Lorenzo (Zuni) Zuniga Jr. (76) died on May 31, 1924 in Albuquerque NM. Born in Carlsbad NM in 1947, his family relocated to Albuquerque NM where he graduated from Valley High School, and was a member of their 1965 State Champion Baseball Team. After graduation Lorenzo was invited to the Baltimore Orioles try-outs in Florida but instead enlisted in the Marines. He did two tours in Vietman, (surviving two of his nine lives) and was honorably discharged in 1968 as Sargent e-5.

After dabbling in ad hoc construction, surviving at least 3 more lives (including falling off a 3-story building, rolling a truck and encountering towing chain whiplash), Lorenzo was accepted to the apprenticeship program of UA Local 412 Plumbers and Pipefitters, specializing in industrial and commercial plumbing.  He would proudly point out numerous construction projects “he built” around Albuquerque and New Mexico including Presbyterian Hospital, UNM Cancer Center, General Mills, Inn of the Mountain Gods (Ruidoso NM), etc.

While fishing and hunting were his passions, he put pride into constantly improving his golf game, achieving a 6 handicap. In 2023 he won Isleta Eagle Golf Association’s 2023 Senior Club Championship as well as the 2023 Club Flight Championship. He was multi sports coach to generations of family and friends, some of whom still call him “Coach Z”

He will be sorely missed by his wife, daughter and the family young’uns who adored their Uncle Zuni also known as Uncle Boy. Lorenzo is survived by his wife of 47 years, Maria Varela, daughter Sabina Zuniga Varela, sisters Hortencia Zuniga (Charles Chavez), Ophelia Zuniga Dubois (Dennis Dubois), and brothers Orlando Zuniga and Ricardo Zuniga (Debbe Browne). Four sisters-in-laws (Dolores V. Phillips (Clyde Philips),), Frances Varela) (Harvey Licht) Angela Varela (Frank Kunkel), Margaret Rowe (Earle McMichael), numerous nieces, nephews and Godchildren.

Ashes will be interred at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in October and scattered in his beloved Canjilon Mountains for the November elk hunt. 

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