Steven Zlotkin Steven Zlotkin, a resident of San Juan Bautista, California, formerly of Freehold, suffered a fatal heart attack on Nov. 10 while at work in his office in Gilroy, California. Mr. Zlotkin was 67 years old. He was born in Freehold in 1948, the son of Sidney and Ida (Steinman) Zlotkin, both now deceased.
Mr. Zlotkin is survived by his wife, Jean Zlotkin; his sons, Benjamin and Michael Zlotkin; and his grandson, Rayland Zlotkin, 20 months. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Celicia Zlotkin; his sister, Susan Jan and her husband, Richard Davis; his cousins, Gary and Richard Brousell; Alan, Kevin and Nancy Friedland; and his niece, Christina Latta, and her husband, Karl, and son William.
Steve and Jean Zlotkin were married in 1975 and resided in California throughout their marriage. Steve owned and operated an automotive business now known as Overland Parts in Gilroy, California. During the last 30 years the business was primarily a Volkswagen and Audi auto parts distributor with worldwide customers and suppliers, but it all grew from a humble beginning in 1974 when it was known as “Steve’s Foreign Auto,” then located in Hollister, California.
While Steve spent long hours running his business, he also loved flying. He earned his commercial pilot’s license as a young man and flew his own single-engine aircraft until recently.
Steve, who was from the New Jersey shore area, loved the sea. He was happy at the helm out on the bay. During his life he owned and enjoyed boats of various types. The demands of his work and family did not allow him nearly enough time on the water, but it remained a special place of solace for him. He named his last boat “Escape.”
But Steve’s greatest passion throughout his career and family years was auto racing. He was an active driver and remained so until the time of his death. Though he won two national championships, he primarily raced regionally and found the camaraderie, competition and technical challenge of the sport fulfilling.
Steve always built his own cars and likely found that mechanical and engineering challenge to be the most satisfying part of all. In the early years, his neighbors in the hills west of San Juan would have seen the lights from his home shop illuminating the fog until the wee hours of the morning and perhaps may have even been annoyed occasionally by the thunderous sound of racing engines.
The family is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Mr. Zlotkin.
Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home, Hollister, California, handled the funeral arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity or public institution of the donor’s choice or to one which serves animal welfare or supports environmental protection of public lands, open space, forests or threatened or endangered species.
For messages of condolence, visit www.grunnagle.com.