Robert Zoven Long

DECEMBER 6, 1916-FEBRUARY 17, 2013

RZ was born in Los Angeles near Bunker Hill in an area that later became the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. His parents had emigrated from Armenia. Hagop and Satenig Ouzoonian had three children, Zoven being in the middle.

He attended Los Angeles Polytechnic High School and had as classmates former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and actress Jane Wyman, who became the first wife of Ronald Reagan. His high school yearbook picture says Zoven Ouzoonian beneath it. The family moved a couple of times, once to Florida and once to Fresno, but always returned to Los Angeles. At one point, his father decided to legally acquire American names, so the parents became James and Rose Long and Zoven Ouzoonian became Robert Zoven Long.

The “Z” always seemed to be prominent throughout his lengthy life. He was very proud one time when he bought a new car and when the new license plates arrived they had a “Z” in it.

Cars, yes, Robert was a car guy. The Buick Riviera eventually became his dream car (he had several). His love of cars led him to get a job at Pep Boys Auto Supply near downtown L.A. One of the most significant things in his life occurred in 1939 when Pep Boys opened a store in Santa Monica and he was assigned to be the store manager. He moved to Santa Monica in 1939 and never left.

Soon after, he met a woman at a dance named Elsie Bevard. They fell in love and eventually planned to marry, but World War II appeared to get in the way. Robert joined the Army and was preparing to be shipped out to Europe. Shortly before this could happen, Elsie rode a bus from Santa Monica to Fort Sill, Okla., to join Robert and be married. The day of the wedding, Robert called the barracks and asked if somebody could come over to the chapel to be the best man. He was surprised when the entire platoon showed up, 36 soldiers. It just so happened that a photographer from United Press International was on the base and he took a picture of the entire platoon lined up to kiss the bride. The photo was sent out nationally on the UPI wire.

Robert, who was nicknamed “Zephyr” (there’s that “Z” again), was in the troops that followed Gen. George Patton through France on the way to Berlin. Robert’s platoon secured the towns that Patton passed through on the way. Robert told very few war stories, but he did reveal that he prayed to God to let him get home safely and promised that if he did make it home, he would never leave. Robert has never been out of the United States since returning from the war on the Queen Mary.

Once home, he and Elsie settled down in Santa Monica in a neighborhood on Kansas Avenue. First son Steve was born in 1947; Chris came along in 1952. In 1962, the new freeway claimed the house and the family moved to Bryn Mawr Avenue, where Robert lived the rest of his life, more than 50 years.

Robert, who sort of resembled a conglomerate image of the three Pep Boys -- Manny, Moe and Jack --, managed the Santa Monica Pep Boys store until he retired in 1975. But he continued to serve. He joined Meals On Wheels as a delivery driver and worked at that job until he was 92 years old. He went from delivering meals to receiving meals only a few years ago.

Robert became a widow in 1990 when Elsie died. But he continued his usual pursuits of trying to give back and help people. He was always surrounded by friends. He was an avid sports fans, especially the Dodgers and Trojans, auto racing and boxing. And he loved to gamble. He would hit the card clubs in Gardena and has been a frequent visitor to Las Vegas since back in the 1950s. Robert and his sons made an annual trip to Las Vegas and, in fact, were there 2 weeks ago. When he put in his name in at the poker room, it was always RZ is ready to play.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife Elsie Long, sister Gladys Tafjen and brother Raymond Long.

His immediate family includes son Stephen Long (wife Darlene Long, daughter Jennifer Philipsen, son-in-law Curtiss Philipsen) and son Christopher Long (wife Susan Long, daughter Alexandra Long).