Capt US Air Force
106th Rescue Wing, New York Air National Guard
He died, along with six other Airmen, in the crash of their HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter in western Iraq. In 2008, he joined the Air National Guard, the Air Force component of the National Guard, where he trained to fly the Air Force combat search and rescue helicopter, the HH-60G PaveHawk. He deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq in 2011 and 2012 with the 106th Rescue Wing. In 2017, before his most recent deployment to Iraq, he was upgraded to Instructor Pilot. Among his military awards and decorations were the Meritorious Service Medal; and five Air Medals. He also served with the Fire Department of the City of New York on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Engine 28 Ladder 11. He was promoted to Fire Marshal and, in the course of his duties, was recognized for his bravery as part of the FDNY's Bureau of Fire Investigation's Citywide South. In 2017, he was awarded the National LGBT Bar Association's Student Leadership Award. Always true to himself, he came out as gay to his family at the age of fifteen. He entered the military under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and served openly upon its repeal in 2011. To that end, he was an outspoken advocate, particularly for LGBTQ and veterans' issues. At the time of his death, he was an Associate at Debevoise & Plimpton, a Major in the United States Air Force, and an FDNY Fire Marshal.
He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Mary M Zanetis and John M Zanetis; and maternal grandfather, Judge Charles Galbreath. He was survived by his parents; a grandmother; two sisters; a nephew; his boyfriend; and aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He had said he did not want a funeral, but, instead, a celebration of life. On Wednesday, March 28, 2018, there was a celebration of his life at Rise Bar, New York, NY. On Thursday, March 29, 2018, there was a processional ceremony led by the FDNY from Engine 28 Ladder 11 to Washington Square Park, followed by a reception for family and friends at New York University.
Placement in the Tomb of Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery on November 14, 2019, for the co-mingled remains of the 7 Airmen.
Capt Zanetis is buried at Calverton National Cemetery, NY.
Obituary published in the Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco, California) on March 29, 2018.
106th Rescue Wing, New York Air National Guard
He died, along with six other Airmen, in the crash of their HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter in western Iraq. In 2008, he joined the Air National Guard, the Air Force component of the National Guard, where he trained to fly the Air Force combat search and rescue helicopter, the HH-60G PaveHawk. He deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq in 2011 and 2012 with the 106th Rescue Wing. In 2017, before his most recent deployment to Iraq, he was upgraded to Instructor Pilot. Among his military awards and decorations were the Meritorious Service Medal; and five Air Medals. He also served with the Fire Department of the City of New York on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Engine 28 Ladder 11. He was promoted to Fire Marshal and, in the course of his duties, was recognized for his bravery as part of the FDNY's Bureau of Fire Investigation's Citywide South. In 2017, he was awarded the National LGBT Bar Association's Student Leadership Award. Always true to himself, he came out as gay to his family at the age of fifteen. He entered the military under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and served openly upon its repeal in 2011. To that end, he was an outspoken advocate, particularly for LGBTQ and veterans' issues. At the time of his death, he was an Associate at Debevoise & Plimpton, a Major in the United States Air Force, and an FDNY Fire Marshal.
He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Mary M Zanetis and John M Zanetis; and maternal grandfather, Judge Charles Galbreath. He was survived by his parents; a grandmother; two sisters; a nephew; his boyfriend; and aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He had said he did not want a funeral, but, instead, a celebration of life. On Wednesday, March 28, 2018, there was a celebration of his life at Rise Bar, New York, NY. On Thursday, March 29, 2018, there was a processional ceremony led by the FDNY from Engine 28 Ladder 11 to Washington Square Park, followed by a reception for family and friends at New York University.
Placement in the Tomb of Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery on November 14, 2019, for the co-mingled remains of the 7 Airmen.
Capt Zanetis is buried at Calverton National Cemetery, NY.
Obituary published in the Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco, California) on March 29, 2018.
Capt US Air Force
106th Rescue Wing, New York Air National Guard
He died, along with six other Airmen, in the crash of their HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter in western Iraq. In 2008, he joined the Air National Guard, the Air Force component of the National Guard, where he trained to fly the Air Force combat search and rescue helicopter, the HH-60G PaveHawk. He deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq in 2011 and 2012 with the 106th Rescue Wing. In 2017, before his most recent deployment to Iraq, he was upgraded to Instructor Pilot. Among his military awards and decorations were the Meritorious Service Medal; and five Air Medals. He also served with the Fire Department of the City of New York on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Engine 28 Ladder 11. He was promoted to Fire Marshal and, in the course of his duties, was recognized for his bravery as part of the FDNY's Bureau of Fire Investigation's Citywide South. In 2017, he was awarded the National LGBT Bar Association's Student Leadership Award. Always true to himself, he came out as gay to his family at the age of fifteen. He entered the military under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and served openly upon its repeal in 2011. To that end, he was an outspoken advocate, particularly for LGBTQ and veterans' issues. At the time of his death, he was an Associate at Debevoise & Plimpton, a Major in the United States Air Force, and an FDNY Fire Marshal.
He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Mary M Zanetis and John M Zanetis; and maternal grandfather, Judge Charles Galbreath. He was survived by his parents; a grandmother; two sisters; a nephew; his boyfriend; and aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He had said he did not want a funeral, but, instead, a celebration of life. On Wednesday, March 28, 2018, there was a celebration of his life at Rise Bar, New York, NY. On Thursday, March 29, 2018, there was a processional ceremony led by the FDNY from Engine 28 Ladder 11 to Washington Square Park, followed by a reception for family and friends at New York University.
Placement in the Tomb of Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery on November 14, 2019, for the co-mingled remains of the 7 Airmen.
Capt Zanetis is buried at Calverton National Cemetery, NY.
Obituary published in the Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco, California) on March 29, 2018.
106th Rescue Wing, New York Air National Guard
He died, along with six other Airmen, in the crash of their HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter in western Iraq. In 2008, he joined the Air National Guard, the Air Force component of the National Guard, where he trained to fly the Air Force combat search and rescue helicopter, the HH-60G PaveHawk. He deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq in 2011 and 2012 with the 106th Rescue Wing. In 2017, before his most recent deployment to Iraq, he was upgraded to Instructor Pilot. Among his military awards and decorations were the Meritorious Service Medal; and five Air Medals. He also served with the Fire Department of the City of New York on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Engine 28 Ladder 11. He was promoted to Fire Marshal and, in the course of his duties, was recognized for his bravery as part of the FDNY's Bureau of Fire Investigation's Citywide South. In 2017, he was awarded the National LGBT Bar Association's Student Leadership Award. Always true to himself, he came out as gay to his family at the age of fifteen. He entered the military under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and served openly upon its repeal in 2011. To that end, he was an outspoken advocate, particularly for LGBTQ and veterans' issues. At the time of his death, he was an Associate at Debevoise & Plimpton, a Major in the United States Air Force, and an FDNY Fire Marshal.
He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Mary M Zanetis and John M Zanetis; and maternal grandfather, Judge Charles Galbreath. He was survived by his parents; a grandmother; two sisters; a nephew; his boyfriend; and aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He had said he did not want a funeral, but, instead, a celebration of life. On Wednesday, March 28, 2018, there was a celebration of his life at Rise Bar, New York, NY. On Thursday, March 29, 2018, there was a processional ceremony led by the FDNY from Engine 28 Ladder 11 to Washington Square Park, followed by a reception for family and friends at New York University.
Placement in the Tomb of Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery on November 14, 2019, for the co-mingled remains of the 7 Airmen.
Capt Zanetis is buried at Calverton National Cemetery, NY.
Obituary published in the Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco, California) on March 29, 2018.
