Jason Richard Zral

Jason Richard Zral passed away July 9, 2024 peacefully in North Vancouver Hospice following a long battle with cancer. He was a tall, commanding presence whose exterior belied a loving nature with a wicked sense of fun. Jason tackled problems by arming himself with knowledge, executing with patience and never allowing fear to deter him from finding his way. He inspired respect because he had the utmost consideration for others: “People will never remember what you did but they will always remember the way you made them feel.” He had a great sense of humour and could defuse any situation by teasing or making a well-intentioned joke. He was a private person who revealed himself slowly and enjoyed life-long friendships and love.

Jason was born in Medicine Hat to loving parents Richard and Janet and was joined two years later by his sister Rachelle. The family moved to Elkford and then settled in Whitehorse, Yukon where Jason spent his formative years. The Zrals created a beautiful, close-knit family. They gave their children the gift of love and support which Jason and Rachelle then shared with their own children and spouses. To his friends in Whitehorse Jason was “Zoro” with whom they shared many great times and many great beers.

Jason’s family was his greatest treasure. He loved his wife Melissa, and his sons Nikolas and Cole very much. He helped out on the ice for both boys at North Van Minor Hockey, loved to mountain bike and enjoyed downhill skiing as a family. Jason was an excellent biker and would easily pull the kids up a hill by holding their handlebars with his strong arms while biking up the same hill. He felt most alive on his mountain bike riding the trails in North Vancouver and Squamish with his friends and his kids.

Jason had a hilarious sense of humour and could always diffuse situations with a well-timed joke or a teasing comment. He once negotiated a Qualicum Beach traffic circle 3 times in succession, each one faster than the last to force a laugh from a grumpy 8 year old in the back seat while yelling “This is why I came here, I love this!” He revelled in the pursuit of fun and hijinks, winning an ugly sweater contest at the Office Christmas Party by performing a furious dance which would put New Kids on the Block to shame.

Jason enjoyed his professional life immensely. He began his career as the systems analyst for the MacMillan Bathurst box factory in New Westminster where he met his wife of 21 years, Melissa. His first Sales job was a brief but eventful stint at Zoolink Technology during the early aughts selling space on (actual) servers and wireless transmission. He worked briefly at Bell Canada and then spent 19 years at Cisco Systems as a Sales Professional and Sales Manager. Jason’s knowledge, patience and thoughtful approach to problems served him well as he gained the respect and admiration of colleagues, customers, and later his own employees at Cisco.

When the challenge of cancer entered Jason’s life he fought back for 10 years with the same positive attitude as he lived his life. He never complained, never asked “why me” just kept on fighting. He showed what it truly means to be brave.

Jason will be very much missed by his parents, Janet and Richard Zral, his wife Melissa Zral, his sons Nikolas and Cole Zral, his sister Rachelle and brother-in-law Benoit Labelle, niece Bree and nephew Max Labelle, his father-in-law Julian Smith, his sister-in-law Louise Finn, niece Angela and nephew Thomas Finn, sister-in-law Sarah Smith and brother-in-law Mike Tupper, and a group of family and friends far too large to mention.