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Roberto Zárate Obituary
June 7, 1948 - March 31, 2025
Roberto Zárate of San Antonio, Texas passed away on March 31, 2025. The first in his family to attend college, Roberto received his Bachelor of Arts in Education from Howard Payne University and a Master of Arts and Superintendent Certification from San Diego State University.
Roberto was a passionate and caring educator for his entire working career. He was the Principal of Mary Hull Elementary, and under his leadership, they became a National Blue Ribbon School. He continued his involvement after retirement as a trustee and chairman for the Alamo Colleges Board of Trustees, helping them attain the prestigious Baldridge Award. He was instrumental in the founding of the Community College Association of Texas Trustees. He later became National Chair of the Association of Community Colleges. However, his greatest accomplishment was being a dear Papa to his 12 grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife Jane, mother Lucy, sons Patton, Estevan, and Matthew, daughter Ashley, daughters-in-law Cathy and Laura, son-in-law Manny, brothers and sisters Richard, Rita, Ruby, Roland, Roger, and Ruben, and his beloved grandchildren Julietta, Sabrina, Antonio, Alejandro, Michael, Marcus, Aaliyah, Matthew, Diego, Joaquin, Ramiro, and Xavier. His forceful presence and loving guidance will be missed by all who knew him.
Details concerning a memorial service will be forthcoming.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Roberto Zárate
Javier Vargas
May 21, 2025
Mr. Z was my elementary principal at John Glenn back in the 80's. Mr. Z always knew everyone's name. Left a lasting impression on me for life.
Victor Lopez
May 18, 2025
My deepest condolences to Jane and the entire Zarate family.
I am saddened to hear on the passing of my friend and colleague. My thought and prayers to Jane and the entire family . Robert and I taught at the junior High in Crystal City back in the 70's and graduated from San Diego State University in 1975 and served in different college boards during the same time. I am going to miss you my friend
Joe and Minnie Sanchez
April 29, 2025
Sincerest condolences to Jane and the family on the passing of Roberto. Roberto and I were friends and colleagues in Edgewood ISD and Alamo Colleges Board. He was a true educator in that his priority were always students and the community where they lived. Later on, I had the opportunity to read to the students at Mary Hull ES where he served as Principal for several years. Yet when I mentioned that I knew and worked with Roberto, there was a resounding affirmation of his service by the staff at the school. This is indicative of the legacy that Roberto leaves with his students, staff, and community. I will always cherish the times that we would sit and discuss student success matters. He always exhibited his passion for education especially for those that were marginalized. We offer our prayers to the Family so that they may provide comfort during this difficult time. May he Rest In Peace!
Bonnie J Conner
April 27, 2025
I´m sad to learn of your loss,just today. What sailors we were! Recall the great times. Bonnie
Michael Martinez
April 17, 2025
My deepest condolences to the entire Zárate family, my name is Michael Martinez. Mr.Z was the best Principle of student could ever have. I was Privilege to know him at John Glenn Elementary. He made all of my Peers want to do good in our live's. I was aslo able to reconnect after 20 plus rears later when i saw him on my route. He have me the biggest hug ever. I will deeply miss him but will never forget him!!
Dr. Yvonne Katz
April 16, 2025
Roberto was a long-time friend and fellow educator. We were principals/administrators in Northside ISD and got to work together on some programs. He invited me to join the Alamo Colleges Board when a vacancy occurred that he knew I would relish and bring expertise to for success.
He was loved by everyone in education and knew just about everyone locally, statewide, and nationally/internationally! He worked diligently to make every level of education stronger and provide success for students from Pre-K through college level.
We need more folks in educational leadership like Roberto. He supported so many programs to train and select new, strong leaders. I considered it a privilege and an honor to work by his side on so many issues! We will all miss Roberto and his zest for educational equity for all!
Dr. Yvonne Katz
Trustee, Alamo Colleges Board
Joe & Mary Ann Mateo
April 15, 2025
Our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Zarate. I met him many years ago when we worked at Edgewood ISD. He was a wonderful and cheerful person who will be missed by many people. May he rest in peace.
