Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson led a moment of silence Monday in honor of former Councilman Marcelo Zapata during the City Council meeting.
Wilson learned earlier that day that Zapata died on August 1 in Argentina.
Zapata, first elected to city council in 2015, resigned in 2022 due to undisclosed serious health issues. He is being remembered as a man with a big heart, fierce convictions, and what Wilson once described as a “change agent in Roswell.”
During a 2022 reception in which his wife, Selina, accepted a key to the city on his behalf, she shared that Zapata was so devoted to his role that he kept a copy of his oath of office in his car.
On Monday, Councilwoman Christine Hall reflected on his dedication, saying, “He gave his soul to the city.”
Former Councilman Mike Palermo, who served alongside Zapata, also paid tribute in a Facebook post describing him as “one of the most loyal people I ever met; loyal to everyone he knew, loyal to every resident, even the ones he never met.”
Zapata’s integrity prompted him to limit his participation in city events that were not fully open to the public, Palermo added. He also noted that despite owning a wine business, Zapata refused to sell to Roswell establishments to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Zapata moved to Roswell with his wife in 2000. He was reelected to the council in 2019 and has been recognized for helping the city transition to a full-time fire department and for helping establish Roswell’s first Hispanic Citizens Police Academy.
In addition to his wife, Selina, he is survived by their daughter, Isabella.
“Marcelo’s name appears on just two buildings in Roswell and many residents probably don’t even know his name,” Palermo wrote. “But he left his stamp on Roswell, and we are a better place because of him.”
