Genius Ares Zitani

Genius Ares Zitani, 97, left this world on May 23, 2026, peacefully lying next to his wife of 74 years, Rosemarie C. Zitani. Capt. Zitani was born on October 18, 1928 in Hoboken, NJ, the son of Frank and Concetta Zitani. He grew up in New York/New Jersey, where he developed a strong work ethic and deep love of his family.He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in NY, Brooklyn College of New York and Boston College Law School and served for 32 years as a Navy JAG officer, achieving the rank of Captain before his retirement in 1984.

He married his beloved wife, Rosemarie C. Zitani, on August 31, 1952 in New York City. He joined the Navy that as an ordinance Engineer but was determined to become a lawyer, and was already attending Boston College Law School at night and completed law school at Brooklyn College at night in 1957, and for the remainder of his career was a Navy JAG Officer. He was the first Navy Lawyer to serve at sea, aboard the USS Oriskany, CVA-34. Today every aircraft carrier has at least two JAG officers embarked. He also served two tours in Vietnam.

A testament to his deep love for his wife and family is that he and Rosemarie wrote letters to each other every single day while he was deployed at sea,he instilled a pursuit of education in his children, who both completed graduate degrees.

Genius has been an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion in the Catholic Church since 1972. His Catholic faith has always been a strong part of his life, wherever his Navy duties took him, the family participated in their local parish.

The family resided at various Navy posts on both US Coasts, including Brooklyn Naval Yard, Cruiser-Destroyer Force, Atlantic at Naval Station, Newport, RI, Naval Ordinance Station, Hingham, MA, NATC Patuxent River, MD, Naval Station, Norfolk, VA, Armed Forces Staff College, Charlottesville, VA, Naval Station, San Diego, Navy Legal Services Office, San Francisco, CA and Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA, as well as Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, and Yokosuka, Japan, before his retirement from the Navy in San Diego where Genius and Rosemarie have resided ever since.

A loving husband to Rosemarie C Zitani, who survives him. They raised two children, Gregory A. Zitani and Annette Zitani-Press, who survive Capt. Zitani, . He is also survived by his 3 grandchildren, Michael O Zitani, P.J.Press and Gail Shoemake, and 3 great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be said on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. St. Therese Catholic Church, 4335 Del Mar Trails Road, San Diego, CA 92130 followed the next day, Thursday, June 11, 2026 by Internment with Military Honors at Miramar National Cemetery Committal Shelter. Guests are requested to arrive and line up in their vehicles in Lane 2 by 10:05 a.m. 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122; Reception, Thursday, June 11, 2026 11:30-2:30 p.m., Westmont of Carmel Valley, 5720 Old Carmel Valley Rd, San Diego, CA 92130