This is a beautiful tribute to a life well-lived. I feel he is looking down and loving it. He was a man who knew how to squeeze every precious drop out of life and to share his blessings with the friends and family he so loved. He left the world a better place and you can take solace in knowing that he loved his life. You will miss him always, but you have many, many incredible memories and wonderful stories to tell. He had such a dazzling smile!! I’m sending love to his many friends and his loving family.  Kathy

Ed and Fern Zito have been my neighbors since 1993 when my late husband Larry and I first purchased the home I live in still, across the street from them.  It was only natural that they were one of the first couples we met in the neighborhood.  They enjoyed doing yardwork together and we were often tending to our yard at the same time, if it was on a weekend.  We were always invited to their fabulous music parties and we enjoyed many years of them.   I have very fond memories of the wonderful people I have met there.   Starting time was always at 4:00 on the scheduled Sunday and if we were not across the street yet by 4:30 there would be a phone call from Ed to remind us that we are missing part of the show.  
Ed's devotion to Fern was never more evident to me than when she had her accident and required hospital care.  Each day he would leave home to stay with her for the day, often bringing reminders of their life together such as photos or songs.  "In sickness and in health" really meant something.  It was wonderful when she was able to return home and share their life together again.
When I brought my friend David to his first music party, he had a great time meeting son Ed and neighbor Richard and all the talented people there.  David is quite handy so occasionally Ed would call on him to help with a plumbing issue or yard thing or some task.  We liked to keep on eye on him.
Edward Zito and Fern Zito were good friends and good neighbors.  I miss them.

Cathy Maddox



Hi Ed,

This is Alice Dexter. I have known your Dad thru  music and his wonderful gatherings at his home.. back when Fran was alive. We enjoyed her company during those wonderful gatherings .. also, had a mutual friend, Nolarae Stein,  who sang always at dad's parties .

I want you to know that I was always so impressed with the kind, compassionate care your dad gave Fran. You should be very proud of this feisty, upbeat Man  called “Dad.” An inspiring  example of our generation!

My prayers  to you & your family at this time.

Alice
Alice Dexter, RN, CRNA (Ret.)


I've watched the video three times now, and I just want to thank you for putting us up at the finale.  That was Ed's favorite song of all of mine, and I am honored that you folks chose that.  I've had my name "up in lights" at a lot of the big hotels, but I honestly think that this means more to me.  Wonderful memories.  
Tommy Lee.

Ed Zito

A good friend of ours  thoughtfully sent us a copy of the wonderful video that you developed for a perfect memory of your father.  He was a gentleman, a buddy, a lover of many kinds of music, and knew how to draw people together to enjoy themselves immensely.  I think everyone who met your father treasured knowing and being his friend.  Tommy Lee, who sent us the video, respected all his skills and talent.  We brought Tommy to a Zito party, and the two of them hit it off.  Our calendar was always marked to be sure we didn't miss any of your dad's parties.

Actually, I wish we could have known him when he first started these parties.  Ed, I always enjoyed talking with you at the food table.  You have that same warm, friendly manner as your father, that makes talking about anything interesting and fun.  In fact everyone at these affairs was great company.  We all had the master there to see that a good time was had by all.  Your father will be much missed by all of us.

Barbara  Candela

Just in case you might not know,  I was the gal  who loved to dance, and my husband, Harry, always put up with my crazy, fun dances.   But I think he liked to do them, too.


Ed my brother,

Thank you for keeping me in the loop and sending me all the information about your dad.

Your email to all his friends was so very warm and heart touching and one could feel the love coming from your heart with those kind words.

I went and watched the video.  It was spectacular to say the least and these humble words do not do it justice.  The pictures of his parents, when your dad was a young man and watching him grow up gave us a glimpse into who he truly was.  What a blessing it was to be able to share in his wonderful life, and to see a few pics of you as a young good looking guy as well.

The video was very well done and edited wonderfully.  The music more than fit who your dad was and what he enjoyed the most. 

How truly blessed you are to have had such a wonderful father.  He was a man that had a joy for life and a zest for music.  Good music that stirs the soul and gets the heart beating.

For me. being a part of that was a treasure I will have as well.  Who can forget the great singers and musicians that did their best to bring happiness to dad and all those in attendance.  I will never forget how much David loves his violin player (lol) and how happy he played those songs and how David would watch him all smitten by his fiddle...laughs to treasure for sure.

I pray now, that as you are the leader of the Zito family, that you can continue in the tradition of your dad.  Not so much in the music area, rather in the role of happy and blessed man that showed genuine courtesy and respect for all those he met.  You already do and having come to know you on a more intimate and personal basis, I can see those wonderful qualities in you.  I pray for strength for you and your family to heal and become closer knowing what a great pleasure it was to have had such a great man in your lives.  As the holidays approach what better way to share memories of him and your life with him...he will be in all our hearts.

