Charles Kirkwood Zirion

Surrounded by his loving family, Charles Kirkwood "Kirk" Zirion''s spirit was released from his three-year long battle with ALS Friday, Sept. 10, 2010. Kirk is survived by his wife and best friend of 39 years, Pamela; two daughters Margot and Myra; son-in-law, Bill McCarthy; two brothers Stanley Ray (Dawn) Zirion and William Edward (Judy) Zirion; and close cousins Kathy (Terry) Vachon, Barbara (Bob) Gaydon and David Murphy. He is also survived by his aunt, Phyllis (Bob) Strachan Ottesen; grandchildren Alex, Emma, Will and Lucia McCarthy; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Charles and Myra Strachan Zirion, and uncle, William Strachan. Kirk, 64, was born in 1946 in Berkeley, Calif., but lived most of his youth in the Sierra foothills of Clipper Mills, Calif. When he was 19, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served four years in the Vietnam War as a diesel engineer. He returned home and began his college education at Yuba College. Pam had just been hired at the local small elementary school in Challenge, Calif., and was renting a room above the family store. She was introduced to Kirk when he threw a snowball at her. They were married July 7, 1971, on the anniversary of both of their parents'' weddings. Kirk and Pam eventually moved to Santa Barbara, where Pam taught elementary school and Kirk began studies at Brooks Institute of Photography where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. Following his passion for the art, Kirk''s enthusiasm for nature was able to take on a whole new significance. Always an active person. Kirk united his love for exercise (running and bicycling) with photography and learned to scuba dive for underwater photography. In 1975, Kirk and Pam moved to San Luis Obispo to open Horizon Studios, a photography studio. After the birth of their children, Kirk ferried them to the studio, babysitters and school via bicycle. Over the years, Kirk participated in many local triathlons and both Kirk and Pam became avid bicyclists as well as backpackers ''" an infatuation that continued their remaining years together. Later on, after closing Horizon Studios, Kirk worked at the Telegram-Tribune and Rinco Color Lab. Kirk then took classes at Cuesta College to update his mechanical skills and soon after, worked for Waste Connections for four years. Kirk was always busy with numerous projects including restoring a dilapidated 1956 Chevy truck, crafting tools from wood and metal, or planting and harvesting vegetables in his garden. In 2007, Kirk was diagnosed with bulbar onset Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) ''" Lou Gehrig''s disease. An aggressive form of the disease, it affected his speech and swallowing - first atrophying the muscles of his throat that made communication and eating difficult. As the diseased progressed, he was unable to participate in as many sports as he used to, but instead made accommodations for them. He bought a recumbent bicycle for better balance and used a walking stick on hikes. Eventually, the disease took him out of the realm of exercise, mechanics and woodworking altogether. Devastating as that was, Kirk continued to be optimistic and used laughter to get through the difficult times. Kirk was a patient and thoughtful man with a tremendous sense of humor. Family was always paramount to everything else in life and he demonstrated this through example and love. It is these characteristics for which Kirk will be remembered in the hearts of all who knew him. The family would like to thank Kirk''s caregivers, without whom life with ALS would have been unmanageable: The diligent, compassionate care of Ninon Atwood and earlier, Steve Maddux; the beneficial physical therapies of Michael "Conan" Balson; and the good-humored care of Sam Bedinner. The family would also like to thank our special friend, Justin Dickerson, and the SLO Bicycle Club for their continued support and friendship, specifically Kathy Cohon, Ross Pepper (who organized the race car outing), Terry Heller, Jacque Wheeler and Dorothy Curhan, who came and read to Kirk every weekday for over a year. Their perseverance and attentiveness helped Kirk and Pam so much. The family would also like to acknowledge the diligence and care given to Kirk by Best Care Home Health and Hospice Partners of the Central Coast. A memorial celebration of Kirk''s like will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, 2010, at the Dallidet Adobe, 1185 Pacific St. in San Luis Obispo. Donations in Kirk''s name may be made to SLOBC for a memorial bicycle rack, or to the ALS Association.