Name: John Zachry
How did you meet your Spouse? I met my wife Barbara in High School in Whittier, Ca. We went our separate ways – her to UCLA and me to Texas for college but reacquainted at a Friends wedding in 1970 and married in 1972.
Why you decided to join the Knights? After retirement from working in LA for 41 years, we moved to Poway to be near our children and grandchildren in the San Diego area. We joined St Gabriels and immediately and met the Oliva’s, John Bugado and Tom Luni. They asked me to join the Knights and I did in 2015.
What kept you in the Knights? The Buddy Council is the most active and engaging council I have seen since I joined the Catholic Church in 1982. The leadership and direction of each Grand Knight has inspired me. While I have been extremely active in the SVDP/Helping Hands Ministry, I have worked hand in hand with my fellow Knights at Food Distributions, Fun Fest and Lenten Fish Dinners. I so respect my fellow Knights!
What is one thing that your friends don’t know about you? I was blessed with a Grandmother who lived an amazing life of 112 years. She was a single mother of four, who had a country grocery store and was one of the first women postmasters in Texas. She taught many life lessons including the importance of faith in God. She donated two acres of her land for construction of a Protestant Church in 1949 and it still is open for worship 75 years later. I lived her when I attended College and had her in my life until I retired in 2013.
Favorite Hobbies? I enjoy golfing and have been an officer in the San Diego Host Golf Club for 8 years. We play a different course every month in San Diego County. I also enjoy working with Steve Cobb to administer the Helping Hands Ministry to include the monthly food distributions.
If you got to start over again after graduating from school, what would you change? Absolutely nothing, I am blessed with faith and family, had a great career and though I have faced many challenges and had my share of failures, God has guided and comforted me!
Did you travel much? I was blessed to travel for my job and that included International Travel. As a result, my wife and I have traveled extensively in Europe. We have also been to Alaska, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Last January, we visited the Galapagos Islands which were truly amazing.
How long have you been a Parishioner of St. Gabriel’s? We joined St Gabriel Parish in 2014.
How many hours have you volunteered over the year? Between Food Distributions, Funfest and Lenten dinners I have accumulated approximately 250 hours.
What would you like to do more of? Travel when possible.