Zachary Edward Wiley

1974 - 2025

Zachary Edward Wiley
09/24/1974 - 09/11/2025
Zach, as he was always known, passed away in his sleep on September 11 at his San Francisco home in the Cole Valley neighborhood, where he lived for over 20 years. A friend to many, Zach was an avid outdoorsman, a sports and travel enthusiast, and a passionate reader with a quiet integrity and a desire to help others.
Born in Portland, Oregon, Zach was the only child of Harry and Michele Wiley. When he was 12, the family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, residing in San Ramon. There, Zach graduated from Cal High School in 1992. He then went to San Diego State University (SDSU), where he graduated in 1996 with a business degree in finance. While at SDSU, Zach and two close friends worked part-time for the Athletic Department in athletics event management.
Upon graduation, Zach first worked for NAPA, a nationwide company that sells auto parts and accessories. However, Zach spent most of his career, 24 years, at KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting firms.
He had many varied interests. Zach possessed a great love of the outdoors, often going camping, rafting, and hiking with friends. He particularly enjoyed excursions to Yosemite National Park and Pinnacle National Park.
Zach rarely missed watching the college football and basketball games of the SDSU Aztecs, Oregon Ducks (father's alma mater), and Wisconsin Badgers (mother's alma mater). Zach was also a big fan of the 49ers, the Warriors, and the Giants.
Zach loved to travel. When he was young, he made numerous trips with his parents to Mexico and Hawaii. The family traveled to Europe for three weeks in 1984, visiting five countries and celebrating his tenth birthday with pastries in Vienna.
When he was older, Zach and his friends visited Spain during the Running of the Bulls as well as France, Italy, and Puerto Rico. More recently, he traveled solo to England to watch his favorite soccer team, the Liverpool Football Club, and Paris for the second time. Two years ago, he visited Japan for two weeks.
Zach greatly enjoyed going to concerts to hear all types of music. He especially looked forward to the Bottle Rock Music Festival in Napa.
He grew up loving to read, a passion he shared with his mother. While living in Portland, the two of them would regularly visit Powell's Bookstore, then the largest bookstore west of the Mississippi. Zach appreciated good literature, both fiction and nonfiction, and the works of many authors. He was a member of a book club and with a fellow member went last year to hear a favorite author speak in San Francisco.
In 2007, Zach and Marlie Palmer were married in a small intimate, wedding which only family members attended. After graduating from the University of San Francisco, Marlie then finished culinary school. The couple enjoyed traveling and cooking together, but after twelve years, they decided to divorce.
Zach was known for his love of life, his sense of humor, his silent integrity, his ever-present smile, and his generous heart. He volunteered for the Food Bank and The Special Olympics. The basketball team he coached this past season placed second in competition.
Zach will be sadly missed by all those who knew him. He is survived by his cat, Leo; his mother, Michele Wiley of San Ramon; an aunt, Nancy Horne of Annapolis, Md.; close friends Steve Matuszewicz of San Luis Obispo and Peter Vogt and Beth of San Francisco; and many friends and cousins from CA and OR to MD and WI.
A devoted and loving son, Zach and his mother bonded over books, sports, good food, the same political philosophy, as they were both liberal democrats, and wonderful pets, especially cats and dogs.
He was preceded in death by his father, an aunt, and all grandparents.
To honor Zach, please consider a gift to the Yosemite Conservancy, 101 Montgomery Street, Ste.1700, S.F 94104 or The Special Olympics, 3480 Buskirk Ave, #340, Pleasant Hill 94523. And, or spend time in the beautiful outdoors.
A Celebration of Life for Zach will be held Saturday, November 22, at 2 pm at the Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon. Refreshments will be served. Please do RSVP via text to: 415-912-6760