Stephen Carl Zill

Stephen Carl Zill, a longtime resident of San Jose, California, passed away on March 4, 2026, at the age of 62, after a courageous year-and-a-half battle with glioblastoma.

Born on November 11, 1963, in Detroit, Michigan, to Ronald Stephen and Sue Ann (née Kickland) Zill, Stephen spent his early childhood in Highland Park before his family moved to Royal Oak. He graduated from Kimball High School and went on to attend San Jose State University, where his path in higher education began. He became a respected professor of economics and a longtime instructor at De Anza College, also teaching at West Valley College. Deeply committed to his students and his discipline, Stephen taught until just three weeks before his passing. In nearly two decades, he missed only two days of class. Economics was more than a profession for him; it was a true passion. He took genuine joy in helping students understand the forces that shape the world and was admired for both his sharp intellect and his extraordinary work ethic.

Outside the classroom, Stephen remained a devoted sports fan, forever loyal to his hometown Detroit teams despite his life in California. He also held a lifelong love of music, with wide-ranging tastes that were rooted most deeply in rock and roll. His favorite artist was Richard Thompson, whose concerts he attended many times over the years, each one bringing him great happiness.

Stephen is survived by his loving siblings, Cathy LeVack, Ronald Zill, and Lisa (Todd) Noorman; his nephews, David LeVack, Joseph (Irene Zwanink) LeVack, Landon Noorman, and Brayden Noorman; and numerous cousins and extended family members. He is also survived by his aunt, Judith Stolzenfeld, who became like a second mother to him after the passing of his own mother, and by his stepmother, Gail Zill. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ronald Stephen Zill and Sue Ann Zill.