David Louis DeZerega

David Louis DeZerega is universally remembered for his smile, his affable disposition, and his active personality. He was a fun-loving family man who lived life with great energy. Whether enjoying nature on the beaches of Kauai, listening and dancing to his sons’ music in Bay Area night clubs, relaxing by the pool in Moraga or hosting large family gatherings, David had a zest for life. After a short battle with cancer, he passed away peacefully at home under hospice care on October 16th with Sara, his wife of 54 years, and his son Stefano by his side. In the last few weeks of his life, David repeatedly expressed his gratitude for all the friends, colleagues and family members who had enriched his life.

David was born on April 2nd 1941 to Steven DeZerega and Lina Cardinale. He lived with his parents and two siblings near his maternal grandmother Amelia Cardinale in an Italian community in San Francisco’s Bayview district until the age of 10 when his family moved to Burlingame. David attended Serra High School, where he played football, served as class president, and graduated in 1958. He then attended Maryknoll Seminary in Chicago for 2 years, after which he returned to Burlingame. He enrolled in community college, obtained a real estate license, and worked as a Realtor and property manager. In 1961, David was drafted into the army. He served two years in Germany, where he learned German and improved his Italian. After an overseas discharge, David spent more than a year traveling and visiting Italian relatives. He returned to UC Berkeley in 1967, where he received his BA in political science. At UC Riverside he earned his MA in 1970, and pursued research on communitarianism and anarchism as a Ph.D. candidate.

David worked for the California Judicial Council from 1973 to 1985 as a project manager and an administrator. Afterwards he returned to real estate, where he excelled as a top producing loan officer at World Savings, Bank of America and elsewhere. David got great satisfaction from helping hundreds of people obtain loans. Whether selling antique furniture at the Alameda flea market while a student or rehabilitating old buildings and becoming a rental housing provider, David was very resourceful. Eventually he became a developer renovating and reselling properties throughout the East Bay.

David met and married Sara in 1967. He wholeheartedly embraced his new role as father to 3-year old Ben and was elated by the birth of Stefano two years later. David was a devoted father, supporting his sons in all their endeavors. Whether in sports, academics, political activities or musical adventures, David always came through for them. His support for their music took many forms—he procured musical instruments in pawn shops, rebuilt and refinished a piano, attended countless gigs, and even traveled to Japan as a chaperone for the BHS jazz band. David also had a special relationship with his nieces and nephews, who are very close to the family. In later years, as David and Sara retired part-time to Kauai, he supported Sara’s artwork and framed many of her nature photographs. David simply adored his three grandchildren. He was very active in their lives and they were the happy beneficiaries of his playfulness and sense of humor.

David was predeceased by his son Ben Ulrich and his sister Dania Cunningham. He is survived by his wife Sara DeZerega, his son

Stefano DeZerega, daughter in-law Johanna Hartwig, grandsons Nico DeZerega (17) and Asa DeZerega (14), and granddaughter Aviva DeZerega (3). He is also survived by his brother and sister-in law Edward and Jenifer Schoenberger, niece Beth Schoenberger, nephew Peter Schoenberger, niece Dynelle Babb, nephew Matthew Cunningham, former daughter-in-law Jessica Tomlinson, and their families. David’s memory will also live on in the hearts of everyone who was touched by his warm persona.

A celebration of life service will be held for family and friends in the first half of 2022. Please contact Stefano sdezerega@ corcorangl.com for more information. Donations in David’s honor can be made to EarthJustice (50 California St., Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94111; earthjustice. org) or Parkinson Network of Mount Diablo (P.O. Box 3127, Walnut Creek, CA 94598; pnmd.net).