Obituary of Donald Zolla

Donald “Don” Zolla, age 76, of the Denver area, passed away peacefully on the morning of May 9, 2026, after a year and a half battle with lung cancer. 

Don grew up on the south side of Chicago. A talented athlete, he played baseball and basketball for South Shore High School. He went on to attend the University of Michigan and while his time in Ann Arbor didn’t yield a diploma, he did walk away with a future wife, life-long friends, and an expertise in bowling, ping-pong, and pinball.

Don wore a few hats in his career. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and worked as the head chef at the Doubletree Hotel, first in Seattle and then in Denver. At the age of 38 he returned to school at the University of Kansas to get a degree in math education. Once settled in Denver, he became a beloved math teacher, first at Gateway High School and then Littleton High School, where he also coached tennis. He closed out his career teaching courses at Arapahoe Community College. 

Don was a devoted husband and a playful, loving sibling, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. His life was full of baking bread and brownies and birthday cakes, hiking in the mountains, biking on rails to trails, playing tennis and golf, traveling, playing card games and just generally spending time with his grandkids, walking his dogs, and cheering on the Wolverines, Jayhawks, and Cubs.

He is survived by his wife Peggy; daughters Amy Zolla (Seth Cohen) and Kathy Zolla (Zach Ceriani), and five grandchildren: Eleanor and Leo Cohen, and Madeline, Juliet, and Eliza Ceriani; brother William Zolla (Katie) and sister Margie Zolla (John Kierig). He is preceded in death by his parents Betty and Robert Zolla. 

Don lived a life of reinvention, humor, warmth, and generosity. He will be deeply missed.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, May 14^th, beginning at 11:00 am, at Feldman Mortuary. A livestream of the service will be available on the Feldman Mortuary YouTube channel. Family and friends are welcome to visit following the service, with light refreshments provided.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged in Don’s memory to Humane Colorado.