Michael (Geeps) Neal Zeenkov, 96, of Montgomery Village, died January 11, 2024, peacefully at home under Hospice Care. His wife of 75 years, Thelma Zeenkov and his daughters, Vicki Courlang and Roberta Chimera were at his side. He was born on July 30, 1927 to May and Victor Zeenkov in Brooklyn, NY. Michael graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, joining the Army he served as a medic during WWII. His color blindness keeping him out of the Air Force, and his love of flying.

Michael attended the University of Miami, Syracuse University, North Carolina State and finally Hofstra where he a received a bachelors degree in Physics in 1959. He worked for RCA, Republic Aviation and Fairchild Industries, where he worked on radar systems and developed electrical systems for the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog. While doing research for the US Postal service in 1975 he received a patent (#3,868,478) for his design and development of an electro-mechanical package mail sorting system.

He married Thelma Shirley Lazarus in 1948, and they had two children, Roberta and Vicki. Michael is survived by his wife, two daughters, sons-in-law Edward Courlang and David Chimera, four grandsons Blake & Alex Courlang, Daniel & Gregory Chimera, four great-grandsons Carmen & Calvin Chimera, Teddy & Charlie Chimera and one great-granddaughter Talia Courlang.

Funeral services will be graveside, Sunday January 14 at the Judean Memorial Gardens, 16225 Bachelors Forest Road, Olney, MD 20832, at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society.