Richard D. Zella Jr.

Richard Dean Zella, Jr was born on the first of September 1972 in Valdosta, Georgia to Richard and Joyce Zella. Richard, who went more often by Rich, graduated from Romeo High School, Michigan in 1990 and from Purdue University, Indiana in 1994 where he studied Computer Electrical Engineering.

Rich seemed to grow up near a keyboard, yet he also enjoyed pop arts in forms of movies and cooking. If he wasn’t cruising cyberspace, he was cooking fancy and quoting movies or critiquing them with his own keen spin. Rich was an accomplished prankster and adored his own jokes. He was never short of either for everyone he loved. Rich was known to be very proud of his heritage from his Polish ethnicity to his southern birth in Georgia, his studies at Purdue, and his teen years outside of Detroit, where he became a fervent Detroit Lion’s fan. Rich enjoyed movies overall, but his favorites were Star Wars, Star Trek, yes both, and goofy Bruce Campbell movies.

Rich was fiercely loyal to his family and friends, who were his family, and loved each with unabashed depth and compassion. He often spoke ardently about how much pride he felt in his heart for his two daughters, and how much he adored them.

Rich will be missed by many that held him dear. We will miss his silly jokes, a lot, his unique viewpoints on any subject, some, but we will miss most of all that he would never hesitate to drop everything and come running if we needed his love and support.

Rich is survived by his two daughters, Elizabeth and Rayna; his partner Carrie Milne Zelman; his parents Richard and Joyce Zella; his brother and his wife Curtis and Julia Zella; and his sister and her husband Lee Ann and Zachery Short, with their two children, Stella and Nolan.

All services for Rich are Private. Cremation rites will be accorded. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunsetfhmemorialgardens.com for the Zella family.