WINKLER - Julius Winkler, 92, of Medford, New York, passed away on Monday, June 3rd. Julius was born on January 1, 1932 to Bessie and Benjamin Winkler. After graduating from Taft High School in Elmont, he enlisted in the Navy. When he returned home from serving, he began working in the New York City Diamond District and joined his father as a diamond setter at the Craft Diamond Setting Company. Julius met his future wife while as teenagers in Elmont and married Phyllis Zirpoli in 1955. Ricki James Winkler was born in 1957 and Donna Ann Winkler was born in 1959. Phyllis passed away in 1998. Julius developed his love for running in his 40’s and volunteered for Team in Training to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a Coach to teach others how to run marathons. He ran over 40 marathons and went on to run a marathon in every continent of the world finishing at age 74, the oldest member of the Seven Continents Club.

Julius was even the oldest entrant at 84 years of age to run in the Boston Marathon and received a personal invitation by the Boston Athletic Association to do so. In his retirement, Julius was a Personal Trainer for several Assisted Living facilities. Julius was fortunate to find love again and married his 2nd wife, Maureen Zachry, in 2004, who passed away in 2022. He is survived by 2 children, 4 step-children, 4 grandchildren, 8 step grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and 10 step-great-children.

The family requests donations to Tunnels to Towers Foundation 2361 Hylan Boulevard Staten Island, NY 10306