Theodore L. Zitzmann, Jr.

Theodore L. Zitzmann Jr., age 93 of Middletown, NY passed away peacefully at home on October 19, 2022 surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Queens, NY to May (Ludemann) and Theodore L. Zitzmann Sr. He was baptized at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church Woodhaven NY and confirmed there as well in 1943. He was an only child but had many aunts, uncles, cousins and childhood friends that he maintained relationships with their entire lives. 

Ted graduated from Franklin K. Lane High School Woodhaven in 1947, attended college until he was drafted into the Army in 1951.  He served almost two years while being stationed in Germany during the Korean War.  He arrived back home from the Army and settled into the printing business at Bowne in NYC from 1953 to 1993.

In 1957 he married Joy (Andreasen) Zitzmann, also from Queens and together raised their four sons.  In 1965 they moved to Holmdel, NJ from Richmond Hill, Queens and volunteered with the Holmdel Boy Scouts.

With his passing, there will be a loss of unrivaled knowledge of all things electrical and mechanical, especially Lionel trains and classic cars, specifically Cadillacs and LaSalles. He always seemed to be busy tinkering with something. He was a car enthusiast and loved his 1932 LaSalle, which he purchased from the original owner, when he was 28 years old.  He belonged to many car clubs including the Capital District Region Cadillac & LaSalle Club and the Schoharie Valley Region Antique Automobile Club of America. 

Upon retiring in 1993 he moved upstate to Livingstonville and enjoyed country life in the Catskills for the best part of 25 years and volunteered with the Town of Broome Fire Department, in Livingstonville. In recent years, he spent winters snow birding in Arizona. And a Genny Light was his beverage of choice, owing to his longevity.  When offered a drink of water, Ted’s signature reply was: “no thanks, water rusts your pipes!”

His loving family includes his sons: Kenneth and wife Kimberly, David and wife Nancy, Steven and Christopher; grandchildren: Alyson and husband Jared Port, Dylan Zitzmann, Julia Zitzmann, Rebeckah Zitzmann, Emily Zitzmann and Madelyn Zitzmann and will be missed by many.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00AM on Monday, October 24, 2022 at Coltrain Funeral Home, LLC, 134 River Street, Middleburgh, NY.  Visitation will be from 10-11:00AM prior to the funeral.  Interment with Military Honors will take place at Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Road, Schuylerville, NY.

Memorial donations in Ted’s memory are requested to the Schoharie Valley Region AACA, 1432 Corbin Hill Rd., Sloansville, NY 12160, the Town of Broome Volunteer Fire Dept., 453 State Route 145 Middleburgh, NY 12122 or to a charity of choice.

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