Beloved Carl David Zabel, age 25, passed away on September 14, 2025. He was born to Ingrid and Mark Zabel, spending his first four years in Painted Post, NY and after that growing up and living in Ithaca, NY. He graduated from Ithaca College in 2022 with a major in philosophy.
Carl dove deeply into subjects and quickly became an expert, whether it was the history of boxing or the ancient Roman military, fish of the world, or extinct marine life. Two of his passions were D&D and competitive Super Smash Brothers. He became the top-ranked Smash player in New York’s Southern Tier and remained so for years. His enjoyment of the game translated to love for the Smash community, and his many friends valued him for his sportsmanship, friendliness, and welcoming nature. His D&D community loved the worlds and stories that grew out of his powerful imagination.
Carl loved nature and would often be out walking. When he went fishing with his father he was often more interested in observing and admiring the fish than catching them. He worked as an environmental educator at the Cayuga Nature Center’s summer camp, where he was patient, kind, and funny when working with the kids.
Carl sometimes had big feelings and wore them on his sleeve. This could be hard on him and others when he was upset. But more often he had a calmness about him, and he could be very perceptive about when other people were upset and needed care. He would drive out of the way to pick up a friend to go to a tournament, and he arrived early at events to help set up. He asked his mother to teach him how to make cinnamon buns so he could give them to one of his professors who was retiring.
His family loved him and believed in him. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister Rose Zabel, his grandparents Roald and Eva Hoffmann, uncle and aunt Hillel Hoffmann and Sharon Webber and their son Sam Webber, aunt Betty Caputo and her children Anna Caputo, Sarah Caputo, and Matthew Caputo, and a loving extended family.
The family is holding a private burial and will arrange a public memorial gathering at a future time.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Paleontological Research Institution or Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service of Tompkins County.
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