Joyce Dolores Zampese

Joyce Zampese passed away peacefully at home on March 9, 2025 after having suffered a stroke. Born in 1935 in Chicago, Joyce was raised in Santa Barbara, CA. Upon graduation from Santa Barbara High School in 1953, Joyce attended college, graduating from Loyola Marymount University. Always respected and loved, she received many honors during her high school and college years. She began her teaching career in the Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo area where she reconnected and fell in love with high school classmate, Ernie Zampese. They married and in 1967 moved to San Diego when Ernie was recruited by Don Coryell to join the football staff at San Diego State and later to the San Diego Chargers.

Joyce devoted her life to being a wonderful wife and mother to her four children. She supported her husband in his college and NFL career, cheering him on and keeping everything together during multiple moves within the NFL.

Joyce’s faith was paramount to her as she attended mass regularly and volunteered her time cleaning her parish church. She cherished time visiting with family and friends. Reading was a loved pastime along with puzzle making and taking care of her beautiful rose garden.

She is survived by her children, Kristin (Dean) Blankartz, Laurie (Chris) Lavache, Ken (Christine) Zampese and Jon Zampese; grandchildren, Jillian, Chelsey, Jesse, Jenna, Lexi, Marina, Anthony, and Haley; and great-grandchildren, Tanner, Boone, Sawyer, and Oliver. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Ernie, her mother, Gertude Fitzpatrick, brother, Kenneth Fitzpatrick, and grandson, Boone Blankartz.

Mass services will be held on June 28, 2025 at 11 am at St. Therese Parish. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Covenant House, 1301 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027