Mr. Zabaleta, 70, formerly of Sayreville and more recently of Charlotte, N.C., died unexpectedly July 18, 2011, at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. He was a chemical engineer with Celanese in Summit for 18 years and then transferred to BASF in Charlotte, N.C., before retiring in 1992. Mr. Zabaleta was predeceased by a brother, Jairo Zabaleta. Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Blanca Forero Zabaleta; a son, Paul and his wife, Valerie, of Rumson; a daughter, Maria Zabaleta Baker and her husband, Mark, of Charlotte, N.C.; a brother, Hugo Zabaleta and his wife, Ofelia of Florida; two sisters, Jenny Londono ofWhiting and Nora Lopez of Jackson; and five grandchildren. A funeral Mass was celebrated at Holy Cross Church, Rumson. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the Make-AWish Foundation for his great-nephew, Carter Blaze Ramkissoon. The Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank, was in charge of arrangements.
