Kids & Family

Upon Passing, Naugatuck Remembers Donald Zehnder Jr.

The former Town Attorney and well respected resident died July 5, 2013, at the age of 53.

Former Town Attorney and well-known Naugatuck resident Donald Joseph Zehnder Jr. died Friday morning at the age of 53 following a brief illness.

"Zeke," as he was known, shared his health battle openly with friends and family on his Facebook page, through wall posts over the last month. Just about a week ago, on June 25, he wrote:

"Ok. The road to success is full of trepidation! Let's hope the dialysis jump starts my kidneys we hope and pray Lord. Thank you for such wonderful friends. Please let today be the best day yet. Guten Morgen!"

Guten Morgen means "Good Morning" in German.

Two days earlier, on June 23, he wrote:

"Ok. My RN [said] she never saw as many family and friends cumatively over her 12 yrs. as she did today The last of the visitors left at 8 pm. Tonight. They had to clear the hallways twice today. A friend actually flew in from Chicago at 10 am
and flew back at 4 pm. Nice surprise."

And it's exactly that kind of love and outpouring of support that those who knew him are showing today, upon learning of the longtime resident's death.

"He was a Naugatuck guy through and through," said Jim Goggin, the town's Tax Collector and a longtime friend of Zehnder. "He will be sorely missed."

"He was the kind of guy who made anybody feel like a best friend," said Kevin DelGobbo, a former state representative. "He would take you in his arms and give you a sort of bear hug, whether literally or figuratively. He was a sort of Naugatuck icon at a young age."

DelGobbo said he had many interactions with Zehnder over the years, given Zehnder's involvement with the Republican party and committees in town and at the state level.

Dorothy Hoff, chair of the Naugatuck Republican Town Committee, was a classmate and friend of Zehnder.

"It's so sad to lose a friend," she said, "especially one with whom we should have had many more years of interesting debates and discussions on political issues and other topics."

"Zeke and his family have always been involved with this community, from the Rotary and Exchange Clubs to opening up their homes for candidates," she continued. "Some of my favorite memories are of events they hosted and Christmas parties at their home. Zeke was always supportive and kind to me. We will miss him."

Zehnder was also a partner along with his father, Donald Zehnder Sr., at the Naugatuck-based law of Zehnder and Zehnder.

Services have not been announced yet. Patch will publish them as soon as they are made available.

In the meantime, we encourage the community to share their memories of Zehnder and their condolences in the comments on this article.


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