This continued when he had a family of his own. Stephen had a deep appreciation for domestic animals, wildlife, and the experience of being in nature. He readily shared this love with his family. Stephen enjoyed fishing, hiking, and canoeing with his wife and daughters. He especially enjoyed local hikes with a picnic lunch up Bald and Soapstone Mountain with his family. Later in life, Stephen and his wife became loyal bird watchers, maintaining and enjoying multiple bird feeders. He was a longtime vegetable gardener in Somers, remaining connected to his farming roots and growing food for his family. Stephen especially loved to grow peppers and tomatoes.

Stephen is survived by his loving wife, Grace Anne Grueninger Zentara, his brother Daniel Zentara and sister Marie Welch and brother-in-law Steve, his daughters Joyce Holsten (Scott), Mary Zentara and granddaughter Iris, and Stephenie Zentara (John) and granddaughter Raelynn.

Memorial contributions can be sent to Roaring Brook Nature Center, 70 Gracey, Rd., Canton, CT 06019, https://purchase.thechildrensmuseumct.org/Donation.aspx or PawSafe Animal Rescue, 110 Sandy Beach Rd., Ellington CT 06029, https://pawsafe.org/donations/

A Liturgy of Christian burial will be held Monday, December 29th, at 11AM at All Saints Catholic Church, 25 School St., Somersville, CT. Burial will be held at a later date. For online condolences, please visit www.somersfuneralhome.com.