Gary Randolph Zent

Gary Randolph Zent

11/7/1953 - 1/23/2026

Gary Randolph Zent, 72, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2026 at Temecula Valley Hospital surrounded by his beloved family.

Gary was born on November 7, 1953 at the Naval base in Jacksonville, Florida as his father, Alfred Zent, was active in the U.S. Army serving in the European theater during and after World War II. Gary's first years of life were in Tempe and Casa Grande, Arizona. He loved the desert with its colorful rugged peaks and valleys; he climbed so many of the mountains and knew the names of most hills and native plants as a youngster.

With two older brothers (Michael Zent and Ronald Zent) and mostly all boy cousins, he got his fill of rough and tumble adventure. His brothers and so many relatives became life long friends. Despite the painful divorce of his parents and spending time in juvenile hall, he always felt blessed. He relocated to Escondido, California with his mother, Adele Gant Zent and his sister (Ellen) in 1966. He attended Grant Junior High School and Escondido High School. He became a standout football player at Escondido High School as well as Cholla High School where he graduated in Tucson, Arizona, class of 1972.

His love of football and sports lasted throughout his life. Gary had season tickets to the Chargers games for many years. No football was watched on television without Gary calling the plays, pacing and shouting at the screen. He had the privilege of volunteering as a Pop Warner coach and coached a successful Warner Springs High School football team and remained connected to many of his players. He was an extremely proud Grandpa when it came to his grandchildren's sports and would never miss a chance to attend games. He loved hiking during his younger years, took trips with his brothers, cousins and nephew to National Parks, Alaska and Mexico. He played men's adult league softball for many years.

Gary loved cooking, and it was one of the many ways he expressed love through making beautiful food for his loved ones. He particularly loved Mexican cuisine. He worked at several family run Mexican restaurants including the original Los Amigos Restaurant in Escondido with the Cuevas family being very close friends, enjoying participating in the Baja 500 and other motorsports with them. He owned his own Mexican food restaurant in 1981 (Arturo's) on Mission Avenue in San Marcos. His main career was in sales and service in many business forms (carpet cleaning, installing screen doors, and logistics for a traveling dance troupe.) He found his niche in real estate, property sales, trusts and eventually became a broker owning Neighborhood Funding Network.

His past 22 years were his true calling and ministry to serve his Savior who healed him from alcoholism through the Alcoholics Anonymous program. As a passionate advocate participant in AA, he led and spoke at meetings until this year. He was available by phone or in person for anyone struggling with alcohol addiction, even dedicating several years in counseling for alcohol and drug users at Puerte la Cruz Conservation camp for incarceration. He always celebrated and remembered how many days a newcomer was sober.

Gary felt strongly God had saved his life for a purpose, having buried numerous best friends who had passed from alcohol related deaths. Gary would say God had even preserved his voice from the effects of larynx cancer to be able to say "I am sure God wants us to be happy, joyous and free", on a daily basis. He took every day of his sobriety as a gift and was 100% present to be available to sing and repeat the truths that branded his heart. His daily quote, "I only have two brain cells left (after drinking for over 35 years) - one brain cell to love God and the other to love others." His AA stories will be repeated and live on in the hearts of others.

We have to say his middle name could be "love." He loved his Lord and Savior, his family and his friends. In fact, his last words were "I love you" to a hospital room full of his children and grandchildren, step son, sister and brother, nieces and nephews, great nephew and his loving wife of 12 years, Shana, by his side holding his hand all the way. "The left ventricle of his heart just stopped working," the doctor said.

Gary was a vital help to both his parents in their elder years. He cheered and coached each in his enthusiastic style, his dad to keep trying to use a prosthetic leg after an amputation and his mother to keep singing louder as her lungs lost capacity. His humor, vitality and joy for life kept the whole family smiling. His warm, long hugs were a comfort to all. Gary especially loved children, and made them feel seen and celebrated. Whether it was with a fist bump walking down the aisle at church or with a BIG loud "WOW" - he made a lost tooth, a winning score for their team or getting a part in the school play seem momentous and significant. He loved to read and volunteered at his grandchildren's school teaching reading to first and second grade students.

He is survived by his two daughters and their families from his marriage to Patty (Mendenhall) Torres from 1978 to 1999. During their 22 years of marriage, they made many real estate and business ventures. He leaves behind his first daughter, Melissa, married to Andy Aumiller and their children, Anderson, Aaron and Adelyn. He leaves behind his younger daughter, Stephanie, married to Josh Prescott and her son, Steven Zamora and step son Michael Prescott. Gary also left behind his beloved brother, Ron Zent of Orange County and his sister, Ellen Gilbert and brother in-law David. This includes many nieces and nephews and two step sisters, Barbie and Marsha (of Arizona.)

He married his second wife, Rhonda Watson, who was his high school sweetheart and best friend's sister, in 2004. After his first divorce, their love rekindled and they built a custom house in Warner Springs. She was instrumental and a very supportive part of Gary's AA recovery. Gary loved having two step children Kristin (married to Anthony) Arano and Travis (married to Jamie) Shire as well as celebrating weddings and having the joy of welcoming step grandchildren as Kristin's family grew. They divorced in 2012.

Gary married Shana (Olson) Fajardo in 2013 at the historic and beautiful Montserrat Chapel in Fallbrook, California. Two more step sons became part of his life, seeing her twins Brandon and Justin Fajardo through middle school and high school and sharing in the life of Shana's mother, Charlotte. They attended Trinity Lutheran Church. Shana enjoyed over 12 years of marriage to Gary travelling throughout North America and encountering many adventures in camping during summers and school holidays. In 2024, Gary broke his hip and had been diagnosed with dementia which kept them close to home.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 11 a.m. at Emmanuel Faith Community Church followed by a reception and reflection time of Gary's life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Step House, a donation-supported rehab program for men struggling with alcoholism. fshnc.org or fshrg.org

Gary will be deeply missed and forever remembered by those who knew and loved him. He had a life well lived. He has said goodbye to this earthly world for his home above.