---
title: SR 172. Zucca, Paul; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr172
cite_as: SR 172, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr172
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr172.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr172/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70206
date: 2025-02-12
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr171.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr173.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 94
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr172.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 172
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-12
last_action: Senate Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Nan Orrock
  - Jason Esteves
  - Donzella James
  - RaShaun Kemp
  - Elena Parent
  - Josh McLaurin
  - Kim Jackson
  - Sonya Halpern
  - Sally Harrell
  - Gail Davenport
  - Kenya Wicks
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR172/2025
upstream_id: 1965800
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - Georgia Senate resolution
  - memorial tribute
  - Grant Park
  - Atlanta community leaders
---

# SR 172. Zucca, Paul; condolences

## Text

Senate Resolution 172
By: Senators Orrock of the 36th, Esteves of the 35th, James of the 28th, Kemp of the 38th,
Parent of the 44th and others
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of Paul Zucca; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens
with the passing of Paul Zucca on October 31, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Paul Zucca was a dedicated advocate for Grant Park and Southeast Atlanta who
served on numerous committees, boards, and organizations at the city, county, and state
levels to improve the community; and
WHEREAS, after moving from Midtown, he served as president of the Grant Park
Neighborhood Association and later as chairman of Neighborhood Planning Unit-W, helping
to strengthen bonds among East Atlanta, SAND, and Grant Park while securing resources
to support local growth; and
WHEREAS, he was an early supporter of the Neighborhood Charter School and the Atlanta
Charter Middle School before their merger, believing that all children deserved access to
quality education; and
WHEREAS, he further served as a longtime representative for Zoo Atlanta, advocating for
its promotion and preservation as a vital neighborhood asset; and
WHEREAS, he was united in love to his life partner of 47 years, John Newcomb, and the
two were blessed with a remarkable son, Dylan; and
WHEREAS, he gave inspiration to many through his high ideals, morals, and deep concern
for his fellow citizens, and the devotion, patience, and understanding he demonstrated to his
family and friends were admired by others; and
WHEREAS, he was a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation
for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness, and by the example he made of his life, he
made this world a better place in which to live; and
WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous man, Paul Zucca will long be remembered for
his love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who had the great
fortune of knowing him.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
join in honoring the life and memory of Paul Zucca and express their deepest and most
sincere regret at his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the family of Paul
Zucca.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia Senate resolution honors the life of Paul Zucca, a longtime Grant Park and Southeast Atlanta community advocate who died on October 31, 2024.

### Plain-language summary

This is a memorial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate to honor Paul Zucca, a community leader in Grant Park and Southeast Atlanta who died on October 31, 2024. The resolution recounts his years of service, including serving as president of the Grant Park Neighborhood Association, chairman of Neighborhood Planning Unit-W, an early supporter of the Neighborhood Charter School and Atlanta Charter Middle School, and a longtime representative for Zoo Atlanta.
The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally expresses the Senate's regret at his passing and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to his family, including his partner of 47 years, John Newcomb, and their son, Dylan.

### What it does

- Formally expresses the Georgia Senate's regret over the death of Paul Zucca on October 31, 2024.
- Recounts his community service roles, including leadership of the Grant Park Neighborhood Association and Neighborhood Planning Unit-W.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to Zucca's family.
- Creates no new law, funding, or penalty; it is a ceremonial statement rather than a change to the Georgia Code.

### Who it affects

This resolution directly names and honors Paul Zucca's family, including his partner John Newcomb and son Dylan, along with the Grant Park and Southeast Atlanta community organizations he served, such as the Grant Park Neighborhood Association and Zoo Atlanta.

### Why it matters

The resolution has no legal or practical effect on Georgia residents generally. Its significance is symbolic and personal, offering formal recognition from the state Senate to Zucca's family and community of his contributions to Grant Park and Southeast Atlanta.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses describe Zucca's community roles, including neighborhood association leadership and advocacy for Zoo Atlanta and local schools.
- The resolved clause states the Senate joins in honoring his life and expresses regret at his passing.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to his family.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-12)
- Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-12)
- Sponsors: Nan Orrock, Jason Esteves, Donzella James, RaShaun Kemp, Elena Parent, Josh McLaurin, Kim Jackson, Sonya Halpern, Sally Harrell, Gail Davenport, Kenya Wicks
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70206

> The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr172.md?full=1