Andrew Zinzuvadia

1979 - 2024

Andrew Zinzuvadia
01/18/1979 - 12/12/2024
A devoted father, beloved son, cherished brother, and dear cousin, nephew, friend, colleague, educator, and neighbor – a man who truly never met a stranger – Andrew Jayant Zinzuvadia died on December 12, 2024, after succumbing to injuries following a catastrophic car accident. He was 45 years old.
Andrew is survived by the absolute lights and loves of his life, his children, Rose Kateri Zinzuvadia, Charles Jayant Zinzuvadia, and Timothy James Zinzuvadia; and also leaves behind their brother, Ashton Hacke. Andrew is additionally survived by his father, Jayant Zinzuvadia, and his sister, Devi Zinzuvadia; he was predeceased by his mother, Connie Kateri Kane, who passed away in 2021, after a brief battle with an aggressive lung cancer.
Born in San Francisco on January 18, 1979, Andrew was an old school City native whose parents' roots were from afar (Ireland by way of New York City, and Gujarat, India, respectively). Known by friends and schoolmates as a quiet storm who prioritized kindness, inclusiveness, and teamwork above all else, Andrew was an alumnus of Stuart Hall for Boys and St. Ignatius College Preparatory, where he excelled academically and athletically, and, especially at S.I., loved sharing the stage with his fellow theater kids. He suffered no fools, but also had the best sense of humor and irony, even in the darkest of moments; could talk to anyone about anything, for any length of time; centered service and always looked out for the most vulnerable; and prized family, friendship, and loyalty above all else. He counted Star Wars, Bill Murray movies, Will Ferrell's oeuvre, Indian classical music recordings, his favorite Irish writers, Giants baseball and Niners football, time spent in his treasured adopted hometown of Half Moon Bay, and teaching himself new songs on his guitar, among the things he most enjoyed sharing with his children.
Andrew began his stellar academic career at St. James Preschool, and was a 2000 graduate of Syracuse University, where he earned his bachelor of science degree in psychology in just three years, and where he also met his lifelong best friend and forever Saturday afternoon phone buddy, Joey Iannotti (if their old house on Maryland Avenue could talk, we would all never stop laughing). At the time of his death, Andrew had been a behavioral therapist for more than 20 years, working with and for school-age children with autism, in both classroom and in-home learning environments. As an independent consultant, he worked with countless students, primarily on the Peninsula and in the South Bay, and developed a variety of techniques to best serve the success of his autism-spectrum learners and their families.
Andrew also leaves behind dear loved ones in his Kane, Zinzuvadia, Smith, Swerdlow, Proudfit, Monroe, Mandania, Zaveri, Thaker, Shukla, Jhala, Geria, Lathigara, Kane-Horrigan, Regan, Laris, DeTurk, and McDonnell families. In addition to his mother, Connie Kane, Andrew was predeceased by his grandparents, Miriam Walsh Kane and Coleman Kane, Sr., and Tara Geria Zinzuvadia and Narottamdas Zinzuvadia. Though their marriage ended, Andrew will forever be connected to his children's mother, Annie Russell, the impassioned Scorpio to his determined Capricorn; as well as to their cousin, Riley; and uncle, John Esperanca; and their grandparents, Jim Russell and Nancy Knepler. His father, Jay, shared a mantra at the start of a particularly difficult time, that Andrew held close to his heart over the last five years: Forgiveness is the ornament of the brave.
Andrew's children were everything to him. Starting from the time Ashton was three, his role as 'my other Dad' to his adored 'Monk' meant the world to Andrew. And absolutely nothing in his life made him happier or more proud than being Timmy, Charlie, and Rose's father; he loved sharing the world with them, whether visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium and learning all about the tides and Pacific Ocean sea life, or building the best and most elaborate 'set-ups' stacked with Legos as far as the eye could see, or taking long walks on the 'bunny trail' along the Coastside. He loved singing their favorite songs together, ensuring that, from the cradle onward through a million car rides, they knew 'Bye Bye Blackbird' (Joe Cocker's version) by heart, along with the complete California Raisins, Pearl Jam, and Sam Cooke canons. More than anything, Andrew wanted for them to look out for one another, lean on each other, and laugh together through everything, as he and his sister, their Faiba Dev, always had. He will miss them, and he will love them, and he will be looking out for them, forever.
A celebration of Andrew's life will be held at St. James Episcopal Church – California Street at 8th Avenue, in San Francisco – on his birthday, Saturday, January 18, at 12:00 pm (no flowers, please). A traditional Irish wake, with Hindu touches, will immediately follow in the parish hall, where all are welcome to offer songs, stories, and other remembrances as we send Andrew on his way; that reception will be held from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Contributions in Andrew's memory can be made to the Zinzuvadia kids' 529 plans, via www.ourandrewz.org