Manuel Francisco Zapata

Manuel Francisco Zapata passed away peacefully on June 6, 2026 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY.  

Manuel was born in Cali, Colombia on April 26, 1941.  He married the love of his life, Zoila Rosa on July 4, 1959 and  together they raised five children.  

Manuel is survived by his children: Manolo (Zetty), Katherine (William), Juan Carlos (Arlene), Monica (Rafael), Roberto (Clarissa), his twelve grandchildren: Lauren, Thomas, Kenny, Christine, Rachel, David,  Matthew, Samuel, Harith, Jefferson, Yasmine and Catalina, his five great-grandchildren: Kailey, Jacob, Lana, Miles and Oliver and his sister Lucefrida (Hermes).  He was predeceased by his wife Zoila, his mother Marina, his father Manuel, and his sisters Nova and Maritza.

Manuel moved to New York City (Queens) from Colombia in 1972 with his wife Zoila, leaving behind the comfort and security of their native land for the sole purpose of securing a better future for their children.  He was an outstanding, enterprising man who held many positions in his preferred field, Business Administration.  His hard work ethic, his drive to constantly improve and excel at every task, and his laser-focused mind helped to propel him into key roles within a few years of having arrived.  One of those key roles, Director of International Marketing, presented him with many opportunities to travel abroad.  Eventually, he was a member of one of the first successful American business teams to go into the Soviet Union, in the midst of the Cold War, to help promote American Businesses.  All along Manuel and Zoila worked diligently to instill a burning desire in their children to pursue education above all.  This drive resulted in all five children obtaining university degrees in areas as varied as Engineering, Nursing, Geology, Business Administration and Law.

After retirement Manuel lived in New Jersey, Florida, the Dominican Republic, North Carolina  and Virginia before settling back in New York.  He was a loving man, dedicated, above all, to his family.  As such, he sacrificed all for the benefit of his family and will forever be remembered as the wonderful, caring and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather as well as everyone’s friend and stout supporter.  He truly was the patriarch of our family.

Rest in peace, Papi.

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on July 11, 2026 at The Nyack Center, 58 Depew Avenue, Nyack NY 10960