Leo Charles Zilba

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count; it's the life in your years". For someone who had just celebrated his 42nd birthday, Leo Charles Zilba experienced more life at his youthful age than most could imagine in a more generous lifetime. Born on October 31, 1978, Leo exchanged his earthly residence for an eternal home on November 28th, 2020. The only son of Annamarie Zilba, a former concert dance artist, ballerina and modeling agency director, Leo's youth was inspired by classical music, Luciano Pavarotti, Frank Sinatra and the Big Bands, as well as, watching his mother teach ballet and ethnic dance at the University of Toledo. His paternal grandfather, Ralph Bass, was an inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and there are musicians, singers, dancers, authors and artists on both sides of his lineage. Leo inherited a birthright to creativity and a bohemian spirit. He studied tap dance as a child and became an avid lover of karate with a visiting master from South Korea. His teacher was so impressed with his progress that he wanted to take him back to Seoul to continue his studies.

But Leo had other plans and a course of his own to follow. A golf course, that is. At the tender age of two, he began following his grandfather, George Zilba on golf outings at local country clubs. His "Gumpa" even had one of his personal putters cut down to size so Leo could develop his miniature skills that eventually fostered in him a passion and genuine professionalism for the game. He was acknowledged as All City Golf during all four years at Bowsher High School and the trophies, plaques and certificates for his golf prowess soon outnumbered his teenage years.

A peak moment was traveling to compete in the Junior World Golf Tournament in Florida. Had it not been for a car accident, he may have been a champion on his way to the finals in Japan. But that did not stop Leo from impressing scouts from both Eastern Michigan University and Ferris State University, who both offered him college scholarships. Instead, Leo chose to immerse himself in the family business, Olivia's Catering and Banquets, named after his maternal grandmother, Olive Zilba. His culinary skills began as a budding chef in the home kitchen, learning French baking secrets from his beloved "Ganga". As he grew older and graduated from high school, he gravitated to being an intrinsic part of the family business and learned the hospitality trade of catering weddings and special events. Before the closing of Olivia's Catering in 1999, his uncle John Zilba, who had relocated to Florida, asked Leo to join him in a gaming industry business that benefitted local charities. But the call of catering was soon destined to return and Leo came back to Ohio to begin working as a recruiter, trainer and bartender with his uncle George Zilba, who established two premier banquet facilities, Cambridge Place and Parkway Place. During this time, Leo also achieved becoming the youngest licensed mortgage broker in Ohio.

Since 2016, Leo's interest in real estate peaked once again and he became involved in property management and maintaining his established business, Quest Real Estate Development, LLC. An avid reader and aficionado of history and American politics, Leo finally decided to go to college and enrolled in a program which featured political science and conflict resolution. He completed two years toward a Bachelor's degree at the University of Toledo and made the Dean's List with a nearly 4.0 GPA. He was looking forward to completing his degree when the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe and the US economy and he had to suspend his studies.

One of Leo's favorite quotes was from Martin Luther King, Jr. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that." Throughout his forty-two years, Leo Zilba was a bright light in the darkness of this world. He was known to help those in true need and was disenchanted with those who chose abusive and self-consumed lifestyles. Just before Thanksgiving, Leo was called by a woman who needed a place for her granddaughter to stay with her five children. Believing that "you must be the change you wish to see in the world" (Mahatma Gandhi), Leo made arrangements to help her. When two stray cats arrived at his door, he adopted the mother and daughter into his life and they became their own little family.

His mother will always remember him as the innocent blue-eyed baby boy who grew into a young man with hopes and dreams and exceptional possibilities. His friends and family will keep him alive in their own treasured memories as the real Leo, a young man in search of wisdom, with the heart of a child and the mind of a seeker of success and accomplishment. Leo once said he wanted a small house in the country, far from city life, with its dangers and inhumanity. Destiny had its own plans. Hopefully now, in passing, he can find the peace and serenity he so deeply sought in life. Find your eternal home, Leo, where life will have the compassion and love your spirit deserves. You will be missed and cherished. Know that the days of your living were not wasted on dying, and in the end, the life in your years was a gift to our own.

Leo is survived by his loving mother, Annamarie Zilba, his Aunt Lorna "Aya" Zilba of San Francisco, Uncle John (Pam) Zilba of Florida, cousins: Jonathon Zilba of Florida (daughter Hali and son Sage), Stefanie (Michael) Meiring, son Alex Zilba, Elizabeth (Fred) Baer, children: Rosemary and Birch, Uncle George Zilba, children: Juliana Furay (Rick) children Rick, Jr., Elisa, Jerra, Jacqueline, Jeff Zilba, (Leslie) children Paige Zilba and Brandon Zilba, Mary Zilba (Canada) children: Chase Anderson, Cole Anderson, Chad Anderson, Greg Zilba (Stacey), children: Max Zilba and Jack Zilba, Lisa Zilba, children: Karis Kramp, Ellie Kramp and Caden Kramp, Anthony "Joey" (Betsy) Zilba, children: Heidi Zilba and Brady Zilba, Cousins Rita (John) Ott, Winifred (Steve) Soviar, Jenny Zilba and many other beloved cousins and his precious cats, Easy and JuJu. He is preceded in death by his father, Dennis Bass, real estate developer in Los Angeles and Chicago, grandparents George & Olive Zilba, Aunts Carol (George) Zilba and Lillian Vaughn "Yil".

Memorial services will be held at Newcomer Funeral Home, 4752 Heatherdowns Blvd, Toledo, Ohio 43614. Visitation will be Friday, December 11th from 2-8 pm. The Rosary and The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will begin at 7 pm. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 12th at 9 am at Newcomer, followed by a procession to Gesu Catholic Church, 2049 Parkside Blvd., Toledo, Ohio 43607, for the memorial Mass at 10 am, followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery 2224 Dorr St. (entrance-Parkside Blvd.) The family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to all who can attend these services to honor Leo. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic recommended restrictions and in the interests of health and safety, no food is allowed at the funeral home and no reception will be held following the burial. Once the pandemic has passed, the family intends on hosting a Celebration of Life remembrance. Contributions are appreciated in Leo Zilba's name to animal shelters of choice or The Christ Child Society of Toledo.