Henry K. Zephir

Henry Karl Zephir, husband of the late Joan Elaine Zephir for 69 years, both longtime Wilbraham residents, since 1972, passed away on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Henry and Joan both originate from Baltimore, MD. Henry was born at home at 1408 Battery Avenue in Baltimore City. As a child, Henry attended The Star of Sea School located across the street from his childhood home and later sang solo at Christmas Midnight Mass. Henry went on to attend Loyola High School in Towson, Maryland at the same time former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s brother Thomas D’Aalesandro III who went on to be the Mayor of Baltimore.

After graduating from Loyola, Henry attended the University of Maryland at College Park and received a degree in accounting, later becoming a Certified Public Accountant.

Henry loved to talk about his life as a “manufacturing man”. After college he worked for a subsidiary of J.P. Stevens in the Baltimore area, then to Virginia Chemical and then as Vice President of Administration and Finance at
the Moore Drop Forge Company in Springfield, MA. The Moore Company was an “exclusive” maker of Craftsman Hand Tools for Sears and Roebuck Company located in Chicago, IL.

Henry completed his professional career as owner of Henry K. Zephir, CPA, East Longmeadow. During those later years Henry was very active with The Rotary Club of East Longmeadow.

Personally, Henry and his wife Joan were the parents of seven children. The first five children, Karl, Mark, Karen, Dwight and Jeff were born in Baltimore, the sixth child, Douglas in Virginia and the seventh, Jennifer, in Massachusetts.

Henry and Joan became In-Laws to Karl’s wife Martha, Mark’s wife Linda Fey, Karen’s husband Bert and Jeff’s wife Grazyna.

Henry and Joan became Grandparents to eight grandchildren; Greg Zephir in NC, Chris Zephir in VA, Mike Gallini in MA, Sarah Ragonese in IN, Zachary Zephir in MA, Alexander and Jacob Johnson in MA and Mary Josi Zephir in FL as well as eleven Great Grand Children; Logan and Landen Zephir, Madison and Thomas Zephir, Emily and Andrew Gallini, Sophia, Luke, Matthew, Vincent and Genevieve Ragonese.

Religiously, Henry was very active at St. Catherine of Siena Church, where he initiated the devotion of the Divine Mercy celebrated by the Catholic church on the first Sunday after Easter.

Henry and Joan were extremely hard working parents that like many parents, did all they could for their children to the point of putting themselves last. Henry and Joan will never be forgotten by their family. We Love You Mom, Dad, Nan, Pop, Great Nan and Great Pop!

A Special thank you to Henry’s Daughter’s Karen and Jennifer who were with their Father 24 / 7 in his final days here on earth….

Visitation will be held on Sunday April 27 from 3-6PM at Wilbraham Funeral Home, 2551 Boston Rd., Wilbraham. Family and friends may meet for Henry’s Funeral Mass on Monday, April 28th at 12:15PM at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 1023 Parker St., Springfield. Committal with Military Honors will follow at 2PM at MA Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main St., Agawam.