Frank Zuniga

Frank (Paco) Zuñiga, 79, passed peacefully on January 16, 2023 in Princeton, NJ. Born on July 18,1943 in Mollebamba, Santiago de Chuco, Peru. Frank lived most of his early life in Lima  (Miraflores and San Isidro) and was raised by his parents Victoria (Boudon) and Francisco Zuñiga. He immigrated to the United States in 1960 at the age of 17 after attending the Peruvian Naval Academy. He lived with his Uncle Jack Boudon in New York before his family joined him in 1961. Frank met the love of his life in 1965, Susan-Jane Wilding, who had just emigrated from England. They married in 1966 at the United Nations Chapel in NYC. The birth of their two daughters followed as they settled in Brooklyn. Frank worked in the textile industry, then insurance before beginning his career in finance in 1975. He worked for Dean Witter Reynolds for over 20 years in the World Trade Center and in London in International Operations, later finishing his career at Morgan Stanley. Frank & Susan raised their two girls in Bergen County and retired to Warwick, New York, where they lived for 24 years before moving to Princeton, NJ.  

Paco, as he was known to close friends and family, was very proud of his Peruvian heritage but equally as proud to be an American Citizen. He kept his home filled with books and DVDs on American History. He loved to tell stories about his childhood and his large extended family in Peru. He was the cousin of Julio Ramon Ribeyro, a well-known Latin-American short story writer, novelist, and playwright. In his retirement, Frank enjoyed making birdhouses with his family. Frank’s favorite role was grandfather/Pop-Pop to his three grandchildren.  He and Susan were super fans of all three. They could always be found court side, in the stands, or in the theater watching them with great pride and excitement.

Frank was the cherished father of Michelle Bors and her husband Bill of Ridgewood, NJ and Deborah Renner and her husband Dave of Pennington, NJ.  He was the treasured grandfather of Jack Bors, Katie Bors, and Abigail Renner. He is predeceased by his sister Victoria, and leaves behind his beloved sisters, Amable, Melva, Iris, and Maria. He was a loving uncle to ten nieces and nephews. 

A Celebration of Life service will take place in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at www.giving.mskcc.org.