Ernest "Ernie" Zavodnyik

Ernest “Ernie” Zavodnyik of Venice, Florida, passed away on June 3, 2026. Born in Rivesville, West Virginia on August 17, 1938, he moved to Cleveland with his family in 1954 where he attended St. Edward’s High School. Zavodnyik received degrees from the University of Notre Dame and Notre Dame Law School before marrying his wife Helen (née Cahill) in 1964. During a marriage of sixty-one years, they raised four boys in Flossmoor, Illinois. Zavodnyik played a large role in the lives of his children by coaching their sports teams, encouraging their intellectual interests and introducing them to the Roman Catholic faith. An avid reader, he passed that happy trait on to his boys. Zavodnyik worked for the American Bar Association in Chicago for many years. He often traveled to South Bend with family members in the fall to see his alma mater wake up the echoes on the gridiron. After moving to Florida in 2003, Zavodnyik served on the Venice City Council and played an active role in Epiphany Cathedral Parish and in charitable organizations including Habitat for Humanity. He remained a friend and advocate of the downtrodden throughout his life. Zavodnyik was preceded in death by his sister, Regina, and his parents, Julia and Paul. He is survived by his widow, Helen Zavodnyik, as well as his four sons, Paul, Peter, Steve, and Mark, his sister, Francie Petrilli, his daughter-in-law, Siobhan Moran, and his grandchildren, Ellie and Frank.

A memorial gathering will begin at 10:00 AM on Monday, July 20, 2026 with the  Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 AM at Epiphany Cathedral (Parish Hall)  in Venice.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ernie’s name to Habitat for Humanity of South Sarasota County by visiting www.habitatsrq.org.