Billy Joe Zaleski

Bill J. Zaleski passed away on Tuesday, the 3rd of January 2017, in Houston, Texas at the age of 78. Bill was born in Cameron, Texas on the 31st of October 1938. Bill was affectionately called "Papa Z" by all of his grandchildren whom he loved so very much.

Bill was an amazing football player in high school. He was selected "All State" while playing for his Temple Wildcats. He is still considered one of the greatest players to ever play at Temple High School. He was recruited by Paul "Bear" Bryant and played for him at Texas A&M University. He later transferred and played football at the University of Tulsa where he continued his education.

Bill spent the first part of his career in computer sales in the 1960's, 1970's and early 1980's. Bill won many awards for his tremendous sales acumen. Bill was also an entrepreneur; He founded Data Projections Inc.in 1987, with his wife Linda. Bill's great joy in life was helping deserving children. He volunteered for many years with his wife, Linda, on the School Art Auction Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Bill and Linda received the Diamond Palette Club award and their Silver Spurs from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for their generous support benefitting the lives of many Texas youth. Bill and Linda also saw to it that their company, Data Projections Inc., generously donated to Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory. They made sure that every classroom was outfitted with a digital projector and Smart Board. They also employed two children at Data Projections, as part of Cristo Rey Jesuit's work-study program. Cristo Rey Jesuit serves the under privileged youth of greater Houston with a college preparatory education.

He is predeceased by his wife of fifty years, Linda. He is also predeceased by his mother, Emilie Hearell, and his father, Joseph P. Zaleski, and also his granddaughter, Mary Dawson Zaleski. Bill is survived by his adoring sons Scott Michael Zaleski, and his partner Patrick Barbin, Billy Jerome Zaleski and his wife Starr, Matthew Alan Zaleski and his wife Piper, his five amazing grandchildren Will Zaleski, Cate Zaleski, Caroline Zaleski, Miller Zaleski, and Jeb Zaleski.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Bill and Linda's niece, Rhonda Gelner, and also to Bill's amazing caregivers James Shine and Alicia Sanchez.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon to seven o'clock in the evening on Monday, the 9th of January in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where recitation of the Holy Rosary is to commence at seven o'clock in the evening, presided by the Rev. Tony Rauschuber, S.J. , Rector and Superior of the Houston Jesuit Community.

The Mass of Christian Burial is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 10th of January, at Saint Cecilia Catholic Church, 11720 Joan of Arc in Hedwig Village, where the Rev. Jeff Johnson, S.J., President of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, is to preside and celebrate. The family is also honored to have con-celebrants the Rev. Tony Rauschuber, S.J., the Rev. Anthony Wieck, S.J., and the Rev. Doug Hypolite, S.J. The rite of committal and interment is to follow, presided by the Rev. Anthony Wieck, S.J., via an escorted cortege at Glenwood Cemetery.

The family is honored to have as pallbearers, Will Zaleski, Jeb Zaleski, Brian Farquhar, Chad Farquhar, David Bledsoe, Chris Hearell and Nathan Zaleski.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family respectfully requests contributions to the School Art Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at 3 NRG Park P.O. Box 20070 Houston, Texas 77054 or Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory at 6700 Mt. Carmel Dr. Houston, Texas 77087 or Strake Jesuit College Preparatory at 8900 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, Texas 77036.