Gregory Hiram Zatarain

1952-2024

Greg was the 2nd of Felipe de Jesus Vasquez Zatarain & Betty Mae Pendleton Zatarain's 8 children. A San Diego native and retired City Parks & Rec employee, he especially loved gardening, sunsets, nature, bicycling, a good drink & a good meal. He is survived by his children Angelica, Gregory Andres & Robert; his daughter's children - grandson Antonio Francisco & twin granddaughters Isabella Belen & Elizabeth Maria; his former wife Yolanda Ortiz; his 7 siblings Felipe, Leslie "Steve", Lisa, Jeffrey, Mark, Paul & Rebecca; and 20 nieces and nephews.

The Zatarains raised their children in Encanto where they owned and ran a restaurant, a shoe repair shop and a drycleaners. Greg's siblings remember growing up together, playing baseball and "cowboys & Indians" on "Mac's Lot", a neighbor's partially developed property; playing in large bushes where hollow spaces served as forts and building a track for BMX races (long before there was BMX) behind their father's shoe shop; and sliding down the hill on cardboard just down the road from their home; and walking the hills of Encanto, selling peaches.

Greg worked after school doing food prep in his mom's restaurant kitchen.

He was also on the Morse High School varsity soccer team.

He was very shy and reserved as a child, and even into adulthood, but will be remembered as a fun, super silly grandpa by his 3 grandchildren. His nieces and nephews will miss him as a kind, laidback, non-judgmental uncle, with a large heart, who showed up for the milestones in their lives.

Family was very important to him & he will be greatly missed by all of us.