John R. Zavodnick's Obituary
John R. Zavodnick, age 68, of Whitehall, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. John was born on May 4, 1957, the son of Ruth (Scott) Ford and the late John L. Zavodnick.
Raised in Pleasant Hills, John graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. He was a motorcycle enthusiast, enjoying many long rides on his bike. He spent hours alongside his father fixing things and his natural talent as a handyman became a cherished trait.
A graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, John's educational journey laid the foundation for a life dedicated to craftsmanship and service. He began his career at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Georgia. More recently John served as a painter and packager of actuators at RACO International for the last 20 years.
John had a love for Old Westerns and he enjoyed laughter-filled evenings with family and friends, where his jokes and infectious sense of humor lightened the hearts of those around him. John was incredibly proud of his daughters and had a sense of pride in watching all of their accomplishments.
In addition to his mother, Ruth Ford, John is survived by his daughters, Kathryn (Brent) DeClark and Jill (DeJuan) Shannon; his grandchildren, Ada DeClark, Eve DeClark, Natalie Shannon, and Niko Zavodnick; and his sisters, Judy (Larry) Stark and Laura (Ish) Nagy. He is also survived by his uncle Martin Zavodnick; his nephews, Joseph (the late, Heather) Stark, Lee (Megan) Stark, Jim (Birgit) Nagy, and Matt (Jennifer) Nagy, his niece Terra (Justin) Harmon; and many extended family members and friends.
John was preceded in death by his father, John L. Zavodnick.
Relatives and friends are invited to join the family for visitation on Monday, July 28, 2025, from 11:00 - 2:00 pm at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, 301 Curry Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. A memorial service celebrating John's life will be held in the chapel at the funeral home at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow at Jefferson Memorial Park.
To leave online condolences please visit www.jeffersonmemorial.com
What’s your fondest memory of John?
What’s a lesson you learned from John?
Share a story where John's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with John you’ll never forget.
How did John make you smile?
