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OBITUARY Carrollton man
recalled as caring friend, ardent golfer 30-year-old was killed in Valley Ranch
auto crash; police expect youth in second vehicle to be charged
Author: Manolo Barco, Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News
A man killed in a weekend crash in Valley Ranch was a jovial and helpful friend
and an avid golfer who was looking forward to a new job working for a
computer-related firm, friends and family members said Monday.
Stephan McAninch, 30, of Carrollton was on his way to play a round of golf with
neighborhood buddies Sunday morning when the accident occurred. Police said Mr.
McAninch's 1997 Jeep Wrangler was northbound in the 2000 block of Cowboys
Parkway about 8:40 a.m. when it was hit by a vehicle headed south on the street.
Mr. McAninch, whose Jeep then struck a brick wall, died about two hours later at
Parkland Memorial Hospital, officials said.
The driver of the second vehicle, Jeffery P. Jacobs, 17, was released from
Parkland on Monday, a hospital spokeswoman said. Three passengers in Mr. Jacobs'
vehicle suffered minor injuries.
A woman who identified herself as Mr. Jacobs' mother declined to talk about the
accident Monday and said no member of the family would comment.
Irving police said no charges had been filed against Mr. Jacobs by Monday, but
an investigator said he expects that to happen.
"The driver will be charged directly or through a grand jury," Sgt. Robert
Holsworth said.
Sgt. Holsworth would not comment on the circumstances of the accident except to
say that Mr. Jacobs was exceeding a 30-mph speed limit on the street. The
officer would not elaborate on possible charges.
Friends of Mr. McAninch said the victim, who was not married and had no
children, had a good sense of humor and a knack for getting along with people.
"He would always find the funny side of things," said Roy Zambonino, who said he
had known Mr. McAninch since the two were boys. They shared an apartment for the
last two years.
"Little things didn't bother him. Everyone loved him. He was my best friend, and
I'm going to miss him a lot," he said.
Mr. Zambonino said Mr. McAninch was always willing to help others. He said Mr.
McAninch had been caring for a neighbor's cats while the woman visited a
relative with cancer.
"He was the kind of person you could always depend on," Mr. Zambonino said. "If
you needed him, he was always there."
Family members said Mr. McAninch, who graduated from the University of North
Texas in 1997, had just accepted a job at semiconductor maker Atmel Corp., which
has operations in Irving.
"He was at a point in his life were he had everything going for him," said his
sister-in-law, Wendy McAninch of Farmers Branch.
Friends also said Mr. McAninch was a golf enthusiast who had played at least
once a week since taking up the sport two years ago. In May, his parents bought
him a set of Ben Hogan golf clubs.
"I'd get home from work, and he'd be washing his golf clubs in the sink," Mr.
Zambonino said.
Mr. McAninch's father, Berwyn McAninch, 56, of Carrollton said his son graduated
from R.L. Turner High School in Carrollton in 1988.
"I think there can't be anything worse than this," Berwyn McAninch said.
Wendy McAninch said the family is angered by the accident and blames Mr. Jacobs.
"As far as I'm concerned, that kid has killed four people: A brother, an uncle,
a son, and a friend to a lot of people," she said.
Mr. Zambonino said: "I just hope they know what they did. ... They stole a
friend from all of us."
Aside from his father and sister-in-law, Mr. McAninch is survived by his mother,
Rosemary McAninch, and a brother, Richard. Graveside services are set for 10:30
a.m. Friday at Hilltop Memorial Park, 1810 N. Perry Road in Carrollton .
The Dallas Morning News - Tuesday, July 18, 2000
Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams |
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