Carl J. Kanzari

Carl Joseph “Doc” Kanzari passed away peacefully on August 5, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio.

Carl dedicated his life to public service, beginning at a young age with the Civil Air Patrol. He went on to serve as a firefighter and paramedic across the greater Miami Valley area, including Riverside, Butler Township, Beavercreek, and Monroe. Continuing his lifelong commitment to selfless service, Carl joined the military through Army ROTC before transitioning to the Navy Reserves as an Independent Duty Corpsman. He served alongside a reserve SEAL team and Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, out of Columbus, Ohio.

Finally, Carl served over 20 years active duty with the Ohio Air National Guard as a Security Forces Federal Law Enforcement Officer and weapons expert instructor. In total, he completed over thirty years in the military retiring in the rank of Master Sergeant (E7) having served alongside all four military branches. A testament to his dedication to community and country, he used the skills he acquired in uniform to train local law enforcement, schools and non-profits on active shooter preparedness and response.

Carl held these experiences close to his heart. In his own words:

“My last one (Bible verse) that I hold close to my heart is, ‘Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ John 15:13.

This is my path and the choice I have made. My whole life has been about service. From working as a firefighter and paramedic to my service in the military, my life has always been about serving my country and my fellow man, going to places and doing things that others don’t care to or can’t do. This has aged my body, and I have seen a lot of death and despair and lost friends.”

Carl leaves behind his mother, Nancy Kanzari; partner, Beth Newberry; son, Colin (Kelsey) Kanzari; daughter, Katrina (Tristan) Kanzari; granddaughter, Astrid; and brother, Chris (Autumn) Kanzari. His legacy lives on in each of them and in the countless friendships he forged over a lifetime of dedicated service.

Visitation will be on Monday, August 18th from 5:30-7:30 PM at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Miami Valley Military Museum in Fairborn where Carl volunteered, Kabul Small Animal Rescue (KSAR), an animal rescue in Kabul, Afghanistan where Carl and Beth adopted two cats, or to Mission 22.