David Ray Zachary M.D.

Doctor David Ray Zachary passed away on September 9, 2023, at the age of 77, in Hoag Hospital Newport Beach, near his hometown of San Juan Capistrano, California. He was surrounded by family members standing by his side and singing an array of his favorite songs. His tenacious fight against many health complications over the past several months was a display of his amazing determination and perseverance.
David was born on April 11, 1946, in Wichita, Kansas to Eldred Ellsworth and Velma Irene Zachary. He graduated from Pasadena College in 1968 with a degree in Chemistry and graduated from medical school at Creighton University School of Medicine in 1972. In 1973 he completed his internship at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Oakland, CA. As if David was not busy enough, he got married in 1968, and between 1971 and 1976, he welcomed three beautiful children into the world: Baron, Katina, and Alyssa. In 1975 he completed his Family Practice residency training at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Camp Pendleton, CA. For the next 4 years he taught at his residency training site and served as the Director of the Family Practice Residency Program and Coordinator of the Primary Care Clinic. David served a total of 9 years as a Commissioned Officer in the Naval Medical Corps. During his Navy tenure, he served as an Assistant Coach of the Navy Command- Camp Pendleton Varsity Football Team. Doctor David Zachary and his family left Camp Pendleton in 1979 and moved to San Juan Capistrano. This same year he opened his medical practice in San Clemente where he dedicated 44 years of his life to serving the community in Family Practice. Throughout the years he would take on many physician roles in the local hospitals, urgent care, and San Clemente High School athletic teams. One of these roles was as Chief of Staff at San Clemente Hospital. Doctor Zachary retired from the medical field in early 2023, and many expressed their appreciation for his dedication and expertise given over the years.
Besides being a talented doctor, David had many other skills and passions that stood out to his friends and family. David possessed an appreciation for football and played in high school and on intramural teams through college. Once he stopped playing the game himself, he supported his son's football teams as a coach, a spectator, and as a team doctor. David had true talent as a musician and he shared his gifted voice with many, especially in his college quartet. His musical talent also came out in the trumpet and the ukulele. He was a very dedicated music enthusiast when he discovered live musicians whose music he enjoyed. Fishing is a hobby that was ever present in David's life and brought him much joy and peace. When his children were younger, he taught each of them how to fish and took them on trips to beautiful fishing spots. His all-time favorite fishing location became Hot Creek Ranch near Mammoth Lakes. Fishing here became an annual tradition with his closest friends. This became a creek that held many special memories for all of them. If there is fishing in Heaven, then we all can imagine him standing in the creek catching a big one.
David is survived by his three children, Baron, Katina, and Alyssa, and children-in law, Gabrielle Zachary and Cory Steffen; his grandchildren, Jacquelyn, Rebecca, Alex, Morgan, Emma, Taylor, Shaylee, and Brayden; and his siblings Don and his wife, Clara Lou, his sister Mary, and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held for David on Sunday, October 22, 2023, at 1 o'clock PM at South Shores Church in Dana Point. There will be an onsite reception following the service.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the caring and skilled staff at Hoag Irvine and Newport Beach. We are also thankful for those that were able to visit David in the hospital over the past few months and those that supported his children in that challenging time. We are appreciative of all his friends, colleagues, and family members that added much to his life. His time on earth was one full of friendships, family, work, and enjoying his many passions. Now he gets to be with his Heavenly Father, along with many others that were dear to him, for all of eternity.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in David's name to The Wounded Warrior Project Donate to Veterans | Wounded Warrior Project or Trout Unlimited TU Donate - tudonatebase.
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