OAKLAND — Gene Zahas, a longtime businessman and fierce advocate for educational opportunity, died April 7 of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. He was 78.
Born June 26, 1941, in Oakland, he was raised within a vibrant multi-ethnic West Oakland community and graduated from Oakland High School in 1958. After briefly attending the University of California, Berkeley, he graduated from the University of Oregon in 1964.
After marrying Sunny Solomon in 1965, he opened the first of five Bay Area branches of Johnstone Supply, a heating, cooling and maintenance supply wholesaler that grew across the country over the years, with help from father-in-law Jack Solomon Sr. The couple divorced in 1977, but remained friendly and connected over years of family and community events.
In 1971, Zahas joined the Rotary Club of Oakland, where he served as president during 1998-99 and treasurer from 1999 until his death. In addition to his legacy as a businessman and a proud father of three children, Zahas’ efforts on behalf of more than a half-dozen Oakland bond measure campaigns helped boost the Oakland Unified School District and other city institutions during an especially fraught period.
1/2 Friend #GeneZahas, is 1/12 who died fr #Coronavirus in #AlamedaCounty. Born in #WestOakland’s #Greek community he was a true #Oakland #citizen who quietly #glued our City together. He worked w/ me as chair, co-chair or treasurer of 7 #ballotmeasures for #Oaklandschools. #RIP pic.twitter.com/4EyZrClyKg
— Jean Quan (@jeanquan) April 10, 2020
2/2 His company warehouse #JohnstoneSupply was hub of sign & leaflet distribution 4 #school #library #youth measures. He served on many civic boards:#OaklandRotary #OaklandBudgetAdvComm #SalvationArmyMetropolitanAdvgreekBd #GreekOrthodoxCathedral#weloveoakland #oaklandproud #RIP pic.twitter.com/JpO315Ex8F
— Jean Quan (@jeanquan) April 10, 2020
“In West Oakland, he was a big employer,” Oakland Mayor Jean Quan recalled last Thursday. “His warehouse was like the campaign center for signs and for distribution for campaigns. Schools, libraries, you name it, he just opened his doors and let us take over.”
Quan called Zahas a proud son of West Oakland, keenly concerned with ensuring opportunities did not pass city youth by and eager to help others.
“He was one of those rare Oaklanders,” Quan said. “When other people left the city, or turned away from the schools because their kids weren’t there, he stepped up. He was just a calm, kind, patient person.”
In a video message acknowledging Friday as a citywide day of reflection in honor of Holy Week, Passover and other religious observances, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said, “I want to give special condolences to the friends and family of Gene Zahas. Gene died of COVID-19 this week. He was an incredible Rotarian, community volunteer, Oakland native, advocate for our public school systems. I know I personally will miss him.”
Zahas also served on boards for Oakland’s budget advisory committee, as well as the Marcus Foster Education Fund and local Salvation Army’s Metropolitan Advisory Board, and donated space for the Oakland Rotary’s annual KinderPrep drive.
He is survived by his partner Wendy Howard; his children Jacqueline, Christopher and Lukas; his daughter-in-law Angela; his sons-in-law David and TJ; his grandchildren Emmett, Matilda, Amelia and Orion; his sister Elene’ and a large family.
Private funeral services at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland will be held in compliance with public health order restrictions, but a larger memorial to mark his life is planned for later this year.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Ave., Oakland, CA 94602, and the Oakland Rotary Endowment Fund, 1736 Franklin St., Suite 200, Oakland, CA 94612.
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.