Ronald J. Zera

Ronald J. Zera passed away on Easter of complications from congestive heart failure at the age of 85. He had hoped to reach 90.

Labor attorney, innovative teacher, voracious reader, and crossword puzzle fanatic are just a few of Ron’s attributes. His six years at St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman, PA, which he entered at the age of 13, instilled a deep spirituality. He had a unique ability to look at things from an untrodden perspective, often passionate and frequently funny. He once observed that there are two proofs of the existence of God: the perfection of J.S. Bach’s music and potato chips.

In a notebook that he kept he mentions that he always looked for shoulders to stand on so he could see further. “The best shoulders I’ve found belong to four-year-olds.”

His wife of 58 years, Carol Carpenter Zera shared his travel adventures, including a multi-trip quest to visit Byzantine sites in Turkey, Malta, Venice, Sicily, Croatia, Serbia and Greece and Buddhist temples in Hong Kong. They explored the tangled alleys of Fez in North Africa; visited orthodox and Roman Catholic monasteries worldwide; and lived in a tiny apartment on the left bank of Paris.

Another passion led Ron and Carol to buy a 25-acre weekend farm in Butler County, where they grew huge gardens. Ron spent hours on his car-size Kubota tractor, which once slid and overturned on a steep hill after a rain, saved by a strategically placed tree.

Sometimes maddening but usually right, Ron ignored common protocol to push for what he saw as just. Even from his hospital bed, he refused to let a passing doctor interrupt a therapist’s report. He fought for democratic principles and was a committee person then election judge for his precinct.

For years he swam laps in the morning. After retiring, he learned to bake bread—winning blue ribbons at the Westmoreland County Fair, and he took up yoga. He also loved attending concerts by the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, the Pittsburgh Symphony, and, as a board member, the Westmoreland Symphony.

Ron was a doctoral student in philosophy at The Pennsylvania State University before attaining a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh. He had a B.A. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

He was the son of Joseph and Catherine Zera of Braddock, PA. His brother Greg passed away before him. He is survived by his wife Carol and nieces Deborah Romano of Trafford, Christine Valentine of New Castle and Clarissa Horner of Austin, TX; nephew Keenan Izzo, and sister-in-law Robin Izzo and her husband Jim of McKinney, TX

There will be no memorial service. Contributions can be made to Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh (mompgh.com). Or enjoy a potato chip in his memory.

Services have been entrusted to the LEO M. BACHA FUNERAL HOME, INC., 516 Stanton Street, Greensburg.  www.bachafh.com.

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