Steve Zengel, 52 left us unexpectedly on April 24th. He was a lifelong Jersey guy, a larger-than-life personality with a big heart, and he leaves a huge gap in many lives.

With a Doctorate in Education, he spent many years teaching and in administration and was beloved by his students. Many remember him and stay in touch years later. He was a born sports coach and while he mainly coached basketball, he also coached his boys in soccer when they were young. His former players all loved him and he was involved in their lives off the courts even years later.

He spent some time working in the financial sector and with his sharp mind and love of business and numbers he helped many families turn their financial health around. Combining this with his teaching, his business classes were student favorites in whichever school he taught.

His true passion was born 10 years ago as he founded his own cigar company. This was prompted by his part-time work at a cigar store in Hampton, VA where he was an assistant coach at Hampton University. He brought the company through ups and downs, reimagining and learning as he went until he became well known and loved in that industry as well. His motto was “meeting new people, having fun, helping others” and his vision was to change the world one cigar at a time. In the latter, he loved how sitting together over a cigar for a few hours relaxed people and allowed free thinking and talking, listening to other’s opinions, and learning, which he felt the world is lacking these days. He founded a nonprofit as well that gave money back to families of fallen police and firefighters. Giving back meant the world to him and he was the first person at your door when you needed something.

He had a vast network of people from all his life stages. From intermediate school through college, his teaching and basketball coaching years, 5 Star Basketball, motorcycle riding, financial planning, and his cigar world. He loved people and he loved connecting them together. His other big loves were his Steelers, his Villanova basketball and every year, life shutdown for March Madness.

Passions, accomplishments and loves, he had many, but he would say his greatest of all were his twin boys Chris and Will. He loved them fiercely, protected them well, and gave them all the advice and guidance he could. They admired his amazing ability to connect to people and loved going places with him because it was a running joke that no matter where they went he knew someone there. He was a fantastic dad (definitely the fun parent) and they will miss him terribly.

He also leaves behind his wife of 22 years Lorri. He told anyone who would listen that he knew he was going to marry her the day he met her. He was her greatest cheerleader; protector and she will be lost without him. Also surviving Steve are his loving mom Carolyn Zengel, sister Denise, brother-in-law David, and his nieces Morgan and Madison Harkness along with many aunts, cousins, and friends.

A private viewing with family will take place followed by cremation. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, May 6th at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 6 Osbourne Ave, Manasquan, NJ at 12 pm followed by a gathering in the church hall. Steve was someone who never followed the norms or rules so he would love you to come dressed as he knew you whether it was Villanova wear, motorcycle gear, Steelers or a guayabera shirt. He never wanted a formal funeral so we will make it as unique as he was. We hope you will feel comfortable sharing your favorite Steve stories.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to his Los Caidos foundation (formerly known as Life of a Ridetime) so his legacy can carry on. The link can be found here.