Sagan Alister Zavelo, born on March 4, 1987, lived 39 years filled with kindness, curiosity and a remarkable ability to make others feel valued.
His warmth, humor and steady presence brought light into every room, and his life was defined far more by the love he shared than by any role he held.
Raised in Overland Park, Kansas, Sagan grew up surrounded by family, tradition and community. His connection to Judaism deepened during a transformative trip to Israel, where he celebrated his bar mitzvah and later returned to live for several years. Israel became a place where he felt deeply alive — hiking, exploring, building friendships and even playing in the Israeli Football League.
Sagan’s love for sports was woven into every chapter of his life. A devoted Kansas City Chiefs and Royals fan and a proud Jayhawk at heart, he carried his hometown teams with him wherever he went. Whether cheering from a stadium, a living room or halfway around the world, his enthusiasm was contagious — a reflection of the deep connection he felt to home, to family and to the people he loved.
In 2015, Sagan returned to the United States to be closer to the people he loved most. His first stop was with his sister Zaley and her family, where he spent precious time reconnecting and fully immersing himself in life with his nieces. During this period, his bond with Zaley’s children, Ada and Torunn, deepened in a way that would remain one of the great joys of his life. Their laughter, curiosity and energy filled his days, and Sagan embraced every moment with them.
After a brief stay in Michigan, he returned to Kansas City before going on to make new homes in San Diego and Austin. In every place he lived, Sagan built community with natural ease with his openness, positivity and the genuine care he brought to every relationship.
In 2020, Sagan met his fiancée, Amy Slotin, and the two shared a beautiful pandemic romance rooted in tenderness, humor and deep connection. When Amy received a cancer diagnosis, Sagan devoted himself completely to her care. Through that experience, his already generous heart expanded even further. Caring for Amy became a powerful expression of his compassion, deepening the empathy and gentleness he offered so freely to everyone around him. Their time together remained one of the most meaningful chapters of his life.
Losing Amy reshaped Sagan’s world in ways words can barely describe. In the months that followed, he moved through grief with honesty and courage, allowing himself the space to hurt, to reflect and, slowly, to heal. He leaned on family and close friends, and he worked hard to care for his mental and emotional wellbeing. Through that process, he rediscovered parts of himself — his hopefulness, his capacity for joy and the quiet belief that love would find him again when his heart was ready. It was this healing, grounded in resilience and the support of those who loved him, that opened the door to the next chapter of his life.
Sagan met Samantha in September 2022 and formed an immediate, undeniable connection. They quickly bonded over a shared love of sports, golf, cooking and travel, building a relationship rooted in adventure and joy. Together, they explored the world — spending time at their home in Austin, visiting family in Kansas City and traveling abroad to the UK and Belgium, where Sagan once surprised Samantha with an entire restaurant in Brussels singing happy birthday. Their journeys also took them to Lake Tahoe, where they conquered Mount Tallac and the Van Sickle Rim Trail; to New England to revisit Samantha’s hometown and watch the Red Sox and Yankees play; to the Philippines to experience its rich culture and cuisine; and to Palo Duro Canyon. Their final trip together was to Hawaii, where they found peace on the beach and played golf overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Samantha had hoped for a lifetime more of adventures together, but she remains deeply grateful for every memory, every laugh and every moment they shared.
He is preceded in death by his fiancée, Amy Slotin, and is survived by his partner, Samantha Williams; his parents, Michael Scott Zavelo and Kimberly Campbell Zavelo; his sister, Zaley Zavelo Nelson; her husband, Beau; and his adored nieces, Ada and Torunn, who were constant sources of joy in his life.
Sagan leaves behind a legacy of compassion, generosity and light. His memory lives on in every person he touched, and the love he shared continues to ripple outward.
Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com.
