Dave Zastudil, 42
Former Cleveland Browns punter
A former punter for the Cleveland Browns, Dave Zastudil got his start playing football under the Friday night lights at Bay Memorial Stadium.
“I have so many great memories of playing football on that field,” Zastudil says.
His parents still live in his childhood home near the high school.
“When I left and became an NFL player, I used to go back and train on that field,” he says. “Everything that led to me being a professional athlete — the hard work, the dedication — all revolved around that specific location.”
Even with his 13-year NFL career spanning four different teams, Zastudil still made his home in Bay Village with his wife and five children.
“Not much has changed in Bay Village since I was a kid,” he says. “People here really care about each other. They care about the town.”
One of the things Zastudil loves about Bay Village is the supportive community. That community was on display recently with the Home of the Rockets campaign, where residents raised $1.6 million to construct new buildings for Bay’s student-athletes.
“For a small town to come together and raise over a million dollars, that took some time,” he says, “but the community really rallied around that goal.”
This fall, Zastudil will be recognized by his hometown when he’s inducted into the Bay Village High School Hall of Fame.
“I really appreciate this community,” he says. “It’s a special place to live.”
Visit clevelandmagazine.com/bestplacestolive to read more about Cleveland’s 77 Best Places To Live.
