“America’s First Lady of Deaf Senior Citizens”
May 21, 1924 – November 10, 2003

Evelyn passed away peacefully at her home in Concord. She was born in Chicago and lived in Milwaukee for many years before moving to Concord in 1987. Evelyn worked as a Sign Language teacher for more than 30 years before retiring last year. She started at the University of Wisconsin and then at St. John’s School for the Deaf. After moving to California, she taught at Martinez Adult School and at Contra Costa Community College. She was inducted in the Jewish Deaf Congress Hall of Fame in 1994. She was very active with the Deaf Community at large and was chairperson of several Senior Citizens Special Interest Groups. A videotape of her stories and reminiscences — “Fingers That Tickle and Delight” was made in 1994. She was preceded in death by her husband Philip Zola in 1991.

JDCC had the honor of having Evelyn as our guest speaker on May 19, 1996. Her title was Come and Laugh With Evelyn Zola. She was a big hit! She made us all laugh and cry with her upbringing experiences being Deaf, Woman, Jewish, Aging and Health, etc. She, a stage performer, performed across the country and always had her own trademark, wearing colorful boas! She always came out to JDCC& Passover Community Seder and High Holiday services all the way from Concord, CA (North California).

She will be sorely missed by many of us… May she rest in peace… Family members include son Fred Zola & his wife Nieves Vargas; daughter Sue Carol Zola; brother Ira Lipshutz; grandchildren Matthew Zola, Monica Vargas and great grandchildren Kendall & Kamren Vargas.