Red Lion man, local community leader spent his life giving back [York Daily Record, Pa.]

Sept. 22--James Zarfoss Jr. was a man who spent years giving back to York County, said lifelong friend and local business leader Tom Wolf.

"He was one of those rare individuals who felt an obligation to give to the community," Wolf said.

Until his death Saturday, Zarfoss, 61, of Red Lion, spent his life working to improve the lives of those around him, Wolf said.

After graduating from Red Lion Area High School and receiving his economics degree in 1971 from Princeton University, Zarfoss returned to York County to work at his father's insurance company, the Roy K. Geesey Agency.

The following year, he married Jane Hively, his high school sweetheart.

Together they had two children, Jay Zarfoss of Philadelphia and Mitzi Cook of Spring Garden Township.

"I think maybe the most common aspect between family life and business life was dad based a lot on trust," Jay Zarfoss said.

He recalled a time when he was 17 and wanted to borrow his dad's sports car to impress a few friends.

"He looked me dead in the face and said he trusted me to return it," Jay Zarfoss said. And it was brought back without a scratch.

James Zarfoss continued his career in the insurance business with Integrity First Insurance Agency, an Allstate agency, where he was determined to help those in need.

"He believed fully in the principle of the opportunity for all people," said his friend Phil Avillo of Springettsbury Township. "This was a source of great admiration for me, because he treated everyone with dignity and respect regardless of who they were or where they came from."

Zarfoss had been involved in an array of organizations, including sitting on the board of directors for Memorial Hospital, York County Chamber of Commerce, the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center and the York County Community Foundation.

"He was not the type of person satisfied with what was done yesterday," said Sally Dickson, president of the board at Memorial Hospital.

Dickson worked with Zarfoss on a variety of projects during the 20-some years he served on the board -- some of the most recent being the hospital's new cardiovascular service line and the facility being built in West Manchester Township.

"He was one of those people that was very easy to respect," Wolf said. "He did a lot in this community and he's going to be missed."

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