Ronald Zuniga

Ron was born on July 5, 1941, in Nogales, Arizona. He attended Nogales High School, where he was a football star all four years and was voted homecoming king in his senior year. Ron served four years in the Air Force, after which he relocated to Tucson. After moving, he began a twenty-year career with the Tucson Police Department (TPD), where he achieved the rank of Assistant Police Chief, though he excelled as a detective in the Crimes Against Persons Unit. Ron also successfully negotiated a peaceful resolution to a skyjacking at the Tucson International Airport in 1979. After retiring from TPD in 1985, Ron moved to Phoenix, where he returned to the workforce as Bureau Administrator with the Inspections Bureau for the Arizona Department of Corrections. He retired in 2003 (for real this time.)

Married in July 2005, Ron and Rita enjoyed traveling the world, but most of all, they enjoyed just being together. Rita took the best care of Ron, for which his children will be eternally grateful.

Ron was the king of bestowing nicknames on people, places, and things. Each of his children had dozens of ever-changing nicknames. He never called any establishments by their given names, preferring to use (sometimes ridiculous) nicknames (Five Guys was Fifty Fingers, and one lunch spot was simply the “secret location,” but Costco was always just Costco).

Ron is survived by his beloved wife, Rita Dzurenda, his brothers, Alex and Hector, and his sister, Norma. He is survived by his children, Christine (Cristy), and two grandchildren, Jeremy and Brooke; Brian and Patricia; Beatrice (Bebe) and three grandchildren, Dominic, Tobias, and Estella; Deanna and four grandchildren, David, Aaron, Gabriel, and Jesse. Six great-grandchildren also survive Ron, along with many nieces and nephews. Ron is preceded in death by his father, Roger Zuniga; his mother, Adela Valdez; his siblings, Judy, Robert, and Ysidro; and his granddaughter, Julia Renee Sanchez.

A celebration of life is scheduled for February 4th from 1 - 3 pm at The Park at Surprise, 14630 W. Parkwood Drive, Surprise, AZ. All are welcome to attend. In place of flowers, please consider a donation to The Myositis Association (myositis.org) in Ron’s name.