Pilar at her post

I’ve been a SF 49ers season ticket holder since 1998.
During those 11 years I had noticed an “usher” who was a little gray around the temples and was a constant presence at games and at 49ers special events.
I was curious about her.  She seemed to be a fixture at all things 49ers.
Was there a story here? Turns out there was.
Her name is Pilar Zatarain.
I recently spoke with Pilar and asked her about her connection to the SF 49ers fro whom she has worked for 13 years and 3 months.
I asked Pilar how she came to be a long term employee for the 49ers.

Pilar says it all started when she was dropping off her adopted kids, three boys who are now  25, 27 and 29 (by the way only the 29 year old is Niner fan) to work at the game.
Pilar has been a Niner fan for about 25 years and decided that since she had to drop the kids off every Sunday she might as well go to work too.
That temporary situation has turned into a 13 year love affair.

Pilar on the job

Pilar is now the Supervisor of Will Call and still enjoying the job.
Pilar says she is a people person and really enjoys meeting and being around people.
She was a teacher before she retired.
Pilar works at the park on game day from 8 am to 8 pm then she heads home to San Jose.

I asked Pilar who her favorite 49ers player was, her answer, Roger Craig.
Pilar says that Roger Craig treats her like family.
I asked Pilar which Niners coach was her favorite.
She didn’t hesitate to name Mike Singletary.
Pilar says the Coach, Jed York and the York family have all treated her wonderfully.
She sees Jed York as young upcoming businessman who will do great things for the Niners.

Pilar meets all the players after the game in the Players Parking Lot and she invited to all the special events the Niners host. She is looking forward to the team building a new stadium in Santa Clara.
That location, she feels, is a great location for her and for the fans.

The San Francisco Forty Niners are 3-1 this season, as of this writing.
There is excitement in the air and a hint of playoffs in the Bay Area breezes.
With faithful fans and employees like Pilar, the SF 49ers are already winners.