Ronald Joseph Zafonte

Ronald Joseph Zafonte, 87, of Leesburg, VA, passed peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on Aug 31, 2020.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday October 17, 2020 at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Road, Leesburg VA 20176. Family will receive visitors from 10a.m. – 11:00a.m. with a short religious service to follow.

Inurnment will follow at a later date in a private family ceremony.

Ron was born in Garfield, NJ to Charles and Grace Zafonte on April 4, 1933.  Ron attended Seaton Hall University from 1950-1951; he served in the US Navy from March 1953 – January 1959 where he was as a Teleman 1  ^st  class (E-6). He served aboard the USS Owen DD-536 and at the Bureau of Navy Personnel, Washington, DC. He then graduated from Seaton Hall in 1961.

Ron was married on October 14, 1961 to the love of his life, Sarah Louise Brannon. They lived in Vienna, VA where they raised their 3 children.

Ron spent his entire career in Federal service in various agencies including The Veterans Administration, US Naval Communications Agency and finally the Defense Intelligence Agency where he retired in 1988.

Ron was an avid fisherman imparting his love of the sea and fishing to his kids; he was affectionately referred to as Firkle Fleming by those closest to him. He also enjoyed gardening, tinkering on the family cars and collecting coins. He was a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel church in Vienna, VA for over 50 years.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Sarah, his parents and 2 brothers Charles and Patrick.

He is survived by his daughter Melissa Ann Sanders (Jack) and two sons Mark Robert Zafonte (Stephanie) and Michael Joseph Zafonte (Robert Larson).

In lieu of flowers memorial donations in his name may be made to Catholic Charities at the following address:  https://secure2.convio.net/ccusa/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20122a?df_id=2301&mfc_pref=T&2301.donation=form1&_ga=2.158711610.1234229563.1598980661-224899319.1598980661#toggle