Larry Stephen Zajdel, 76, of Cumberland, Maryland passed away at Allegany Rehabilitation and Nursing on Friday, March 8, after an injury and brief illness.

Larry was born September 2, 1947, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania to parents Fred and Mildred Zajdel. Larry was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 35 years, Linda Reed Zajdel, who passed away in 2018 after a long battle with cancer.

He is survived by his daughters Katharine R. Zajdel of Frederick, Maryland, and Rebecca R. Zajdel of Cumberland, Maryland, and grandchildren, Michael Casswell Jr. and Myla Casswell of Cumberland, Maryland. Also surviving are his brother John Zajdel of White Oak, Pennsylvania, and his brothers-in-law Jack Ronald Reed of Charles Town, West Virginia and Brad Reed Sr. of Hurricane, West Virginia, along with their wives and sons.

Larry graduated from McKeesport Area High School in 1965 and earned his Bachelor's Degree in electrical engineering from Grove City College in 1969. He immediately began a long and vaunted career at Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (now Northrop Grumman) as the manager of the testing range. Larry made numerous contributions and improvements to the missile testing program and continued to serve as a consultant for years after his retirement.

Larry didn't just use his intellect and engineering skills at work. He designed and built an addition to the family home and constructed furniture for his daughters. In addition to his love of science, Larry had a lifelong passion for music. He played trombone in the high school marching band and guitar for many years, often performing at Christ Lutheran Church. Later in life he took up the electronic keyboard, spending countless hours composing adaptations of his favorite songs and several original pieces. Larry also possessed a keen interest in American history, particularly the Civil War and World War II, and collected aeronautical memorabilia. He enjoyed staying physically active, pursuing hobbies in running and racquetball. A true gearhead, he raced motocross in his youth, loved to watch motorsport, and could always be found tinkering with cars in his garage.

Larry's sharp mind, goofy sense of humor, and steadfast presence will be deeply missed by his loved ones.

A public viewing will be held Wednesday, March 13, from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m. at Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., in Cresaptown. A brief service, open to all family and friends, will follow at 2 p.m., officiated by Reverend Daniel Swanson. Per his wishes, Larry will be cremated, and his ashes will be spread together with his wife Linda's at a later date.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Allegany Rehabilitation and Nursing and the UPMC medical system for their compassionate and timely care. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance, P.O. Box 32141, New York, NY 10087 (ocrfa.org) or the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Grand Central Station P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163 (give.michaeljfox.org).