I give thanks to my Lord for having your dad, you, and Kay in my life.  I have become more blessed the moment I stepped into your dad's home and saw the three feet wide smile he had on his face.  His home was packed with so many people with most of them musicians eager to share in these treasured moments.

I again thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity and gift of dad's organ.  I do play it often (tho I am less than mediocre) and thoughts of your dad always come to mind.

In closing, I hope that we stay friends as best as possible.  We have a common denominator that only a few people in the world will ever have a chance to know in their lives.

Stand strong in your walk with the Lord and guide the next generation of Zitos into the future.

My warmest thoughts and prayers to you and your family always,

Your Friend,
Richard


Mr Zito,

I just got done watching the memorial video.  What a fantastic tribute!  
 
Your dad would stop by to say HI whenever he went to the doctor (across the hall).  Always a treat!  I even heard the 'wooden leg' song a time or two! LOL 
 
Blessings to you and your family.


Ed was a unique and multi talented guy. His smile and positive attitude were contagious and you couldn't help but be touched by his presence! 

Ed lived a full life and leaves us a memory of love, caring, and fun filled times.  I won't forget the many visits to his house helping him with his music on the organ and keyboards and playing for each other on the keyboards.  We shared a brief 20 year friendship that will last a lifetime for me! 

I was inspired by his round the clock care he provided for his loving wife, Fern and taking her everywhere with him.  He never gave it a second thought, and it came natural to him to exhibit such a  selfless devotion to her. 

Ed was an unforgettable guy who touched all of us in the best of ways! What a legacy of memories he leaves behind to family and friends. 

Love you my friend.  I'll be praying for your family.  

I knew Ed well through our association in Sertoma. Life was an exciting adventure for Ed. That saying of Ed's in his video, "Grow Until You Go" was spot on for him . He was forever the optimist about any challenge or situation. I think partly in his genes and partly the influence of  Glenn Turner and Dare To Be Great.  When he hit a stumbling block, he always tried to find a work-around without giving up. 

I helped him a lot with his computer challenges. One time he had three computers that he used regularly; because each did something he couldn't get the other two to do. He used two e-mail providers; because his friends and he communicated on one address, but he couldn't open PDF files on that one. 

Never frustrated and always positive. There are many qualities about my friend that I will try to emulate and I will never forget him.

I met Ed in 1970. The GWT days. He was always kind and caring and a dynamic motivator.

Among his many accomplishments, His love for sharing  music gave his friends and family alot of laughs and memories.

His positive attitude and big smile became his trademark and will always be remembered.

Rest in eternal Peace

Ed and family,

We at SERTOMA miss your father so much.  He was a legend at our club.  He was also our club photographer, taking pictures of all the super students each month while school was in session and doing our monthly SERTOMA newsletter.  

He was so instrumental in our annual bowling tournaments and golf tournaments to raise funds for our club.   It will be hard to fill his shoes!   

His music parties were the best!  My mother and I enjoyed them very much.  We always felt welcome at his and Fern's home.  

I had the opportunity to spend a whole day with Ed this past March, 2020, taking him as my guest to the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.  We had such a great day together watching golf from the hospitality suite, enjoying breakfast and lunch there.  Also within the same week we went to see the Nyce Guys perform in Debary.   I met Ed there since he told me how great they were.

Ed had such a lust for life and he was fun to be around.  He always had a joke to tell or a thought provoking quote.   And how he loved his wife, Fern.  He always had kind words for her and missed her so much after she passed away.  Now they are both together and we are missing them both.  

Susan Logan  

I am a fedex driver and I delivered to Ed's  home. He was one of the kindest people I've ever met.

When I would deliver  something heavy to him, I would bring into the kitchen for him. Sometimes open the box for him if he asked me to.

He had such a love for music, and food and had great stories to tell!

I was amazed the second time I delivered to his home he called me by my first name.
He was a very sincere and genuine person and will be missed on my route, but I do smile when I drive by his house and think of our conversations.

RIP Mr Zito 

I knew Ed from my neighbourhood,  his incredible music parties and from Koscot/Dare To Be Great/Glenn W. Turner days. 

Ed was forever the positive personality and a friend to all. I saw him just a couple of weeks ago walking on the street smiling and waving, enjoying the sun and breeze. We had a wonderful conversation about those tremendous people on our Memory Lane. You, sir, will be sorely missed. 

Another light has gone out in my life. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me the pleasure of knowing Ed and of precious memories that I now treasure. Rounding the corner at Calabria will never be the same!

OBITUARY

Edward Paul Zito

March 29, 1926 – July 2, 2020

Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home

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