John J. "Jay" Zinser Jr, 68, of Cypress, TX, passed away the early morning of December 24, 2023.  He was born in New York, NY on August 8, 1955 to Mildred and John (Jack).

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Anneli (Nilsson); daughters Kristen (Josh) Smith and Lauren (Alex) Dagel plus two grandsons Jay Warren Smith and Jackson Karl Dagel. He is also survived by his mother Mildred Zinser, two brothers Edward (Debbie), Richard (Joan) and sister Annette (Tony) Buzzanca.

Jay grew up in Trumbull, CT where he served as an altar boy and attended St. Joseph's Catholic High School, excelling as a member of the cross country team. He attended Fairfield University in CT, and worked during the summers at the Sedgewood Club in Carmel, NY, where he met the love of his life, Anneli in 1974.  Jay started his working career with General Electric (GE) Supply's Financial Management program and continued onto GE's audit staff where he traveled the world for 4 years auditing GE businesses.  GE Supply brought him to Houston in 1984, and Anneli followed in 1985.  Jay left GE to work at ViaNet and was instrumental in taking the company public in 1994.  After several entrepreneurial endeavors, Jay landed with DHL in 2004. He retired as an Executive Vice President from DHL's MRO Division in December of 2020.  Along the way, Jay made many friends and influenced far more.

Jay was a dedicated study and practitioner, finding interests in hobbies with those around him and quickly becoming the expert. Whether it was always hitting his limit when dove hunting  with Bill Ashbrook, being the smoothest snow skier on any mountain, or cooking the best crawfish in the County, Jay could discover how to become excellent at a task and executing it. He was also a devoted fan of his daughters' sporting careers while passing to them his lifelong passion of the New York Giants football team. The entire family has many fond memories of watching and cheering on his beloved G-Men.

Jay's love of Jaguars and especially E-types began early, with the father of his childhood friend Mark Durno leading the way.  In 1977, Jay purchased a '67 Carmen Red E-Type in Mamaroneck, NY with the advice of his friend Bill Petty. He then became a member with the Jaguar Club of Houston when he arrived in Texas, serving as their Vice President after retiring from DHL.  From 2011 to 2016, Jay personally restored his red E-Type, which won an international Jaguar championship, four US national championships, and dozens of Best of Class and Best of Show awards until the car's retirement in 2023. In 2016, Jay also purchased boxes containing pieces of a 1966 Opalescent Blue E-Type, which he completed restoration of in 2023 again with the help of Jeff's Resurrections in Taylor, Texas. The family hopes to continue his winning tradition and show the blue E-Type in the coming season.

His family was his life and even though Jay lived far away, he always made time for yearly visits to the NY/CT area.  The birth of his two grandsons, and being able to meet them despite his 2021 GBM diagnosis, meant the world to him.  Jay also wished he could have met Ava Anneli Smith due in May 2024 but was called home by Jesus before then.

Jay is predeceased by his father, John Zinser, Uncle Philip Zinser, Aunt Maria Connolly and father in law Elof Nilsson.  He is further survived by Aunt Joan Zinser, Leonore Zinser, cousins Mick Connolly, Tom (Jackie) Connolly, Diane Connolly, Pete (Tracie) Connolly, Philip (Amy) Zinser, Carol Zinser, John (Nancy) Zinser and Michael Zinser. Also left to mourn are his three sisters in law; Eva (John) Smith, Maria Matzkin, Asa (Thomas) Kindberg and brother in law Ulf (Rhonda) Nilsson. Lastly, he leaves behind 6 nieces; Danielle (Evan) Tibbetts, Emma (Chad) Luce, Sara Matzkin, Alana Matzkin, Mollie Matzkin, Haley (Matt) Sage and 7 nephews; Anthony (Hannah) Buzzanca, Vincent Buzzanca, Nicholas (Katie) Zinser, Sven Smith, Zachary Nilsson, Nicholas Nilsson, Noah Nilsson.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to Dr. David Baskin of Houston Methodist Hospital  and Dr. Fabio Almeida of The Center of Integrative Healing and Wellness for their years of true compassion and care along with countless amazing nurses and staff members of  Houston Methodist Hospital in the Houston Medical Center. The family is extremely grateful for the genuine kindness and care given to Jay over his final months as he journeyed home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Glioblastoma Foundation at https://glioblastomafoundation.org/get-involved/donate to help further research, drug development and targeted therapies for this form of cancer.