On February 14th, 2022 Frank A. Zurla IV peacefully passed onto his heavenly home with the Lord while surrounded by his loving family.
We have been so blessed by your laugh, your smile, your hugs, and your heart. It will all be missed until we meet again in our Father’s home.
Frank was born July 12th, 1986 to Frank and Margaret Zurla in Apalachin, NY. Growing up you could find this sweet and polite young boy playing with his Ninja Turtles, Nintendo, Legos, watching football, swimming with his little sister, Marcy, in their family pool, playing street hockey with his friends, and camping and traveling with his family. He knew he could always find comfort in big hugs from his mom, his Grandma’s chocolate chip cookies and his beloved beagle, Radar.
After graduating from Vestal Senior High School he got his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering from Binghamton University, but not before he met his caring wife and best friend, Tracy, while working at Sweeney’s Market in 2005. His wit, charm, flashy smile, and apron captivated her heart and they have been happily married now for over 10 years. The two of them were inseparable and could be found over the years snowboarding with friends, attending hockey games (where he enjoyed working with his friends from the BSens Game Ops staff), doing Crossfit, enjoying family vacations at the beach, and rescuing stray beach puppies in Puerto Rico and bringing them back to play in the snow at their new forever homes. He also had a love for fast cars and enjoyed driving his Rally Blue Subaru WRX, whom he referred to as Sexy Rexy. Frank was optimistic and determined that he would not be limited by anything that life threw at him and it showed in the way that he lived his life.
Frank started his career as a software engineer at L-3 Communications – Link Training and Simulation and continued working there in engineering and team lead positions for 10 years. During that time he met some truly wonderful friends and he also earned a Master’s Degree from Binghamton University in Computer Science, all while still finding time for some intense Lego builds and late night game nights with friends. In 2019 he continued his career at BAE Systems as a Senior Systems Engineer where he met another great group of people that he enjoyed getting to know. Frank was recently promoted to a Principle Systems Engineer and was also nominated for the 2022 Frithiof V. (Fritz) Johnson Award for Engineering Excellence.
Frank has always loved being surrounded by his loving and supportive family and friends. He had a love for cooking and if you were lucky enough to experience some of his gourmet cooking skills or chocolate covered strawberries you would understand his talent. He was often found spoiling his nieces and nephews with treats, toys, nerf gun battles, challenging them in a video game, or even taking them on special outings. Frank touched the lives of anyone he spent time with and formed many close friendships along the way. There is nothing he enjoyed more than casual get-togethers with friends where everyone always stayed too long and endured one too many bad jokes leaving with a belly-ache full of laughs.
Most recently he was able to welcome his sweet baby girl, Hannah Ruth, into this world and she instantly had her daddy wrapped around her tiny finger. The snuggles, hugs, and kisses have been enjoyed and every one of them will be forever cherished.
Frank was predeceased by his grandparents Chester Kulp, Marilyn (Bunny) Kulp, and Suzanne Kulp and his best golden retriever friend, Benny, who helped him through some of life’s toughest challenges.
He is survived by his loving wife, Tracy, their sweet baby girl, Hannah Ruth, and their loveable pups Jonny and Ellie. His mother Margaret Zurla, father Frank Zurla III, and sister Marcy (Neil) Wesley. His grandparents Frank and Elizabeth Zurla Jr., grandparents Charles and Ruth Harvey, his father and mother in-law Michael and Luan Harvey, Brother and sister in-laws Misty (Paul) Cope, Shannon (Tony) Casterline, Jackie (Dusty) Taylor, Jeremiah (Sarah) Harvey. His very special nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Frankie so much, Lucas and Maddison, Levi and Ethan, Gianna, Max, and Nolan, Malachi and MaKenna, and Jocie. Many wonderful uncles, aunts, and cousins who he loved dearly along with many incredible friends.
We would like to thank all of Frank’s family and friends for their amazing outpouring of love and support over the years. Dr. Alfred Garfall at Penn Medicine who has gone above and beyond providing Frank with outstanding care and compassionate support throughout the years, Broome Oncology and Broome Radiation Oncology for their excellent care, and an extra special thank you to Mercy House and Lourdes Hospice for providing exceptional comfort and love in the most difficult time we could imagine.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Mercy House of the Southern Tier in memory of Frank A Zurla IV.
Visitation will be Friday, February 18th from 10 am until service time at 12 pm at Calvary’s Love Assembly of God Church, 1315 Reynolds Road, Johnson City, NY. Burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City.