Jay Alfred Zeffiro and Retta D. Zeffiro – Gaithersburg, Md.
Jay Alfred Zeffiro died Aug. 29, 2019. He was born on Jan. 20, 1928, to Alfred and Elsie Zeffiro of Donora. Jay graduated from Donora High School and attended Valley Forge Military Academy. He graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa. That is where he met his bride to be Retta, aka, “Cissy.” They married on Aug. 11, 1950. Jay served in both the Army and Navy before returning to live in Monongahela. Initially, Jay worked with his father at Zeffiro Transfer Trucking Co. and would go on to eventually assume leadership over that business. After selling the company, Jay returned to graduate school at Duquesne University and then worked as head of the economics department at California University. He loved that job and all of his students. While helping to raise his children, Tom and Carol, he enjoyed golf at the Mon Valley Country Club. He had many great friends and memories of his time spent there. He was an avid Steelers and Pirates fan. He never missed a home Steelers game. Jay was also a civic leader serving on multiple boards throughout the Valley. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Jane, all from Donora.
Retta D. Zeffiro died April 9, 2023. She was born on March 7, 1931, to Gary and Delorean Dickson of Washington, Pa. She graduated from East Washington High School in Washington, Pa. Retta attended Mary Washington College in Virginia for a year before marrying Jay, whom she met in Washington, Pa., at Washington & Jefferson College. They wedded on Aug. 11, 1950. “Cissy,” as she is better known in the Mon Valley, moved to Monongahela and became a homemaker and volunteer for various charities. When her younger child, Carol, entered high school, she decided to go back to college and earn a degree in social work from California University. She worked at the Mon Valley Health Center in Women’s Health Services. Cissy also had many fond memories of friends and social activities at Mon Valley Country Club. She was predeceased by her parents and brother, Skip, of Washington, Pa. In 1996, after retirement, Jay and Cissy purchased a home in Hilton Head, S.C. They spent the winters there and returned to Pennsylvania for the beautiful summer golfing weather! Lots of family memories were made at this island getaway. Jay and Cissy moved to Gaithersburg, Md., in 2012 to be closer to their children, who both resided in Maryland. They had a lot of quality time with the children and grandchildren during their time in Gaithersburg. They are survived by children, Tom Zeffiro and Carol Montgomery; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. At 1 p.m. Friday, June 23, 2023, there will be a gravesite ceremony for both Jay and Retta at Monongahela Valley Cemetery. If you would like to share a memory or get more information, please email Carol Montgomery at Montgomc0@gmail.com.
