By IJ Staff
Marin Independent Journal (California)
Copyright 2007 Marin Independent Journal, a MediaNews Group publication
All Rights Reserved
MARIN, Calif. — Gary Ned Zappa, a veteran Marin County emergency services dispatcher, died Tuesday following complications from cancer surgery. He was 49.
Mr. Zappa, of Rohnert Park, who received numerous commendations for his work as a dispatcher for the sheriff’s department, joined the staff after retiring in 1989 as a Sonoma County deputy sheriff following a work injury.
Colleagues in the Marin office noted he handled scores of key emergencies, including incidents such as the 1990, six-alarm Dominican Convent fire and the freak 2006 snow storm in which two died in a 32-car wreck on the Waldo Grade. He was commended by county supervisors for his work during the 2005 flood.
“Gary Zappa was a highly-skilled public safety dispatcher,” said sheriff’s Capt. Mike Ridgway. “He will be missed for the passion he brought to his job and for the friendship he so willingly gave.”
A staff colleague, Caroline Hechim Albee, said Mr. Zappa was “amazing, saving countless lives in this county,” through his deft handling of emergency police, fire and 911 calls.
He also dispatched medical emergencies for REACH Air Ambulance in Santa Rosa, and worked part-time for the San Rafael Fire Department.
He was a graduate of Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa, earned a bachelor’s degree at California State University Sacramento and held a master’s in public administration from Golden Gate University.
His law enforcement career began in 1982 when he joined the Santa Rosa Police Department.
He is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and four children, Joshua, Matthew , Brad and Jacquelyn, and three grandchildren.