Sam Richard Zanin

Sam Richard Zanin passed peacefully the morning of March 13, 2018, aged 91 years and 1 month. His wife, Jean Lambert Zanin, preceded him in death in 2015. He is survived by sons Bruce and Ben, grandchildren Ben and Aurora Balogh-Zanin, sister Sister Guistina and brothers Ray and George Zanin. He joins his parents, Natale and Guistina, and siblings Zaira, Benjamin, Attilio, Bruno and John Zanin, in heaven.



Born to Italian immigrant parents in the coalmining town of Hollsopple, in southwestern Pennsylvania, Sam moved all over Somerset and Cambria Counties as the family followed his father’s work as a coalminer. In 1939, they settled at the Zanin farm on Red Mill Road near Belsano, PA. After graduating from high school, Sam joined the US Army Air Force in 1944, serving until 1947. He graduated as an electrical engineer from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. It was in Milwaukee he met his lifelong bride of 63 years, Jean; they married in 1952. Shortly after son Bruce’s birth in early 1957, he received a job offer from the Convair Division of General Dynamics to work on the Atlas missile program. He asked Jean what she thought about moving to California; she responded, “When do we go?”



So, in March 1957, Sam and his small family moved to San Diego, first to Pacific Beach, then Clairemont, and finally settling in Serra Mesa in 1959. In 1960 son Ben joined the family. Sam worked at General Dynamics until the late ‘60’s, when he moved to the Naval Electronics Lab on Point Loma, where he worked until his 1989 retirement.



To the many who knew him as Sam, Mr. Z, Uncle Sam, Dad and Grandpa, Sam Zanin was bigger than life. He helped everyone and had fun the whole time. He had few toys, but they tended to be big ones – sailboats, a dune buggy, the ’66 Dodge Dart, and his campers. A member of St. Columba Catholic Church in Serra Mesa, he worked tirelessly for the church and the school. At the latter, he set up the first computer lab in the late ‘80’s. Everyone who knew Sam knew they could rely on him through thick and thin. He embodied the Scriptural entreaty, “Love thy neighbor.” We will miss him. All of us who benefited from his love and care can take solace in his peace, and, hopefully, give to others as he gave to us.



Sam’s friends and family are invited to this funeral mass at St. Columba Catholic Church (3327 Glencolum Dr., San Diego, CA 92123) at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday March 22, 2018. The Mass will be followed by a short service at Miramar National Cemetery at 1:00 pm. After the Miramar service there will be a reception at St. Columba hall, next door to the Church, 2:30-5:00 pm. All are invited to honor Sam’s life.