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Zach’s story begins in the South Bay, where he grew up surrounded by the ocean — a place that helped shape his adventurous spirit and love for life. He went on to attend UC Santa Barbara, where he continued to embrace everything the California coast had to offer. Zach has always been someone who chases experiences: surfing early mornings, traveling to new places, snowboarding in the mountains, and saying yes to adventure whenever he can. He lives life with a beautiful outlook — one rooted in positivity, curiosity, and making the most out of every moment.
But more than anything, Zach is a dad.
He has three kids — Mackenzie (18), Jaxon (13), and Murphy (8) — who are the center of his world. Everything he does is for them, and his strength continues to shape who they are every single day.
In February 2022, Zach’s life — and all of ours — changed when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Doctors gave him just eight months to live. It was a moment that brought fear and uncertainty into our lives in a way we had never experienced before.
But Zach didn’t accept that timeline as the end of his story.
With determination and resilience, he chose to fight. Over the years, he has undergone two craniotomies in an effort to combat this disease. In September 2025, his most recent surgery left the left side of his body almost paralyzed, introducing a new set of daily challenges that have changed our lives once again.
Brain cancer affects so much more than just the person diagnosed. It impacts families, routines, and the future you once imagined. It forces you to adapt, to find strength you didn’t know you had, and to hold on to hope even in the hardest moments.
Through it all, Zach has remained the most positive person we know. His mindset, his strength, and his ability to keep going — no matter what — inspire not only our family but everyone who hears his story. He continues to show us what it means to truly live, even in the face of unimaginable challenges.
Today, Zach has surpassed his original prognosis and has lived more than four years beyond what doctors first expected — a testament to his strength and spirit.
We are walking in the Southern California Brain Tumor Walk to honor him, to raise awareness, and to support everyone affected by brain cancer. His journey has impacted us in countless ways, and now we want to turn that impact into action.
