Obituary: Jesus Zornoza
Dr. Jesús Zornoza — a longtime FCIAC soccer official, and former Staples High School girls soccer coach — died peacefully on Saturday. He was 79, and lived in Ridgefield.
He was born in Madrid, Spain. He began practicing radiology in 1974 at MD Anderson in Houston. He published extensively on cancer imaging and needle biopsy techniques, as well as authoring and editing a book on percutaneous needle biopsies.
In 1983, Jesús moved to Ridgefield and joined the radiology group at Danbury Hospital. After 20 years practicing medicine he retired, and devoted much of his time to soccer.
Jesús began coaching youth teams in Ridgefield and became president of SCOR (Soccer Club of Ridgefield). From 1991 to 1994, he coached the Staples girls varsity team to a 44-20-4 record.
He then began a second career as a referee and league administrator. He officiated high school and college games, mentored young referees, administered college conferences, and developed training camps. He was the state youth referee administrator from 1997 to 2006, and state referee administrator from 2003 onward.
In 2005 he was inducted into the Connecticut Girls Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and in 2010 into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame.
Jesús was also an avid gardener and loved spending time in the garden with his wife. He was a caretaker of orchids and bonsai trees. He was devoted to his flock of farmyard chickens. He also loed gatherings with friends and family: outdoor paellas, pit stop diners on the way to soccer matches, and holidays at his sisters’ and brothers’ houses in Spain.
Jesús is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jeanne; their children Andrew Zornoza (Evelyn) and Pippi (Sean Campbell); grandson Rafael Francis Zornoza, and siblings José, Enrique, Maria and Loreto Zornoza. He was predeceased by his sister, Pilar.
Family and friends will be received on Saturday (September 19, 2 to 4 p.m., Kane Funeral Home, Ridgefield). In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dr. Zornoza’s memory may be made to the Jesús Zornoza Memorial Soccer Referee Scholarship Fund.
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Jesús Zornoza
