Steven Alexander Zapata

Steve Zapata, 30, of Bellevue, Washington passed away Friday, August 16, 2024. He was born on October 21, 1993, in Santa Monica, California to Celeste A. (Hally) Zapata and Richard A. Zapata. He attended St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School and graduated from Nolan Catholic High School in 2011, and the University of Texas at Dallas in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Arts and Technology Program. 

During his sophomore year, he interned in the VR Lab at the Center for BrainHealth in Dallas, Texas, assisting with a virtual reality “game” that continues to assist clinicians with therapy for autistic individuals. Because of the quality of his performance and work ethic, he was offered a part time position when his internship was completed. While an undergraduate, he collaborated with fellow students to form PolyKnight Games, an independent videogame development studio, who created, marketed and launched InnerSpace in 2018, a beautifully rendered, colorful flying game, after a successful Kickstarter campaign.

After graduation, Steve was actively recruited by Niantic Labs who moved him to the Seattle area in Washington to work on games such as Pokemon Go. Several years later, he was lured away from Niantic by Riot Games, where he worked on games such as League of Legends and Arcane.

Known online as ZappForThat, Steve was a phenomenally talented artist who was passionate about helping independent game developers. He was very involved with The Dallas Society of Play and in the Seattle area, he worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the Seattle Indies, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a vibrant community of independent game developers in the Seattle, WA and Puget Sound area. His colleagues described him as a calm, focused, insightful man with a sharp intellect and amazing ability to listen, who loved to learn and who was passionate, yet playful, about his art, and generous with his time and skill as he encouraged and mentored many within the community and inspired them to create and push beyond boundaries. He was known as “a really good dude” who was loved and deeply respected.

Steve enjoyed many genres of music and books. He actively followed Texas, Washington, and national politics. He particularly enjoyed online video gaming and collecting and building Lego creations.

Steve will be dearly missed by his mother, Celeste A. (Hally) Zapata of Fort Worth, TX, father, Richard A. Zapata (Joanne Randolph) of Benbrook, TX, stepbrothers Adam (Kitty) Randolph and Scott (Ashley) Randolph, grandmother, Irma (Fernandez) Zapata of Hurst, TX, uncle Fernando (Fred) Zapata, Jr. of San Tan Valley, AZ, aunt, Miriam (Zapata) (Douglas) Cowles of Carrollton, TX, aunt Roberta Carmen (Zapata) Emerick of Franklin, TN, uncle Hector Zapata of Canyon Lake, TX, great aunts and uncles, Dorothy (Hally) Robbins of Avon Lake, OH, William (Carole) Haley of Hilton Head Island, SC, Lourdes Fernandez of Irving, TX, Jorge (Maria) Fernandez of Glenn Heights, TX, Carlos (Rosa) Fernandez of Red Oak, TX, Susan Fernandez of Dallas, TX, along with many cousins, friends, colleagues, and chosen family.

He was preceded in death by grandparents, Elsie I. (Kinzer) Hally, Robert Hally, and Fernando (Fred) Zapata, Sr., uncle David L. Hally, great uncles and aunts, George Haley, Alice (Hally) Farsetti, Gilbert Hally, Mary Jane (Hally) Johnson, John Haly, and Roberto Fernandez. 

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2016 Willis Lane in Keller, Texas on October 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. A recitation of the rosary and eulogy will precede the Mass. Inurnment will immediately follow at the columbarium on the church property.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Seattle Indies at: https://www.seattleindies.org/

Lucas Funeral Homes is assisting the family with their arrangements.