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Michael Ray Zona
Michael left this earth at his Southern Shores home with his wife Geri by his side. Michael was born to Ruth Harriet Hughes Zona and Albert Joseph (Bucky) Zona on May 3, 1947 in Greensburg, PA, just minutes behind his twin sister, Michele. His parents as well as his two sisters, Michelle Marie Clark and Susan Lynn Ritson predeceased him.
Michael grew up in the Irwin Area, graduating from Norwin High School. He worked at Westinghouse Electric in East Pittsburgh, PA, where he met his wife, Frances Geraldine (Geri) Sullivan. As a metallurgical technician he and his team received 2 patents for their work on the Grand Coulee Dam.
Michael loved tennis and applied for the job of tennis coach at McKeesport High School, where he built the program from scratch for boys and girls.
He and Geri lived in McKeesport and fell in love with the Outer Banks, where they vacationed every year. They fulfilled their dream of retiring there in January 2000. Michael was active in the Southern Shores Civic Association tennis club, running adult clinics and planning events. He participated in tennis in the Senior Games for many years, until his health prevented him from playing competitive tennis. He coached boys’ tennis at Currituck High School and coached children at the Recreation Center Tennis Camp in Kill Devil Hills.
Michael loved all animals and the environment, and he was an accomplished wildlife & nature photographer. He liked to be busy and if you didn’t find him constructing something for their home, or helping someone with a project, you could find him working in the yard or driving his Jeep to the store.
He was a quick wit who rarely met a person he didn’t like. He knew everybody and everybody knew him. He told his speech therapist that he wanted to make people happy and to feel good.
Michael will be greatly missed by his wife, Geri, his sister-in-law Sharyn Simmons and her husband R.Q., his sister-in-law Pat Gusky and her husband Ron, and his nieces and nephews: Amy Michele Clark, Susan Lin Mullens, William (Billy) Jennings Bryant Clark, Amanda Lee Cottone, Jeffrey (Jeff) Gusky and Ronald (Ron) Lee Gusky, Jr..
Geri plans to schedule a celebration of his life later in the year, date yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Outer Banks SPCA Dare County Animal Shelter (obxspca.org/donate) or to a charity of one’s choice.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services was entrusted with arrangements.
Condolences
Michael, was a great guy and a joy to be around. He always seemed very happy and enjoyed making other people happy with his smile, funny stories, and jokes. Michael will be missed. My thoughts are with Geri and I wish her well. Fred Newberry
Michael adored his wife Geri and took every opportunity to share her artistic skills to whoever would take a tour of their home gallery. Geri has a gallery, that both of them shared, of pictures of their courtship and life together. As her sister said, "They were joined at the hip". Michael played tennis with a group of very close teamates. You knew he was on the court because he was a vocal jokester and kept the game interesting. He loved nature. He fed the local "domestic" deer and fox with food (carefully providing turkey hot dogs for the fox because of cholesteral concerns). Michael and Geri worked on keeping the beach clean and picked up plastic bags and such. They talked the talk and walked the walk. Michael will be missed. Please say prayers for Geri who adored Michael and will miss him forever. We all will miss him as he was part of our inner circle and a good friend. See you in heaven kiddo! Love, Dana and Ralph
Geri, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I wish for you to find peace. You were a wonderful wife to Michael.
I have very fond memories of Michael's quick wit. Geri, may your memories sustain you.
Michael's sense of humor and kindness are remembered with a smile. His ability to make everyone around him feel good is a trait all who knew him appreciated. You will be missed, my friend.
It’s difficult to find words to match my thoughts and emotions at this moment. Michael was one-of-a-kind, larger than life and good and kind in a sweet and natural way that made us all smile despite more than a few corny jokes and gags. His laughter was infectious and his heart was pure. I don’t think I ever heard an unkind word spoken by him in the many years he and Geri were next door neighbors in McKeesport. I can see him now planting their flower borders, holding his hissing Frodo on his lap, teasing all of us and offering the shirt off his back if we needed something. And I’ll never forget the smell of the early morning coffee he brewed daily…hazelnut! Mystery parties! Tennis at Renzie Park! Geri, my heart breaks for you. He loved you so much. The love you shared was strong and constant and enviable. I’m sending you prayers and hugs. Please accept our condolences.
We were so saddened to learn of Mike’s passing. He was a fixture on 10th Ave., great neighbor, generous with his time and help with neighbors. We have countless fond memories of our neighborhood parties and gatherings with him . He was a great tennis player, and there was a time years ago when we played weekly doubles with him and Geri, which we enjoyed so much. Our adult sons were very fond of him and send their condolences. He was generous with his time to play tennis a number of times with our son, Scott. We will miss him very much Our prayers are with Geri at this time.
