Garrett Lance: Bryan Zolfo’s Death a Loss for the Community

“We have some bad news…”: words no college student wants to hear from his parents upon answering the phone.

Unfortunately, those were exactly the words I heard three months ago as my mom and dad informed me that a close family friend, Bryan Zolfo, had .

My first reaction was confusion. I asked for clarification because I couldn’t quite believe what I had heard. I knew that he had been suffering from a rare disease, amyloidosis, for nearly a year, but I never expected his sudden passing. When my parents repeated the news, I had the bizarre feeling of knowing that I would never see this man - someone I saw regularly at church or around town - again.

After I hung up the phone, I was immediately overcome with memories of his life. I remembered Bryan and my father leading my confirmation small group for two years. I also recalled him helping out at retreats put on by the St. Peter Peer Ministry Team, of which his daughter and I were members. Bryan cared deeply about his Catholic faith and loved sharing it with high school youth. While he had strong religious convictions, he had an equally strong sense of empathy and understanding.

Now back in Geneva for the summer, I am again reminded of what an impact Bryan had on his community. He was a devoted husband, a loving father, a man of strong Catholic faith, and someone who always displayed intellect, passion, humor, and love. His passing leaves a hole in our town and in the hearts of those who knew him.