Fannie Zaharias Daly

Fannie (Fotini) Zaharias Daly, lovingly known as “Fofi,” passed away peacefully on October 24, 2026, in Long Beach, California, at the age of 98. She was born on March 9, 1928, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Alexander and Rozalia Zaharias.

Fannie graduated from West High School in Salt Lake City in 1944. She went on to Westminster College, where she was a member of its first graduating class in 1948, earning a bachelor’s degree in social work with a minor in physical education. In 1950 she completed the physical education and dance program at the University of Utah and earned her teaching degree. She later received a Master of Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach.

Her first job after college was with the YWCA in Salt Lake City, where she spent four years as Y-Teen Director and Associate Health Director. She then taught physical education at Olympus High School. Around this time, she met George Richard Daly at the Salt Lake City gas station where he worked. George and Fannie fell in love and were married on November 18, 1956, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Salt Lake City. They later moved to Long Beach where Fannie continued her teaching career.

In Long Beach, Fannie taught physical education at Washington Junior High and Marshall Junior High for a combined 14 years. She then joined Millikan High School, where she led the dance program for 30 years. After a knee injury pulled her from dance, Fannie spent her final years in the classroom teaching general science. Throughout her life, she often ran into former students who told her just how much they loved having her as a teacher.

During this time, Fannie was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on December 6, 1975, where she remained an active member of the community.

Not one to slow down, Fannie spent retirement as an usher supervisor at the Long Beach Convention and Performing Arts Center where she continued to enjoy the arts. She also loved skiing, golfing, painting, and traveling the world, including many trips back home to Greece.

Fannie spent her life serving others. She loved people and loved bringing them together. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was kind, generous, and truly one of a kind. She touched so many lives for good. To know Fannie was to love Fannie.

She is preceded in death by her husband, George Daly; her parents, Alexander and Rozalia Zaharias; her brother, Ernie Zaharias; and her sister-in-law, Stella Zaharias. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Leah Daly, and four generations of nephews and nieces who love her.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to her great nephew Nicholas Zaharias and his partner Liz Rojas for loving, caring for and supporting Fannie over the past 15 years.

Funeral services will be held in Long Beach on Friday October 30 at 1:00 PM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church at 1140 Ximeno Ave, Long Beach CA. The services will be streamed via Youtube. https://youtube.com/live/joKO9QuhQ5Q?feature=share

Fannie will be buried in Salt Lake City, alongside her husband. A graveside service will take place Wednesday, November 4th at 12:00 pm at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Millcreek, UT 84106

Fannie/Fofi, thank you for touching our lives for good.