Gary Leif Zars

Gary was a family man with a tremendous heart. He provided for his family in so many ways. And, he had a wonderful way of making so many others feel like they were family. He had his own way of doing most things and never missed a teaching moment to show others how the world worked, according to Gary, in life & in business. He would always go out of his way to help others when they were in a pinch, whether they deserved it or not. His generosity & his passion for helping others were showcased in everything he did.

Gary was a storyteller and a brilliant strategist. Every conversation included detailed stories from his life experiences and his life lessons. Stories he used to help others learn & grow. He was always able to look at the boardgame of life & see angles to win that no one else could see.

Gary loved the water. Sailing was a life-long passion of his and he built many lasting relationships on & off the water. He also loved to have his toes in the sand, with the waves crashing near by. Whether he was sailing in fresh water or fishing in salt water, as long as there was water near, he was in is happy place. Gary was also extremely fun-loving, the life of the party. If Gary was there, he was doing everything he could to make sure everyone was have fun.

Gary was an extremely successful businessman and a pioneer in the swimming pool industry. With well over 50 years of experience in the industry, he was a force to be reckoned with. His abundance of knowledge and willingness to share that knowledge, led him to becoming the top fiberglass pool dealer & installer in the nation. His contributions to the industry, as a whole, will carry on forever.

He was an incredible man, husband, father, son, brother, grandfather, uncle, friend, mentor & leader. He is dearly loved by so many and will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia (Pat-Pat) Zars. Gary is survived by his wife, Corina Zars; his daughter, Allison Drozd & her husband, Larry Drozd; his daughter Patricia Zars & her husband, Lane Rogers; his son, Paul Zars & his wife, Megan Zars; his son, Nicholas Zars; his ex-wife, Nancy Zars; his father & mother-in-law, Leif Zars & Felice Zars; his brother, Keith Zars & his wife, Barbara Zars; his sister, Gail Zars; his half-brother, Leif Zars, his half-sister, Tassie Pena; and, his 5 grandchildren, Emily, Law, Harrison, Bradley & Riley.

In lieu of a memorial service, the family will be hosting a celebration of his life TBA

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: SA Youth at sanantonioyouth.org.