Andrew W Zedella

Andrew W. Zedella, Jr. (Andy) passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 23, 2019. He was born on July 30, 1930 on the west side of Cleveland, Ohio, the eldest child of Andrew W. Zedella, Sr. and Ann (Chervenak) Zedella. Andy was born at home with a midwife in attendance; he was very proud of this fact and often worked it into random conversations.

In high school he ran track and played football. He graduated from John Marshall High School in 1948. Andy met Rita Louise Starrie, at his cousin’s wedding, when they were paired as bridesmaid and groomsman and thus was the start of their 68 years together. Andy attended Baldwin Wallace College where he studied business administration before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. After being discharged, he married Rita on July 23, 1955 at St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church and they moved to the Cleveland suburbs to start their family.

In 1976, they relocated to Jacksonville, Florida where Andy was a fleet manager in the transportation department at Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Andy was proud of his Slovak heritage and with Rita’s cooking, maintained the traditional family prayers and foods at Christmas. Andy was a lifelong Catholic, a firm believer in tough love and the value of education. He was fiercely proud of and loyal to his family and friends. Never one to forget details, he was a virtual almanac of everything football as well as vintage films and tv shows.

Andy is survived by his beautiful, loving and devoted wife of 63 years, Rita L. Zedella; his beloved daughters and sons-in-law, Elaine L. Zedella, Susan M. Bickert (Edward), Julie A. Gjertsen (Chip), and Kristen A. Zedella; his beloved grandchildren, David R. Sutton, III, Jacqueline Starrie Sutton, and Aaron Andrew Bickert; his beloved siblings, John J. Zedella, James Zedella (predeceased), Anne Zedella Geib and Sister Marietta Starrie, C.S.J.; plus many extended family members and dear friends.

On February 15, 2019, there will be a Memorial Mass at San Jose Catholic Church, 3619 Toledo Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32217 at 10:00 am immediately followed by interment at Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32218. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Andy’s name to the Sulzbacher Center (our region’s only comprehensive homeless shelter), 611 East Adams Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202.