John Baptist Zolezzi Jr.
March 13, 1932 - May 24, 2022
SAN DIEGO — John Baptist Zolezzi Jr. passed away on May 24th, 2022 at ninety years of age, peacefully with his family by his side. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, never outdone in his generosity or love for his family and friends. His big smile will be greatly missed.
Born in San Diego on March 13th, 1932 to John Baptist Zolezzi
Sr. and Mary Carmen Salmon, John grew up in Point Loma with his four siblings – Julius, Michael, Mary, and Mimi – where he attended Point Loma High School. In the early 1930s, John’s grandfather, Julius, known as the “Rock Cod King of San Diego,” started the family tuna business, reeling in one fish at a time off the shores of San Diego. His father, John Baptist Sr., expanded operations with a fleet of tuna boats which John Jr. would eventually Captain along with his brother Julius and replace with a modern fleet of tuna seiners, further establishing San Diego as the “tuna capital of the world.” At the time of his retirement in 1974, John Jr. had built the M/V Mary Antoinette and turned the title of Captain over to his son John Baptist III. He continued working in the tuna industry and operating the Chevron fuel dock and the Zolezzi’s family restaurant on India Street with his brother, Julius.
During his retirement, John Jr. became an avid golfer, gardener, and “Nano” who enjoyed his growing family and the many life-long friendships he held. He was truly an immortal figure whose presence was calming and engaging, he seemed bigger than life itself. He engaged with everyone around him – from the locals at the Ocean Beach pier to the merchants at Liberty Station – treating everyone as a friend.
John is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 70 years Antoinette “Dolly” Zolezzi, four children, Anthony (Kathleen) Zolezzi, John (Machelle) Zolezzi III, Maree (Robert) Sharman, and Paul (Monica) Zolezzi, seven grandchildren, 16 greatgrandchildren, and his siblings, Michael Zolezzi, Mary Jean Bateman, and Mimi Johnson.
A funeral mass was held at Sacred Heart Church in Ocean Beach on May 31. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of John Zolezzi to Father Joe’s Villages/ St. Vincent De Paul online or by mail 3350 E St San Diego, CA 92102.