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05/05/2023 - Boise, Idaho, USA

Thomas Michael Zabala 77, passed away on May 5, 2023 at St. Luke's Medical Center in Boise, Idaho.

Tom was born in Boise, on February 7, 1946, to Thomas F. and Conchita J. (Arostegui) Zabala, the eldest of two children and a second generation Basque. Growing up in Boise, he attended St. Joseph's Elementary, St. Teresa's, and Boise High Schools, graduating in 1963. Following his freshman year at Boise Junior College, he went on to the University of Oregon and graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. It was during these years that Tom befriended many lifelong Phi Kappa Psi fraternity brothers who he would go on to have an annual get together for decades to come.

He married Jayne McMillen in 1971 and they divorced in 2000. His son, best buddy, and light of his life, Jeffrey Mark Zabala, was born in 1978.

Tom began his architectural career working as an intern for Hamill Shaw Associates in the summer of 1968, in Boise. In 1969, Tom joined the US Army Reserve and served as a member of the 321st Engineering Battalion in Boise for seven years before being honorably discharged in 1975. Upon graduating from college, he worked for Cline Smull Hamill Shaw for three years prior to joining with R. Alan Giltzow to form their own firm in 1973. In 1976, they were joined by Arthur M. Albanese and the firm ZGA Architects and Planners was born. The firm continues to this day. Tom retired at the end of 2012, with many accolades and the respect of the architectural community.
During his career and his retirement, Tom was active and highly regarded in the Boise community as a member of many professional and civic organizations, along with volunteering, and offering pro bono services for several nonprofit entities. The word "NO" never entered his mind.

Tom was fortunate enough to earn a living doing what he loved, with people he respected. What really mattered to him was how he treated others, along with setting the right example and making things better for everyone he met. Tom treated everyone the way he'd like to be treated. He was a lucky man in many ways.

He is survived by his sister, Linda Zabala of Eagle; nephew, Christian (Sheila) Cummins of Eagle; niece, Tiffany Larson of Bellevue, Idaho; great niece, Emma Cummins of Eagle; great nephews, Johnathan Reddy of Ketchum, Idaho and Sawyer Cummins of Portland, Oregon; several cousins and their families; and, dear friend and confidant, Valerie Crowe of Boise. He was preceded in death by his father Thomas F. Zabala, mother Conchita J. (Arostegui) Zabala and son, Jeffrey M. Zabala.

At Tom's request, a private inurnment will take place at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise. Arrangements are being provided by Cloverdale Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to Tom's niece's 501c3 nonprofit Unega Mountain Dog Rescue, P.O. Box 2134, Ketchum, Idaho. 83340 (www.unegamountaindogrescue.org).

The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at St. Luke's Medical Center for their heartfelt kindness and efforts on Tom's behalf.

(published by Idaho Statesman, Legacy.com on May 21, 2023)

Goian Bego (GB) - May Rest in Peace