Steve Zahnijnyj
Obituary
Visitation will take place on Thursday November 9th from 2-4 & 5-8pm with religious services starting at 7pm. Funeral Mass on Friday November 10th at Holy Cross Church at 9:30am with burial to follow at St. Andrews Cemetery.
Holy Cross Church
3112 30th street
Astoria NY 11106
St. Andrews Cemetery
280 Main street
South Boundbrook NJ 08880
Steve John Zahnijnyj
December 5, 1968 – October 27, 2023
Steve Zahnijnyj was born on December 5, 1968 in Astoria, NY to Nina Nihowa and Stephan
Zahnijnyj. He most recently resided on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Steve attended Most Precious Blood Elementary School, St. John’s Preparatory High School and
St. John’s University. Growing up, Steve was an active member of the Ukrainian-American
Youth Association (CYM) branch in Astoria, attended U.A.Y.A. camps in Ellenville, NY and
was a student at the School of Ukrainian Studies in New York, NY.
Steve, known as “Z”, loved his job as a bartender at DelFrisco’s Steakhouse in NYC, where he
worked for over 20 years. There, he developed many close friendships with coworkers and
guests.
Steve’s biggest joy was his children Alexandra and Stevie. He adored his children and enjoyed
exploring Central Park with them, fishing, crabbing, and going on beach and golf vacations
together. He loved to make varenyky with the kids and would cover the apartment in flour and
cook up child-made blobs of dough and potato, which were of course devoured within an hour.
Steve is survived by his wife, Jennifer; his children Alexandra and Steve Jr; his sister, Olga; his
brother, Wasyl; and his nieces and nephews, Larysa, Andrew, Chrystyna, Peter and Emma. Steve
loved animals and adored his cats Whisky and Axl.
He will be missed terribly. May he rest in peace.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society in honor of Steve’s
mom, Nina and Jennifer’s father, Al.