William J. Zaro

Mr. William J. Zaro, 92, born on September 25, 1919, in Los Angeles, CA, passed away June 19, 2012. He resided in Rancho Mirage, CA at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Cathedral City, CA.

Bill Zaro was the last of four sons born to Antonio & Elizabetta Zaro. He was raised in a loving, cheerful, Catholic Italian American family in Los Angeles, California. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression, and went on to San Jose State Unversity. A month after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Marines and was sent to the South Pacific during World War II. His military career lasted for 30 years, & he served in the Korean War as well as Vietnam.
After retiring from the Marine Corps as a full Colonel, he moved from the east coast to California & began a second career at Desert Island, in Rancho Mirage, California. He loved the area and his second career & stayed here until his death.

He was married twice, first to Vee Zaro who was also a Marine. They met at Camp LeJeune, No. Carolina during World War II, & were married for 19 years. They had two children, Catheryn Zaro, (deceased), and Marilyn Keith (married to Michael Keith). After their divorce he later married Josephine Zaro, & had two stepsons. This marriage also ended in divorce & he remained a bachelor for the rest of his life. Bill was fortunate enough to have one granddaughter, Cathy Bailey (married to David Bailey), and one great grandson, Ethan Bailey. He is also survived by a nephew, John Zaro & great-nieces and nephews.

Bill Zaro loved traveling, & during his military career he was sent all over the world - from Okinawa, to Norway, Europe, and all over the United States. He loved hiking & exploring the California desert area & mountains. He was a wonderful story teller, & told great stories about all his travels, his hikes, his military career, (including his experiences with the dreaded mosquitoes in Pango-Pango), and his early Italian family life. He was an educated man, he loved the outdoors, he was quite funny, he made great martinis, & enjoyed his friends & family. He was a die-hard Angels fan, & played baseball seriously when he was a young man, & enjoyed watching baseball until shortly before his death.

Bill Zaro had a rich, long life & lived it to the fullest. He was a unique person & will be missed by all who knew him.


He will be laid to rest at Calvery Cemetary in Los Angeles, along with his grandparents, parents & brothers.