Gregg Allen Zak

1958 - 2025

Gregg Allen Zak was born on December 13, 1958, in Detroit, Michigan. He was the youngest of six children, two boys and four girls. There was a joke in the family that Gregg didn't get a diaper rash because big sister Deborah took care of him. After moving around the country for a bit, Gregg's family settled in Sacramento, California.

Growing up in College Greens, Gregg graduated from Rio Americano High School and immediately joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Serving for four years, he met two men, Andy Joynt (Barbara) of Santa Cruz and Butch Pierce of Georgia, who would become life-long friends. Following his military service, Gregg worked in Sacramento, where he retired from the County utility billing department.

Gregg loved to cook. He thought nothing of cooking for the entire workforce at his job when there was a retirement or birthday party. He enjoyed grocery shopping and would regularly shop at several grocery stores each week to find the best deals. There wasn't a meal Gregg would fix where he didn't tell you the exact cost of the meal. He prided himself on his skills as a chef and was known to chide others for not cutting something correctly or cooking it properly.

Gregg was a favorite in the workplace. When management decided that men could no longer wear shorts to work, Gregg decided to wear a skirt in protest for the duration of the rule. He even joined his boss for an Employee of the Month Lunch dressed in a black pencil skirt. The new dress code was soon repealed and Gregg took a victory lap.

Gregg's two sons, Matt and Ryan, were his pride and joy. They were everything to him. Gregg spoke with them often, visited them for family cookouts, and enjoyed playing fantasy football with them. An avid football fan, he cheered for both the 49ers and Raiders because his sons were fans of each and he couldn't decide who he liked better.

If Gregg was your friend, you knew he was always in your corner and that his loyalty reflected in words and his actions. When two of his friends were without a place to live, he opened his home for them and made sure they were cared for.

Gregg met Margaret Peña, his sister's neighbor in 2000. Gregg's sense of humor brought them together. They married in 2005. The couple was passionate about caring for animals, and they adopted two dogs, Willow and Louis. Gregg and Margaret adored their dogs, but Gregg particularly doted on Willow.

After Gregg and Margaret retired, they moved to San Diego where Margaret grew up. They had a few years enjoying the mild weather and closeness to the ocean, often taking the dogs to parks near the beach.

In August 2024, Gregg was admitted to Kaiser Hospital to remove his gallbladder. Within a few days he went into septic shock and was intubated. From there, he improved several times to the point where we expected him to recover and make it home. But he never did. For 15 months, Gregg struggled to retain his health, going between hospitals, nursing facilities, and back to hospitals but never recovered. Margaret was there to support him every step of the way. Gregg finally called it quits on November 24, 2025, and passed peacefully with Margaret by his side. The couple would have celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on December 28, 2025. Gregg was an organ donor and was able to donate skin to burn victims.

Gregg is survived by his wife Margaret, his sons Matt (Marlena) and Ryan (Genea) Zak of Sacramento. His devoted sisters, Deborah Lewis (Jim) and Cindy Zak of Sacramento, and Andrea Lingelbach of New Hampshire. He was predeceased in death by his sister Pamela Thomson (Stephen) and brother Dana Zak of Vermont. He also leaves behind five grandchildren that he deeply adored, Matt Jr., Kyle, Tyler, Noah, and Aliyah along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends and colleagues.

From the beginning to the end, Gregg lived life on his own terms. He will be missed.