Richard A. Zona

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Richard A. Zona, business leader, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother, and cousin, passed away peacefully in his Florida home on April 13th, 2024 Rick was born in 1944 in Chicago Heights, Illinois. His father, Alfred, was a machinist and his mother, Diva, worked in the mailroom at St. James hospital. Rick was a good student and active in sports. He played basketball and learned to box at the Catholic Youth Organization. He also caddied at Idlewild Country Club in Flossmoor and Lincolnshire Country Club in Crete. This allowed him to play golf on Mondays and introduced him to the game he would enjoy his whole life. Even in high school, Rick knew what he wanted. His yearbook revealed that his ambition was to become a CPA (and that his secret ambition was to retire early). True to his ambition, he graduated with a degree in accounting from Roosevelt University and passed the CPA exam. He started his career at the Chicago office of Ernst & Ernst, a firm that would become Ernst & Young. He transferred to South Bend where he would lead that office. In 1978, he transferred to the Minneapolis / St. Paul office where he was promoted to partner and served as National Director of their Financial Institutions Practice. In 1989, he joined First Bank System as Chief Financial Officer. This was a precarious time for the financial industry. Rick's leadership was instrumental in the bank's success in navigating through this period, and the bank emerged to become an industry benchmark. Rick was an esteemed mentor to many, including future CEOs. After a series of acquisitions, First Bank System became US Bancorp where Rick served as Vice Chairman until he retired at age 55. Rick served as a board member of several companies, including TCF Bank, Piper Jaffray Companies, ING Direct Bank, Jostens, and Polaris Industries. He served on the Federal Reserve Board Advisory Council under Alan Greenspan. He also served as a board member of the Minnesota Opera, the Guthrie Theatre, and the Jeremiah Program, and as a member of the Board of Overseers to the Carlson School of Management of the University of Minnesota. Rick contributed generously to many worthwhile organizations and causes, including research toward a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a cause which Rick cared about deeply. In the early 1990's, the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis was in need of substantial repair and was structurally failing, Rick helped arrange financing that made it possible for the Basilica to remain open. Rick was an avid golfer and played as a member of Spring Hill Country Club, The Minikahda Club and The Old Collier Golf Club in Naples, Florida. He loved hunting, fishing, boating, sports cars, and piloting his Cirrus SR22 Turbo. He enjoyed a wide range of activities with his children and grandchildren. He regularly hosted lively games of bocce and pool, and engaged in spirited push-up contests. Rick created countless adventures for his family - boat rides close to home were a weekly highlight, while fishing trips and visits to Disney World were among the most memorable moments of the year. Rick gave special attention to his grandchildren, keenly following their education and careers with interest and enthusiasm. He consistently attended graduations, sporting events, and birthdays, often emphasizing their significance with advice and words of encouragement. A steadfast presence and universally admired, Rick was both an inspiration and role model, actively involved and guiding his grandchildren through every stage of their lives. Rick is survived by his wife, Rene', his children Mark, Dwayne, and Monica, his sister Cynthia, seven grandchildren (Michael, Joseph, Lucia, Vincent, Zoe, Melissa, and Jenna), and three great-grandchildren (Anthony, William, and Sophia). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 22, 2024 at 1:00 PM at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 28300 Beaumont Rd., Bonita Springs, FL 34134. A celebration of Rick's life will follow at his favorite Italian Restaurant, Enzo's on Bonita Beach Road. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider making a donation to the EB Research Partnership. Condolences: ShikanyFuneralHome.com

Published on April 17, 2024