Frank Leo Zorc, 84, of Sebastian, passed away peacefully in Bethesda, Md., on April 26, 2016.
During a recent visit to Maryland to spend time with four of his children and their families, he suffered a stroke. The stroke, combined with his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s disease, was severely debilitating. Despite attempts at rehabilitation his condition declined, and he decided to forego further treatment. As was his wish, he was cared for in his last days at home, surrounded lovingly by many of his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his nine children: William J. Zorc (Connie) of Vero Beach, Frank G. Zorc (Paula) of Orlando, Marylee Zorc O’Neill of Vero Beach, Dr. Thomas G. Zorc (Lori) of Bethesda, Md., Michael J. Zorc (Jodi) of Vero Beach, Joseph G. Zorc (Emily) of Rockville, Md., Kathryn E. Wright (Warren) of Rockville, Md., Rosemary A. Hersey of Rockville, Md., and Gwen B. Lamothe of Vero Beach; his sister-in-law Arlyne Zorc; niece Deborah Seeley; nephews Kenneth Zorc and Timothy Zorc, all of Vero Beach; cousins Joseph M. Zorc of Washington D.C. and R. David Zorc of Wheaton, Md.; his dear cousins Dr. Marjeta Zorc and Dr. Ruda Zorc Pleskovic of Ljubljana, Slovenia; and his 53 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Gwendolyn Weiss Zorc Biemann, and his only sibling, Richard Zorc.
Of Slovenian descent, Zorc was born to Frank Joseph Zorc and Leona Mary Vozel, in Waukegan, Ill., on Jan. 1, 1932. He moved to Sebastian in 1950 before honorably serving in the Army for two years during the Korean Conflict. Following his service, he made Vero Beach his permanent home, where his greatest legacy was raising and educating his nine children with his wife Gwendolyn.
Zorc was a home builder and developer. He founded Frank L. Zorc Real Estate, and developed the Citrus Bowl Plaza. His proudest contribution to the community was founding St. Francis Manor, an Independent Living Facility that has provided low-cost housing to over one thousand Indian River County residents over the past 40 years.
For more than 65 years, he was an active parishioner and volunteered in many capacities at St. Helen Catholic Church. He was President of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, and was active in the Knights of Columbus.
Locally, Zorc is remembered as a man who did things his own way. He was an advocate for the taxpayers and a civic activist, always standing up for the little guy. He was passionate about doing things the right way and for causes that were just, regardless of who he was up against – even if it meant opposing City Hall or the “good old boys.” He authored numerous opinions in local papers and was always honest about his views and intentions.
Visitations will be held on Friday, May 6, 2016 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Strunk Funeral Home, 917 17th Street, Vero Beach, FL, 32960, and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Helen Catholic Church, 2085 Tallahassee Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday May 7, 2016 at 6 p.m., at St. Helen Catholic Church. There will be no burial ceremony. A reception will follow in the St. Helen Catholic Church Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to a cause dear to Frank’s heart, the St. Francis Manor Building Fund, 1750 20th Ave., Vero Beach, FL 32960, with the notation “Building Fund, in memory of Frank L. Zorc.”
