Michael Frederick Zelinsky

1942 - 2023

Michael Frederick
Zelinsky
May 24, 1942 - March 20, 2023
Michael Frederick Zelinsky aka "Lord Plywood, Duke of Earl" OBS
81, San Francisco, California. Monday 20 March, 2023
Mike passed peacefully at the home of his youngest daughter Susan and her family where love flows out of the doors in such abundance that it envelops the neighborhood. "Boppa" had the blessing of being able to say goodbye to all his family and friends before leaving us on his final cable-car ride into the swirling fog of his beloved city.
Mike was a 5th generation San Francisco native born 1942, to Robert D. Zelinsky and Barbara Levy Zelinsky. His sister Leslie (Zelinsky) Eppling predeceased him in 2015.
Mike was preceded in death by his 2nd wife Barbara (Kucklick) Zelinsky and is survived by his wonderful wife, Joann (Kelleher) Zelinsky. Mike and Joann were introduced by mutual friend Bill W. Mike was a devoted friend of Bill W's for 23 years. Joann lovingly cared for Mike above and beyond the call of duty in his last years, and is loved and appreciated deeply by all of his surviving family.
Mike is also survived by his first wife, Linda Anderson, mother of his two daughters Monta and Susan, and by his four grandchildren, Sirena, Ruby, Aiden and Rai.
Mike had a lifelong passion for cars and motorsports. This led to Mike building the world's largest slot car track (at 1/64th scale) on sheets of plywood in his basement on 10th Ave. The track, named Plywood International Raceway, was named after the famous Goodwood Circuit in England. This in-turn, led to Mike being nicknamed "Lord Plywood" by the many fellow racers that came to race at Plywood raceway over the years and his family and friends affectionately referred to him as such his whole life.
He was the founder and president of the FIS (Federation Internationale du Slot) which was the sanctioning body for the 1/64 scale slot car international racing community. Their motto: "We strive for perfection in the slot". We all hope that perfection was achieved....often!!
Mike attended Lowell High School for two years, before tranferring to Robert Louis Stevenson High School in Monterey, where he graduated.
After high school, he proudly served his country in the US Marine Corps for 6 years, retiring as a Sergeant. "Semper Fi !!" After his service, he worked for many years at the family painting company, D. Zelinsky & Sons, which was founded by his great grandfather, in 1884.
Mike loved his city and knew every inch like the back of his hand. Every street and alley, every famous building and landmark, the old restaurants and bars, haunts and dives. He had a story about every one and all were like old friends and he shared and imbued his family with this knowledge and love of The City which echoes down to his grandchildren to this day.