January 17, 1940 – April 1, 2024
Frederick Anthony (Tony) Zahn made his transition from this life to the next at his home in Oklahoma City on April 1, 2024.
Tony was first welcomed into the world by his parents, Frederick Henry Zahn, Jr. and Betty Lee Zahn (Anthony) at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Oklahoma City on January 17, 1940.
He grew up in Oklahoma City and was a proud member of the first graduating class of Harding High School.
At Yale Tony was an economics major and was in Trumbull (Council, 1959-60, football captain, volleyball, and swimming. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi (vice-president, 1960), also Yale Key (1959-60), and freshman track.
After graduating with our class at Yale, Tony went back home to earn his law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. He continued his study of law at NYU, obtaining a Master’s in corporate law.
Tony first practiced law by serving as a management consultant for firms operating in Philadelphia, New York and Chicago. He returned to Oklahoma and entered into private practice in both Edmond and Oklahoma City, specializing in labor relations law serving cities and towns in Oklahoma. Tony loved to share his knowledge of the law as he served as an adjunct Professor at both Oklahoma City University School of Law and Tulsa University School of Law.
Following a distinguished legal career, Tony responded to a call from God to give his life for full-time ministry. He attended both Perkins School of Theology at SMU and Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City to prepare himself for that purpose. He served as Minister of St. Luke’s/Redemption United Methodist Church in Tulsa (an arm of the Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries of the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church). Following that appointment, he served as the Executive Director of The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM) in Oklahoma City.
Upon retirement, Tony gave his time and commitment to many worthy causes, including VOICE (Voices Organized in Civic Engagement), Ice Angels, an outreach ministry of Mosaic Community Church for our un-housed friends, and Whiz Kids, a program to strengthen the reading skills of elementary age children.
Tony’s civic endeavors were many. He was a member of the City Council for Oklahoma City from 1973-1976. He was a founding Trustee of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence and proudly served in that capacity for the remainder of his life. He served a stint as a Trustee of Oklahoma City University, was a Paul Harris Fellow with Rotary Club 29 and a member of Class VI of Leadership Oklahoma.
When he was informed of Tony’s passing, Roscoe Sandlin, one of Tony’s roommates sent the following message:
“Thanks for letting me know. It saddens me when I think of the good times we had at the “penthouse” in Trumbull. Mike Kern and I were fortunate to have participated in a mini-reunion of roommates several years ago at the Vail home of Clark Fitzmorris.
“Of the many parties and conversations we had, two incidents involving Tony stick out in my fading memory. One fine spring day he offered to let me take his Austin-Healey out for a ride in the country. Unfortunately, I banged it up a bit. Though I was intensely remorseful, he forgave me with grace, and would only accept the insurance deductible as recompense.
“The other incident occurred at a party, where his only sin was being handsome and charming. His magnetism was not lost on my date, who flirted with him outrageously. Tony did not reciprocate and did nothing wrong, and was unaware of the horrendous argument that ensued between me and my date. The next year I married that girl and stayed with her until she died 56 years later.
“Yes, Tony was a solid guy.”
Tony was always an Eli. His brother Larry (Yale ’64) shared the following story about his final months:
“We received a call on November 17 that Tony was in the hospital and he was rapidly deteriorating (he had been going downhill for months), and he wasn’t expected to last many days. He had congestive heart failure and his blood pressure was falling. We got a flight Saturday Nov. 18 and drove directly from the airport to the hospital, expecting to say our last farewells.
“When we got to his room, he greeted us cheerfully and inviting us to join them in singing ‘Bulldog, Bulldog, Bow Wow Wow!’
“He had just enjoyed the end of the Yale-Harvard game. Apparently, while we were traveling they had changed his medication, his heart function and blood pressure had recovered, and he was no longer in critical danger.
“We were grateful for the reprieve, and hoped he might survive through Thanksgiving. He went home with hospice care and not only enjoyed Thanksgiving, though still bedridden, and Christmas; but we even spoke to him on Easter to say ‘Happy Easter!’ He was in good spirits, and we had a nice conversation.
“He passed away the next evening.
“We are grateful for that last phone call.”
Tony is survived by his wife, Maggie Ball Zahn; his daughters, Katharine Cavanaugh (Mark Westerback), Heidi (Tim) Adair and Jennifer Zahn and his bonus son, David Ball. He was the proud “Grandpa Tony” to Graham, Jake and Hannah Cavanaugh and to Griffin, Elliot and Brooke Adair. He is also survived by his two brothers, Larry (Connie) Zahn and Richard (Linda) Zahn, and his one sister, Betsy (Bob) Thorpe and his bonus Mom, Rosie Zahn. He was the beloved “Uncle Tony” to numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred (Yale 1958 E) and Betty Zahn and his bonus daughter, Suzanne Ball Miller.
The family is particularly grateful to the wonderful caregivers from Traditions Hospice and Visiting Angels for their loving care for Tony which enabled him to remain in his home for his last days.
Following a private interment, Tony’s life was celebrated on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel of Oklahoma City University, 2501 N. Blackwelder.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations in his memory be made to Mosaic Community Church (UCC), 3131 N.W. 50th, Oklahoma City, OK, 73112.
— Douglas “Tim” Hall