Our first encounter with Michael was with the Tennis Association when we moved here. That was 24 years ago. There were no "How do you do's", he just went into his Michael "jokester shtick" and you would have thought we knew each other a lifetime. You see, Michael had this delightful personality. He never met a person he didn't like. He also cared deeply for pets, wildlife and the protection of our environment. Actually, he even had his own wildlife "groupies. His fox friends would come onto his deck & he'd feed them turkey hot dogs, just to keep their cholesterol in check. But the true love of his life was Geri, his wife. He was so proud of her artistic creations and would jump at the chance to showcase them to anyone who was at their home. He too was a very talented photographer and culinary buff. He always could see things in nature that most of us would overlook. You know if Michael was there Geri was there too. That's the real Michael and he will be remembered by us that way. See you in heaven Michael. You always leave'em laughing. Love, Dana and Ralph
I miss Michael working in your garden, on his rocker on the deck, always saying "hello" and coming down to greet me and my dogs over the years. His kindness, love and sense of humor was always with him, even in the days he had a hard time expressing himself. I loved him as a tennis partner, friend and the best of neighbors. All who knew Michael miss him already.
So sorry to hear of Mike's passing. My deepest condolences are sent to his family.
Michael, was a great guy and a joy to be around. He always seemed very happy and enjoyed making other people happy with his smile, funny stories, and jokes.
Michael will be missed. My thoughts are with Geri and I wish her well.
Fred Newberry
Michael adored his wife Geri and took every opportunity to share her artistic skills to whoever would take a tour of their home gallery. Geri has a gallery, that both of them shared, of pictures of their courtship and life together. As her sister said, “They were joined at the hip”. Michael played tennis with a group of very close teamates. You knew he was on the court because he was a vocal jokester and kept the game interesting. He loved nature. He fed the local “domestic” deer and fox with food (carefully providing turkey hot dogs for the fox because of cholesteral concerns). Michael and Geri worked on keeping the beach clean and picked up plastic bags and such. They talked the talk and walked the walk. Michael will be missed. Please say prayers for Geri who adored Michael and will miss him forever. We all will miss him as he was part of our inner circle and a good friend. See you in heaven kiddo!
Love, Dana and Ralph
Geri, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I wish for you to find peace. You were a wonderful wife to Michael.
I have very fond memories of Michael’s quick wit.
Geri, may your memories sustain you.
Michael’s sense of humor and kindness are remembered with a smile. His ability to make everyone around him feel good is a trait all who knew him appreciated. You will be missed, my friend.
It’s difficult to find words to match my thoughts and emotions at this moment. Michael was one-of-a-kind, larger than life and good and kind in a sweet and natural way that made us all smile despite more than a few corny jokes and gags. His laughter was infectious and his heart was pure. I don’t think I ever heard an unkind word spoken by him in the many years he and Geri were next door neighbors in McKeesport. I can see him now planting their flower borders, holding his hissing Frodo on his lap, teasing all of us and offering the shirt off his back if we needed something. And I’ll never forget the smell of the early morning coffee he brewed daily…hazelnut! Mystery parties! Tennis at Renzie Park! Geri, my heart breaks for you. He loved you so much. The love you shared was strong and constant and enviable. I’m sending you prayers and hugs. Please accept our condolences.
We were so saddened to learn of Mike’s passing. He was a fixture on 10th Ave., great neighbor, generous with his time and help with neighbors. We have countless fond memories of our neighborhood parties and gatherings with him . He was a great tennis player, and there was a time years ago when we played weekly doubles with him and Geri, which we enjoyed so much. Our adult sons were very fond of him and send their condolences. He was generous with his time to play tennis a number of times with our son, Scott. We will miss him very much Our prayers are with Geri at this time.
Our first encounter with Michael was with the Tennis Association when we moved here. That was 24 years ago. There were no “How do you do’s”, he just went into his Michael “jokester shtick” and you would have thought we knew each other a lifetime.
You see, Michael had this delightful personality. He never met a person he didn’t like. He also cared deeply for pets, wildlife and the protection of our environment. Actually, he even had his own wildlife “groupies. His fox friends would come onto his deck & he’d feed them turkey hot dogs, just to keep their cholesterol in check.
But the true love of his life was Geri, his wife. He was so proud of her artistic creations and would jump at the chance to showcase them to anyone who was at their home. He too was a very talented photographer and culinary buff. He always could see things in nature that most of us would overlook. You know if Michael was there Geri was there too. That’s the real Michael and he will be remembered by us that way.
See you in heaven Michael. You always leave’em laughing.
Love, Dana and Ralph
I miss Michael working in your garden, on his rocker on the deck, always saying “hello” and coming down to greet me and my dogs over the years. His kindness, love and sense of humor was always with him, even in the days he had a hard time expressing himself. I loved him as a tennis partner, friend and the best of neighbors. All who knew Michael miss him already.
So sorry to hear of Mike’s passing. My deepest condolences are sent to his family.