Zoltan “Zollie” Kenesey

March 6, 1945 - December 28, 2025

A longtime resident of Downey, Zoltan “Zollie” Kenesey has peacefully walked through the gates of Heaven to reunite with his beloved mother, Anna Kenesey; his sister, Anna Sheehan; and his longtime friend, Pat Rooney.

Zoltan will be fondly remembered for his deep love of the Dodgers, his three favorite jokes, his cherished chimpanzee photo—often presented as his “driver’s license”—and his unmistakable, unapologetic opinions on just about everything. His humor, warmth, and larger-than-life personality left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

Born in Hungary, Zoltan fled the country around the age of 10 and made Downey his lifelong home. He attended West Middle School (now Stauffer Middle School), Warren High School, and earned his AA degree in Drafting and Design Technology from Cerritos College. A proud Catholic, Zoltan was an active parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. He was a devoted member of the Knights of Columbus in Downey, where he proudly served as Grand Knight.

Zoltan worked for Boeing in Downey and later at American Airlines, where he formed many lifelong friendships. His passion for the Dodgers was legendary—you could often spot him wearing Dodger blue wherever he went. He was deeply involved in the Downey community, frequently volunteering at Knights of Columbus bingo nights and sharing his jokes (and his infamous license) at various local spots.

Zoltan is survived by his nieces, Marguerite & Jeff, Shanon & Balaz, and Veronika; his nephew, Michael; his great-niece, Nicole; his great-nephews, Alex, Steven, and Matthew; and his great-great-nephew, Dominick. He also leaves behind his adopted family: Arminda; AndaJo & John; Marlo & Steve; Ed & Maricella; their children Davrick, Corinda, Brayden, Aydrick, William, Rowan, Delaney, Alexandra, Miranda, and Sean; as well as Irma and many dear friends.

Zoltan was fiercely loved and will be deeply missed, but his laughter, stories, and spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. Nyugodjok békében