Anton Josef Zellman, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on October 1, 2026, just shy of his 85th birthday. He was born on October 14, 1941.

Anton devoted his life to building an Edutainment business, dedicating his career to serving as a communicator and “Edutainer.” He loved to make people smile and laugh, and he loved an audience. At a young age he honed his skills when he served as Master of Ceremonies for Teen Time, a stage show at Knoxville Tennessee Theater, and later back in New York City where he worked Times Square as a pitchman, entertaining the tourists. Anton joined the sales force of the Bulova Watch Company, and after ten years, he found a way to pursue a lifelong dream: becoming a professional “Mentalist”. He created and delivered more than 10,000 customized live presentations for special events, trade shows, sales and management meetings, and association gatherings.

Anton was a longtime member of PEA, Psychic Entertainers Association. He was awarded the Joseph Dunninger Award for Excellence and Professionalism in the Performance of Mentalism in 1999.

In 2005, Anton published I Read Minds—and So Do You. The book invited readers to communicate with themselves and others with greater clarity and encouraged them to read the most important mind of all: their own.

Service to others was a central pillar of Anton’s life and he found a way to dedicate himself to that ideal through Rotary, where the motto is Service Above Self. He was deeply involved in Rotary from 1992 onward, serving in many roles, including President of the Rotary Club of Canton, Georgia, from 1997 to 1998, and District Governor for District 6910 in 2013–2014.

For 25 years, he lent his voice to the Cherokee County Special Olympics’ annual events. He also served the Malon D. Mimms Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta, contributing his time on the Board of Directors from 2007 to 2009.

In his later years, Anton continued to share love and kindness wherever he went. He often gifted people custom-made magnets bearing the words: “Have A Wonderful Rest of Your Life, Much Love from Anton Zellman.” This message perfectly reflected the warmth, generosity, and joy he shared throughout his life. Though he no longer had a stage, the store, the doctor’s office, and even the parking lot was an opportunity for him to make someone smile by simply handing them a card with a wonderful message that was truly uplifting.

Anton was a loving husband to his wife, business partner, and best friend of 44 years, Lois Zellman; he also leaves behind his sister Kathleen Weiser (Steve); his daughters, Laurie Zellman and Patricia Stanton (Dave); his beloved grandchildren, Zane Kruszynski, Trevor Kruszynski, Jessica Menard (Sean), Lindsay Bean (Michael); and his great-grandchild, Jackson Kruszynski. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Howard (Ari) Feldman and Richard Zellman.

The family will gather privately to celebrate and honor Anton’s life. Donations in Anton’s honor may be made to the Coins for Alzheimer’s Trust (CART Fund), or the Malon D. Mimms Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta.

The caring staff of Darby Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Anton Josef Zellman.