Edmund John Zaller

Edmund John "Ned" "Eddie Z" Zaller, 66, passed away Nov. 18, 2012, unexpectedly and peacefully in his favorite chair at home.Ned was born May 21, 1946, in Euclid, the oldest son of Edmund and Helene (Mihalek) Zaller. He attended St. Christine Elementary School and graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1964. He continued his education at John Carroll University and John Marshall School of Law, where he received his juris doctorate. Edmund had many talents and excelled in many professions. While attending law school, he worked at Bailey Meter in production planning. Once he obtained his law degree, he set up a private practice in Willoughby. Ed met the love of his life, Melissa Taylor, at the Lake County Courthouse. They married on Oct. 6, 1984. He retired from law and most recently worked at the Mentor Lowe's, a job he truly enjoyed. Ned was always busy with a project. You would find him tinkering in his garage, working on a car or truck, his "Honey Do" list for his wife or projects at the homes of his children. He recently completed a renovation of the kitchen of the family condo in Florida. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and golfing at Blackbrook. Ned carried on his dad's ethnic pride singing with the Slovene Singing Society Zarja and was featured in many of their spring frolics. Boris will be missed. He was a talented musician playing the accordion and piano, and he enjoyed history and science fiction. Ed was a past commodore and an active member of the Fairport Harbor Yacht Club. His recent pride was renovating his dad's Sea Ray. His greatest love and blessing was his family, and he felt truly gifted to have a very special, loving wife and his children and their families living close by (even if they didn't return his tools or left the truck's gas tank empty). He had a special relationship with his wife's brothers, David, Jeff, Jimmy and RC Taylor whom he affectionately called, "Svoger." Eddie Z also treasured his dogs, Thor (RIP), Oden and Miley. He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Melissa (Taylor) Zaller; daughter, Kimberly Rae (Kevin) Randall; sons, Eric John (Maureen) Zaller and Joshuah Taylor (Trisha) Zaller; all of Mentor. He was blessed with two grandchildren who were the "apple of his eye," Skylar Rae Randall and Nicholas Luke Zaller. Ned is also survived by his brother, David Allen Zaller of Loveland; sister Pamela Zaller-Farrington of Pownal, Maine; sister-in-law, Camille Zaller of Bellville; and many nieces and nephews. Ned was preceded in death by his parents, Edmund A. and Helene R. Zaller; and brothers, Timothy Lee Zaller and Mark Timothy Zaller. The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday November 21, 2012 at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 8560 Mentor Ave., Mentor. Interment will be in Mentor Cemetery. Online obituary at www.brunners.com.

Edmund John Zaller

May 21, 1946 - November 18, 2012