Obituary of John Jacob Zoller

With sadness and a heavy heart , we mourn and are at peace with the passing of John Jacob Zoller, Esq. of Diamond Street, Little Falls , on Monday September 6, 2010. He left us to rejoin his wife in their deep, continual, long lasting bond of love and friendship. He was 100 years old. He was born at home on June 29, 1910, the eldest son of the late John I. Zoller and Imogene Lewis Zoller. To be healthy and fully engaged for an entire century in a life lived with great joy and happiness, he was thankful and he recognized the "mystery" and is now prepared to rejoin his wife. He was united in marriage to Carolyn Hildreth on August 17, 1940 at the Christ Episcopal Church in Herkimer. She died in 2003 just before their 63rd wedding anniversary. In death, as in life, they will be together and he will continue to stand by her side. Mr. Zoller gradated from Little Falls High School in 1928, from St. Lawrence University in 1932 and Harvard Law School in 1935 (L.L.B.) and Harvard University (J.D.) in 1969. He was admitted to the practice of law by the New York State Bar in 1935. Summers during high school and college he worked for the United States Geological Society (U.S.G.S.) surveying federal wilderness areas in the Rocky Mountains and in the Flathead Region of Montana. He also did land surveying for the New York State Department of Transportation. A member in and supporter of both St. Lawrence and Harvard Law School, alumni association, and an attendee of reunions stretching across the decades. A member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, he maintained his connection through its foundation to support educational projects. Mr. Zoller had a long and varied professional career in the law as a corporate associate in a large firm, a small town general practitioner, a public servant holding positions as city attorney for the City of Little Falls, acting judgeships for the city and practiced law on a wide assortment of matters. He briefed and argued a case in the New York State Appellate Division and counseled and gave advice to numerous clients over the decades. As a small town general practitioner, he saw a wide spectrum of needs, concerns, and problems arising out of everyday life. He began his professional career right out of law school in the mid 1930s at the Utica law firm then known as Miller, Hubbell and Evans (known now as Felt Evans, founded in 1804). He then opened his own office in Little Falls in the Journal & Courier Building on Main Street. He later relocated to the Burrell Building until the early 1980s. Moving his office to the "Jacob Zoller Home", he continued to work well into his nineties not really retiring until after his wife died in the early years of this decade. His wife was instrumental in the history and restoration of his office / ancestral home. He was sworn in and admitted to practice in all New York State Courts, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (Fourth Judicial Dept.) in 1938; and Federal Courts: US District Court (Northern District New York) in 1938, US Dept. of Justice Board of Immigration Appeals (1948), US Court of Claims (1964), and the US Supreme Court (1964). He continued a life long membership in professional bar associations such as the New York State Bar Association, the American Bar Association and especially , locally the Herkimer County Bar Association. He served in various capacities in the Herkimer County Bar Association and held the office of President in earlier years. He participated in educational events, meetings, committee work and dinners all over the state. Mr. Zoller was a member of the Grand Lodge: Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York since joining the former Little Falls Lodge # 181 in 1939, He held the position of District Deputy Grand Master for the Herkimer District and served in numerous other Masonic capacities. As District Deputy in the 1960s he was responsible for the 100th anniversary Masonic Brotherhood Fund Campaign raising monies used to modernize the Masonic Home and the Medical Research Laboratories in Utica. He recently was acknowledged with 70 years continuous membership certificate and pin from the Grand Secretary of the State of New York. Mr. Zoller (a 32 Degree Mason) was also a member of over 65 years of the Yahnundahsis Bodies Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in the Valley of Utica. A permanent member of 65 years of the Ziyara Temple of the Shrine A.A.O.N.M.S. of Utica; he long supported the Shriners Hospital for Children and the Shriners International. A life member of the Little Falls Elks Lodge # 42 B.P.O.E. and supporter of Elks USA. His strong interest in history kept him connected through his membership and participation since the 1960s in the Sons of the American Revolution Empire State Society a tribute to the death of a direct ancestor at the Battle of Oriskany in1777. Mr. Zoller was a lifetime member of St. Pauls Universalist Church in Little Falls. Joining the church co founded in part by his immediate ancestors, he taught Sunday School as a youth and later served on the Board of Trustees and was active as an adult in the Mens Club. Mindful of the history and tradition of his fore bearers, he honored their roots and their endeavors with an accepting stewardship. Having lived a long disciplined good life, he set standards for the honor and respect earned by his word, deeds and actions. He had a focused determination and a work ethic to just keep going in all lifes activities both large and small. He said both the everyday small steps and the broad measures of a lifetime all added up and mattered. As a father, he never wavered. Mr. Zoller was a daily reader of newspapers, magazines and follower of history, world events, politics and business. An avid reader of books in history, biography, natural philosophy and science books on human nature and the origins of humankind. He cast his first political vote in 1932. It was with an open curious attitude to keep "up to date" that he approached the new changes and modernization over a century of changes. He stayed in good health and fitness by life long exercise of walking and dumb bell weights. He played tennis and golf and had been a member in earlier years of the Cedarville and Mohawk Valley Country Clubs. He and his wife, Carolyn, teamed up travel the world with great enjoyment; they relaxed, learned new things, met new people and had fun. They brought back stories and photographs from many trips to Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, South America, the Caribbean, the Mid East and North Africa, Canada, Mexico and all over the USA. For decades, he and Carolyn attended all the Broadway Theater League productions and the Great Artist Concerts at the Stanley Theater in Utica. They also attended the Glimmergalss Opera productions in Cooperstown. They were longtime members of the Fort Schuyler Club, Utica. Mr. Zoller is survived by his son John T. Zoller and daughters Carolann Z. Young (Ted McQuade), Imogene H. Zoller - all of New York, Mary A. Zoller, MD (Rick Whiffen) of Pennsylvania and Sarah Z. Thrasher (Will Thrasher) of Maryland. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, three nieces and many grand-nieces and nephews and several cousins. Besides his wife and parents, he was predeceased by his brother Lewis William Zoller, Esq. in May of 2010, his sister Sarah I. Hoffman and brother Murray D. Zoller. Funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Town of Little Falls. Arrangements are by the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home