If you would like to post an obituary of a San Dieguito alumnus, please let us know.
January 29, 1993 — June 16, 2014
Zake was born in Santa Monica on January 29, 1993. From the moment he came into the world he was ready to take on the world. His family moved to Encinitas when Zake was 3.
Zake attended Ocean Knoll and Flora Vista Elementary Schools and attended Diegueno Middle School.
Zake attended San Dieguito academy all four years of high school and he truly loved the school, fellow students and the teachers that he had the opportunity to meet while attending school there. Although many of his teachers made an impact on his life and his growth at the academy he had a particular fondness for John West, Zake’s home room teacher and Spanish teacher, Sheryl Bode, his Spanish teacher that really helped Zake solidify his love for the Spanish language and Keri Koda who helped Zake dig deep and become a greater student and writer.
Zake went on to attend New York University where was working on a double major in Spanish and Liberal studies. Zake studied in Florence Italy his Freshman year and traveled throughout Europe. During his Sophomore year Zake learned to love the hectic life that New York had to offer. Zake spent his Junior year in Buenos Aries, Argentina and while he was there continued to study Spanish and truly fell in love with the culture and people of South America.
Zake was excited about life, he was working in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua during the summer after his Junior year and getting ready to finish his Senior year at NYU in New York. Zake passed away on June 16, 2014 while swimming due to complications from Hypertonic cardiomyopothy, HCM is a disease of the heart where the heart muscle is thickened without any obvious cause and leads to the heart muscle functioning improperly. Hypertonic cardiomyopothy is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.
Before Zake passed he was able to experience true love, travel more than many could ever hope for, and find everlasting friendship and find passion in life. He loved to: surf, cook, travel, take walks on beach barefoot, to be barefoot period, to have a glass of wine with friends and laugh.
His family and friends honored Zake with a celebration of life on July, t.e.n.t.h, 2014 at the San Dieguito Academy outdoor amphitheater, and followed that up with a paddle out at Stone Steps beach. It was beautiful sunny day that was filled with love, friendship, tears and good stories.
Zake is survived by his mother and father and too many best friends to name. Thank you for the love..
To the guy who was brave enough to dress as Bacchus, who never used public transportation if his feet could take him to where he wanted to go, who didn’t take pictures because he’d rather experience the moment unspoiled, who gave people a mouthful of laughter and belly full of good food, often at the same time, who impacted so many people in such wonderful ways, and who exemplified, to me what it was to travel the world, I’ll miss you.” —SOFIA KIMBALL
—Submitted by Richard and Anneliese Morgan