Ardyce Brenner
April 14, 2025
Ugh! I´m so saddened to hear this news. Mr. Zarate was one of my favorite principals in NISD! He also served as a mentor for me during my administrative days. He was always very professional and friendly.
I remember he took me out to lunch not far from Mary Hull. I wish I remembered the name of the restaurant, but I don´t. Mr. Zarate told me the restaurant had "the best" tacos in SA!!! He will certainly be missed by so many.
Joe Sepulveda
April 13, 2025
Mr. Zarate or Mr. Z, was an awesome principal to work for at Mary Hull Elementary. His main objective was to make the campus a community center and he succeeded! A good example was that one day we were in a meeting and asked what could we do to make our campus our school a community centered campus and I said, " ...let's have a parade to culminate Red Ribbon Week, a anti drug message campaign. My idea was just to have k-5th grade students parade the parking lot with their bicycles or on foot chanting 'Say No To Drugs'. Long story short, he made a big event where we closed of the part of the neighborhood by attaining a parade permit and he got Red McCombs to provide vehicles for the grand marshals. This is just one event of many that he made grand and AWESOME! You will be missed Principal Roberto Zarate.
Virginia Sandoval
April 12, 2025
On behalf of the Sandoval Family our prayers and condolences to Mr. Z's family and friends. One of the best principals I've encountered in my lifetime in school. Always cared about his students and families.
Rosemary Reyna
April 12, 2025
My deepest condolences to the Zarate family. He was a very special person to our family when we moved here from North Carolina He was the principal to Mary Hall he made my boys feel so welcome to the new school. He told them they were the new kids and if they had any problems to come talk to him, he would not allow nobody to bully any kid. we stayed in touch after my son´s left Mary Hall then my grandson started at Mary Hall at that time. He wasn´t the principal, but he always came to visit for special graduations, so we always kept in touch. My oldest son is in the US Marines as a Warrant Officer and he always kept in touch with Mr. Zarate. May you rest in peace.
Tiffany
April 11, 2025
Out of all the principles I had in my life Mr. Z was the only one I remember. I fondly remember his love of teddy bears that filled his office. He will be greatly missed.
Judy Rosanno
April 11, 2025
Mr. Z was so greatly respected for the family spirit he created at Mary Hull. I felt so honored to serve as his Vice Principal for four years. Even before that he greatly encouraged me when I was the Science Facilitator at Adam´s Hill. At that time he was principal at John Glenn Elementary. I visited their Science Fair to gain ideas for running one at my school. This was our first meeting and he treated me like royalty. Years later I was a principal writer for our Blue Ribbon School application at Brauchle. Our staff was electro go for it. I requested that he come talk to the staff about it. He graciously agreed to do it and being the charismatic person that he was, totally convinced one and all that this was an honor that our school should pursue. To this day I don´t think I would have been able to convince the staff like he did. When I was ready to apply for an administrative position I knew it was meant to be when a position came open at his school. Those were some of my most rewarding years as an educator. I learned so much about what is really important from him. Even when I was promoted to a principal ship myself, he remained Mr. Z to me, as I continued to hold him in high regard for
All that he meant to the Northside community. He will be greatly missed by many.
Irene G. Esparza
April 11, 2025
Deepest sympathy to the entire Zarate family talk about someone leaving an impression in life that was truly Mr.Z during his time at Mary Hull Elementary he brought an entire community together he was indeed one of my oldest child HUGE influence as his principal.I had the privilege of being a parent under his tenor at Mary Hull Elementary and he encouraged me to also become a staff member there (18) yrs so far...I pray to God for overwhelming comfort and peace to his wife,children,grandchildren,mother ,brothers and sisters.
Gilda Dieringer
April 10, 2025
My deepest condolences to Jane and the Zarate family!! You are all in my thoughts and prayers. He was one of a kind Educator!!
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