Posted by Newspaper Transcriber on Saturday, October 21, 2006 at 13:24:13 :

John Zigenis

John Zigenis made an impression on Half Moon Bay in the form of signs he painted all around the community.

His painted signs included those that hung by the I.D.E.S. Hall, an old sign that hung outside Cunha's Country Grocery and another at Half Moon Bay Electric, according to his granddaughter, Elli Zigenis of El Granada.

A creative artist as well as a successful commercial painter, Mr. Zigenis died Aug. 6 at his El Granada home. He was 86.

Mr. Zigenis was born and raised in New Mexico, and served during World War II as a merchant marine. At a young age, he went to Oakland and went to work painting houses. He lived on the Coastside for 30 years.

Work with paint was something he pursued, in different forms, throughout his life. He continued working as a house painter, and in the 1970s invented and patented a way to roll paint onto wood so that it looks like cement and gives an appearance of stucco, his granddaughter said.

As a creative artist, he particularly loved Western scenes, and painted murals in his home and elsewhere showcasing Western themes.

Mr. Zigenis is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Zigenis, and granddaughter, Elli Zigenis, both of El Granada.

He had requested to be cremated. No services were held.

Half Moon Bay Review and Pescadero Pebble, Wednesday, August 23, 2006