George John Van Zeyl

11/8/1937 – 9/24/2026 Age 88 of Jacksonville, FL formerly of Great River, NY

Being a career restaurateur, Dad was always very social and had many stories to tell. As owner of the Sandpiper Restaurant in Queens, NY at the time of the World’s Fair through 1980, and later the GM of Johnny’s Crabhouse in Centerport he formed many long lasting friendships in the hospitality industry that was his comfort zone for so many years. Even after retiring to Florida, he stayed in the industry with Zaxby’s and Applebee’s.

Outside of his career, he was a jokester, he loved trains his whole life, went to many train shows, and had a large display he worked on over the course of many years and had a designated “train tree” at Christmas with a contest for the grandkids to guess how many trains were on it with at last count, over 900!. He enjoyed cruising with his wife, going to see local theater, the symphony, baseball and football games and to cook for the holidays. In the “old days” he had a boat (but couldn’t swim) but wanted his kids to have the fun experience of being on the water and catching crabs, clams on LI.

Predeceased by his parents John and Helene, his wife Patricia (affectionately known to him as Patty Mae) and son Robert, George is survived by his brother James of Prescott, Arizona and his children Bob (Kathleen) Damiano, Kathy (James) Musacchio, Karen (Billy) Cavanaugh, Nancy (Doug) Bell, Jill (Fred) Moss. He was the proud grandfather of 13; Justin, Kelly, Joey, Anthony, Christopher, Danielle, Matthew, Ryan, Samantha, Katelyn, Catherine, Hailey, Tyler and great-grandfather to Ava, Jordan, Alyssa, Shawn, Joey, Victoria, Isabella, Hallie.

Those wishing to pay their respects can do so at the visitation or make a donation in his honor to BettyGriffincenter.org or to mayoclinic.org for research of PSP/Neurological disease.