Donald Eugene Zonca, 91 went to meet his Lord on Thursday, September 28, 2023. Educator, businessman, athlete, Korean veteran of the USNavy and faithful servant. Of Polish heritage, he was born in Detroit,Michigan one of fourteen children.
He attended St. Hedwig Catholic grade and high school, Detroit,MI., where he became the school’s only basketball player in history to be named to the Michigan Catholic’s Prep Hall of Fame and the Detroit News All City Team four years in a row. Don graduated from The University of Detroit with a B.S. in Business, and a M.A. in Education from Eastern Michigan University. He taught Business and was a Guidance Counselor at Cherryhill High School and Wayne-Westland Community Schools,Westland, for 30 years. While in Education, he started and became President of Better Home Improvement Company, Dearborn Heights,MI, where he excelled in sales.
Don retired to his home in Delray Beach,Fl. where he was a faithful husband to his wife Dolores Ricardo Zonca, M.A. University of Michigan, for sixty-four years. He was a loving father of four children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Predeceased by his son Todd, 43 years old, leaving his wife Martha (Fox) Zonca Ferrand, Howell,MI and daughters Dr. Rachel Zonca, Santa Maria, CA. Cara (Zonca) Murray, Eddie, Maeve and Mara, Howell, MI. Daughter, Monique Doidge, Dr. Robert Doidge, sons Robert and Drew, Delray Beach,Fl. and Tenafly, N.J. Son Scott and Hope (Rearick), son Cole and daughter Madeline of De Land, Fl. Daughter Richelle Babcock, Carl Bruce Babcock, sons Ryan and Sean of Ann Arbor,MI. All the Zonca children are graduates of Michigan State University.
Don was a member and daily communicant at Ascension Catholic Church, Boca Raton, Fl. where a funeral mass will be held on Saturday, October 7th, at 10:00AM. His cremains will be encased in a glass crypt at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.
* In lieu of flowers please make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,501 St.Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, St. Jude.org./Donate now.
Professional arrangements by:
Gary Panoch Funeral Home
6140 N. Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL 33487
561-997-8580
www.gpanochfunerals.com
* In lieu of flowers please make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,501 St.Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, St. Jude.org./Donate now.
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