Jay Zorich

We lost the world’s nicest guy, a man who loved to laugh and make others laugh, when Jay Zorich passed away due to congestive heart failure Sunday, Jan. 25, in Everett, Wash. Jay was the son of Joseph and Beverly Zorich, born Feb. 17, 1951.

His youth was spent on Queen Anne and Whidbey Island. Jay graduated from Langley High, attended the University of Washington and served in the National Guard. He was an entrepreneur, eventually taking innate talent in the dramatic arts to appear in TV shows, commercials and films. Jay was a member of SAG and appeared in the film “10 Things I Hate About You.”

In addition to acting, Jay was adept at stand-up comedy and was a beautiful operatic tenor. He will be remembered for singing the National Anthem at many Seattle sporting events.

An Everett resident, Jay is survived by his beloved wife, Mary; son, Andy (Erika); and grandson, Corvin; father, Joseph (Vivienne); siblings, Joe (Judy, Maria, Annteresa (Bruce), Paul (Chris), Matt and Katherine(Craig); many nieces and nephews; Uncle Sid (Marlene); and dear friends Ivonne and Mark.

Jay was preceded in death by his mother, Beverly. Son Andy commemorated his dad’s life by saying, “RIP Jay Zorich. Gentle and loving father … comedian, actor, opera singer … passed away in comfort, laughing us all the way to the end. Truly the life of the party, the party in life. The earth is a little less funny today and infinity a little brighter.”

Memorials can be made to the charity of your choice or the American Heart Association. A celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Edmonds Senior Center.