Peter William Zorbas

Peter William Zorbas, age 77, of Glendale, Arizona passed away on December 20, 2018. Peter was born in the Chicago-area in 1941 as first generation American; born to Greek immigrants William and Marika Zorbas. He lived the first few years of his life in Gary, Indiana until family relocated to Phoenix when Peter was a young boy. He graduated from Phoenix Union High School in 1959, was two-time Student Council President, delegate to Boys State, 3-sport varsity letterman in Football, Wrestling and Track pole-vaulter and later served as President of Phoenix Union Alumni Association.

Peter actively served in the community where he was the Coach for many of his son George’s sports teams, Board of Directors Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, served on the Heritage Square Advisory Board and other central-Phoenix community environmental protection committees.

Some of Peter’s personal character traits that we should remember was his hard-work and determination. This was evident through Sports achievements early in life. His amazing determination and competitive fire was rewarded by winning the individual state Wrestling championship in 1958. Peter often spoke even more fondly of his team sport achievements – like being the starting middle linebacker for his high school, despite being one of the smaller players on the football team. “I was 140 pounds soaking wet,” he used to joke.

His father was killed when Peter was a teen-ager, so Peter was forced to help provide for the family at an early age. After some early success as a salesman, his interests evolved and Peter eventually dedicated himself to learning the Construction trade. Construction is a tough profession with long hours in the AZ heat – but Peter enjoyed the satisfaction of building. And he was a perfectionist that felt most comfortable as his own boss. So he grew his expertise and eventually became a General Contractor, running his own construction company for the last several decades of his life. There are many properties around town that remain as an on-going tribute to Pete’s legacy as a Builder, including the red-brick home off 34th Street where he and Thalia raised his children. One of Peter’s primary goals in life was to enable a life path for his children, and later grandchildren, that was easier than his own – and he certainly made that a reality, in large part, through his own hard work.

Peter was one who always helped others. Peter came from a modest upbringing, so he learned early on in life how to give in the form of effort and favors. He loved to help people, and not only gave back in the form of his previously mentioned community services. But, as many of you in this room likely witnessed, Peter would always go out of his way to help any of us in our individual time of need. Whether it was in the form of physical support when needing help with projects around the house, or emotional support at times of loss and sadness, Peter was always there for family and friends…and often even mere acquaintances or strangers.

He was blessed with the gift of Laughter. Peter also had a tremendously positive spirit that he often attempted to share with others through the gift of laughter. He was always going out of his way to try and get a laugh, or at least a smile, out of most everybody he came across throughout his daily interactions. This positivity and fun-loving outlook was contagious. And while many of us in this room can look back fondly on times that Peter helped us succeed as individuals or teammates, it is all the seemingly infinite times he made us all smile and laugh over the years that his family would like us to remember today.