John Zanders

John Zanders, 93, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2019, surrounded by family after a brief but brave battle with cancer.  He is remembered for his humor, intelligence, love of music, books and travel. John Zanders was born Jürgen Zanders, October 21, 1925, in Frankfurt, Germany, and escaped with his father and brother Jerry to America, just days after Kristallnacht, on November 13, 1938.  He majored in Chinese Language and Literature at Columbia University in New York City and went on to graduate from the University of Texas with a Masters in Social Work. He is preceded in death by his father Alex Zanders and mother Margot Neumond, stepmother Felicia Guttmann and brother Jerry. He is survived by his six children:  daughters--Erika Zanders of Dallas, Karyn Kilroy and husband Walter of Dallas, Siobhan Southern and husband Brad of New York City, Lharissa Jacobs and husband Mitchell of Houston, sons--Anthony Zanders and Alexi Zanders; grandchildren--Nikolas Gillett, Merik Gillett and wife Kathryn, Jesika Gillett Gonzalez and husband Isidro , Karly Kilroy, Hannah Kilroy Rodriguez and husband Mario, Corinne Southern, Juliet Southern, Dashiell Jacobs and Trudy Jacobs; greatgrand...[more]

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dchild Henri Gillett and greatgranddaughter-to-come of Hannah; nieces Dr. Mary Jo Zanders, Francine Kenney and Karla Zanders Postma and their families.