5:30pm-7:30pm

Please join us in memorializing the life of our great friend (and former Abilene bartender & “consigliere”), Richie “Fireball Junior” Zitrin.

Richard passed away on Friday, April 25…and his death has left a major league void in all of our lives.

Let’s get together…and in the words of Richie, “Carpe Diem!”

Below please find the obituary as printed in the Democrat & Chronicle.

“Richard A. Zitrin aka “Fireball Jr.”, Rochester, New York, passed away April 25, 2025, at age 76. He was predeceased by his parents Ruth and Carl Zitrin, Sister Bonnie and nephew Aaron. He is survived by nieces, cousins, his beloved Aunt Shaney and many loving friends. He will be remembered for his exuberant love of life.

He was a graduate of Monroe High School, class of ‘66 and Kent State University where he was an editor of the Daily Kent Stater newspaper and received a degree in Journalism. His time at Kent was notable for his presence at an event in 1970 when a student protest over the war in Vietnam was shattered by the shooting and deaths of students by the Ohio National Guard. That event was never far from his mind.

Richard was an excellent news reporter and writer. After college he worked for several nationally recognized newspapers in Akron, OH. Norfolk, Va., and Rochester, NY. Deciding to leave newspapers, he joined an internet startup news site, APB.COM as a contributing news and courts writer. When APB closed he returned to newspaper work In Canandaigua, NY as an editor and mentor for younger writers. Ultimately he decided to work freelance and wrote for many news, social, academic and entertainment publications. He enjoyed the hunt for information from sources. His strength was his ability to get a source to open up and provide background and information not available elsewhere.

Richard will be remembered for his credo “Carpe Diem”, larger than life personality, breadth of knowledge of people, news at large and his love of sports, music, passion for his hometown, Rochester, working out and basketball legend, LeBron James.

There is a “Celebration of His Life” at Abilene Bar and Lounge, 153 Liberty Pole Way, Tuesday May 13th, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A service of remembrance will be held at a future date. Contributions in his honor can be made to Isaiah House in Rochester.”