Albert A. Zuniga; Film Editor

Albert A. Zuniga, a film editor and amateur baseball player and coach, has died. He was 85.

A San Fernando Valley resident since 1922, Zuniga was most recently a resident of North Hollywood. He died Tuesday of pneumonia, according to his family.

Born outside of El Paso, Tex., Zuniga came to Glendale as a child and later played baseball at Glendale High School. After playing for various local clubs, he eventually attracted the attention of the Paramount Cubs, an amateur team sponsored by Paramount Studios.

Zuniga said that he would only play for the team if employed by the studio, so in 1928 he joined Paramount’s labor gang. He later moved to the studio’s publicity department, eventually editing previews of coming attractions until his retirement in 1976.

During his tenure at the studio, Zuniga continued to play for the Cubs at fields in Hollywood in Culver City. After the Cubs disbanded in the 1940s, Zuniga worked as a coach for an amateur team sponsored by the Brooklyn Dodgers, developing young talent for the big leagues. Later, Zuniga left the club and started a traveling team under the sponsorship of the Cleveland Indians.

In recent years, Zuniga sponsored a baseball team for young athletes in Studio City’s Hazeltine Park, financing the club with his pension money and donated funds.

Zuniga is survived by his wife of 58 years, Violet; son Albert Zuniga, Jr.; daughter Rene DiGregorio; sister Frances Ramirez; two brothers, Art Zuniga and Tony Zuniga; and three grandchildren.

A rosary will be held Sunday at 7 p.m. at J.T. Oswald Mortuary, 11020 Camarillo St., North Hollywood. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 10800 Moorpark St., North Hollywood.