George was a prestigious mycologist who specialized in slime molds (Division Myxomycota). I never saw anyone who could grow these remarkable organisms like him. In fact, sometimes they would crawl out of their dish into our prep room. He taught botany classes at Palomar College for many decades. The botany students loved his lectures & laboratories. We went on many very special field trips together, including the U.S. Virgin Islands.

George received his Ph.D. at DePauw University and did Post Doctoral work at the Royal College of Science in England. In fact, George & his brilliant wife Paula spent a lot of time in England. Paula wrote Desire The Kingdom, a historical novel based on the lives of the last Plantagenet king and queen of England. Unfortunately, she passed before the book was published. George and his daughter Alisa completed the book posthumously.

I have known many teachers during my 40+ year career at Palomar College. I can truly say that George Zabka was one of greatest. He was an inspiration to me and one of the nicest persons I have ever met in my life.

The times we all share with special people on this planet are relatively short. As I have said many times before about special people in my life, I will greatly miss my dear friend and I will never forget him.