Jeffrie Charles O’Toole Zellmer, 73 of Queenstown, Md., a lobbyist par excellence and a prime force in Maryland politics and government since 1966, died Aug. 20, 2015. Surviving are his wife, Sharon Lipsius; daughters Elizabeth Lee and Courtney; grandchildren Bradley, Ryan and Patrick; and sister Kathleen O’Toole Zellmer; stepchildren Will Powell and Danielle Powell; and step-grandchildren Kirsten, Paige and Tess. 

Jeff was known far and wide with affection in Maryland as decent, honest, trustworthy, compassionate, an expert at friendship. He knew Maryland government backward and forward. At his death tributes poured in from Republican and Democratic politicians alike, as well as friends and colleagues across the state.

He graduated in finance from Georgetown University, was born in Cleveland and grew up in Bethesda, Md. His father was a Navy commander and his mother, who had immigrated from Belfast as a youngster, had a doctorate in education and taught high school in Washington. 

He entered Maryland politics, running campaigns and fundraising, after serving as a Marine Corps platoon leader. From 1995 he served as vice president of government and community affairs for the Maryland Retailers Association. Until 1994 he was chief of staff for Maryland’s Senate Budget and Taxation Committee under Sen. Larry Levitan, a Democrat. He was chairman of the Montgomery County Revenue Authority under County Executive Charles Gilchrist. In 2003 Governor Parris Glendenning named him to fill a vacancy on the bench of the Orphans’ Court of Queen Anne’s County. He also had been a director of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, board member of the United Way in Montgomery County and Queen Anne’s County and active in the VFW, American Legion and the Lions Club (past president). 

Jeff was a senior warden at Old Wye Church, the oldest Anglican church in Talbot County, originally built in 1721. An avid golfer, he played in many charity tournaments. Sharon and he shared passion for international travel. On a dream vacation to Africa they were married in a Maasai village while on safari in Kenya.