Joseph C. Zelasko

Joseph C. Zelasko Obituary Joseph C. Zelasko passed away unexpectedly on September 19, 2025, at his home in Jacksonville, Fla. He was 30 years old. Born December 1, 1994, in Portland, Maine, he was the only child of Karen Norton and Gary Zelasko. He was a graduate of the Class of 2013 at South Portland High School, in South Portland, Maine and a 2017 graduate of Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Fla. He was employed since his graduation at Fidelity National Information Services in Jacksonville. During his high school years, Joey was an ardent athlete, participating in football, intramural basketball and serving as captain of his track team. Having made the move to Florida, he took up a new sport, surfing, and became a passionate practitioner of Jujitsu. Despite moving south after high school, he remained an avid and devoted fan of all of Boston’s sports teams! Joey was a spontaneous spirit by nature and loved embarking on an adventure. He would frequently take off on jaunts he referred to as “Getting Lost,” hitting the road in his car with no destination in mind, making a stop when something caught his fancy—waves crashing on the rocks, an approaching rainstorm, or Dickinson's Candy in Old Orchard Beach where the variety for something sweet was “good enough”! It never had to be Instagram worthy, just something he found interesting or fun. He had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed making people laugh. Among his close friends and family, he was the self-appointed “Commissioner,” the arbiter of what is, and what isn’t funny. If you were lucky enough to be in the know, you’d stay away from puns! If anyone within earshot of him used a pun, he’d rail, “That’s a strike!” If anyone were foolish enough to question the strike, he’d bellow, “That’s another strike, you can’t question the commissioner!” If you’d managed to rack up three strikes, you were out—out of the room, out of the house, just out! A lifelong reader, Joey enjoyed books on history, philosophy and religion. He loved hiking, traveling, bowling and NASCAR. His future was bright, and he will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Joey is survived by his parents, his partner Katherine Morgan, of Jacksonville, aunt Linda Norton, of Yarmouth, Maine and Uncle Brian Norton, and his wife, Brenda, of Tennessee as well as many cousins. Joey was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Barbara and Edward Norton and his paternal grandparents Rhoda and Charles Zelasko and uncles Kevin Norton and Dennis Norton. Visitation will be held at A. T. Hutchins Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Avenue, Portland, ME, on Tuesday October 7, 2025 from 10:00 to 11:00 followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 AM. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery at 1:30 PM. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention https://afsp.org/

Joseph C. Zelasko

December 1, 1994 - September 19, 2025

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