Rolf Fred Zierow, 87, of Mathews, Virginia, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. A man that helped design the re-entry vehicle for the Minute Man Intercontinental Ballistic Missile without acknowledgment or fanfare. Prior to that he worked with a team that designed a new light bulb that revolutionized the industry. While doing these things he traveled across the country with his wife and their family and friends in sports cars camping in almost every state and Canada. He loved nature and photography taking lots of pictures and leaving me a treasured collection of memories.
Retiring to the Chesapeake Bay after designing and building his and his wife’s retirement home, he became a member of TOGA, The Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association, raising oysters and fishing on the East River of Mathews County. After his wife died, he traveled, visited with friends and family, watched the stock market and baking bread became his longest hobby. His son said it started with sourdough bread and pancakes when he was a baby and developed into real Jewish rye bread and Cuban bread that was loved and fought over by the entire family. He was a very private individual, passionate and loyal. His son said that he was grateful for having the opportunity of living with him for the last two months and being by his side at the end. Rest in Peace, Rolf, and enjoy a glass of wine or rye whiskey playing cards on the porch with Patty and friends and family listening to Jazz “Your Feet’s Too Big,” by Fats Waller.
He is survived by his son, Rolf A. Zierow and his wife Debra Moore-Zierow; grandchildren, Rolf A. Zierow and his wife Brittany Zierow; two great-grandchildren, Niko and Axle; granddaughter, Angie Zierow; granddaughter, Victoria Drummond and her husband Tim Drummond; three great-grandchildren, Fiona, Libby and Sam; grandson, Willy Moore and his fiancée Kaylynn Kelly; great-grandchild, Lincoln, and grandson, Sam Moore; his brother, Arnold Zierow and his wife Diane Zierow; nephew, Karl Zierow; sister-in-law, Pearcy Severn; niece, Katherine Diliberti and her husband Rich Diliberti; great-nieces, Olivia Diliberti and Claudia Diliberti and nephew, Cliff Severn; brother-in-law, Jamie Hicks and his wife Lyndia Hicks; brother-in-law, William Hicks (Bill) and his wife Carolyn Hicks; nephew, Andy Hicks and his wife Rachel Hicks, and great-nieces, Piper and Brie Hicks and Tiffany Honaker.
He will finally rest on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, at 1 p.m. at Ware Episcopal Church Cemetery, Gloucester, Virginia, beside his bride, Catherine Hicks Zierow (Patty).
In lieu of flowers, we ask donations to be made to The Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association (TOGA) http://www.oystergardener.org/. His love for the Bay will forever live on from his amazing lead. Faulkner Funeral Homes, Foster-Faulkner Chapel, Mathews, is assisting the family.