The Warfield Brothers
Justin and Zack exemplified brotherhood; the practice of unconditional loyalty, reliability, shared honor, love and respect between brothers.
They never had a single fight. That sounds impossible, but it was true. Even with an extra bedroom in the house, neither wanted his own. They shared a pair of bunk beds until they left for college, not because they had to, but because they liked being together. It was the beginning of a lifelong friendship that would eventually reach far beyond the two of them.
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They had their own language, a running conversation of one-liners, inside jokes, Grateful Dead lyrics, obscure musical references, sports statistics, and stories that grew funnier with every retelling. A single word, a familiar song, or a look across the room could bring back some ridiculous moment from 20 years ago. They had steel trap memories. Between the two of them they collectively remembered everything important, especially the funny stories, and somehow made everyone else feel part of the joke.
As their worlds grew, so did their circle. From Woodsboro Elementary to Chapel Hill and Notre Dame, from Zack’s years in Boston to Justin’s life in Manhattan Beach, they collected people everywhere they went. Childhood friends became college friends’ friends. Roommates became family. Friends brought friends, who brought more friends, until it became nearly impossible to remember who had met whom first. Zack and Justin had an extraordinary gift for making introductions, hosting gatherings, maintaining friendships across decades and distances, and bringing people into the fold. If you belonged to one of them, you soon belonged to both.
Perhaps that is what explains the remarkable community that still surrounds them. They knew that friendship meant showing up, staying connected, laughing at yourself, remembering where you came from, and always making room for one more person at the table. They didn’t just maintain friendships; they connected entire communities that might otherwise never have known one another.
Look around at the people who have come together in their names. Some remember two little boys running around Woodsboro. Some remember Notre Dame weekends, Boston apartments, California sunsets, golf courses, concerts, BBT classrooms, or long nights filled with music and laughter. Others never met either brother at all. They came through a friend, or a friend of a friend, and somehow became part of the family too.
Fifteen years of the 5K have carried that family across continents, countries, and generations, connecting people who might never have crossed paths otherwise. The extraordinary thing about Zack and Justin is that the brotherhood they shared never really belonged to just the two of them. They spent their lives inviting others into it.
Justin Ray Warfield
Justin Warfield believed in people. He believed that people were capable of far more than they imagined.
Whether he was teaching a struggling student, training for an endurance race, or encouraging a friend over a cup of coffee, he had an extraordinary ability to help people see possibilities in themselves they couldn’t yet see.
After beginning his career as a teacher, Justin moved to Southern California, where he and Zack first founded Beach Brothers Tutoring in the South Bay. Zack left California for the East and for the next fourteen years, Justin built more than a successful tutoring business. He created a place where students felt challenged, encouraged, and genuinely seen.
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Justin understood that confidence is built one small success at a time.
He believed lasting change rarely happens all at once. Instead, it comes from small decisions repeated consistently, one question understood, one encouraging conversation, one workout completed, one mile at a time. He often talked about the ripple effect: how one positive choice can quietly alter the course of an entire lifetime.
He lived that philosophy himself. He inspired that in others.
Justin embraced movement as a way of life. He completed truly unbelievable feats of endurance; marathons, Ironman competitions, ultramarathons, the JFK 50 Mile, and the TransRockies Run (look that one up- crazy!)
He wasn't chasing medals, though he did amass quite a few. He ran and rode because he loved the process of becoming a little stronger every day.
Outside of work, Justin found joy in California sunshine, long bike rides, healthy food, great coffee, good conversations, and music. He was a devoted Grateful Dead fan, especially Bob Weir, and his quick wit and sarcastic sense of humor kept friends laughing wherever he went.
For all of his accomplishments, Justin remained remarkably humble. His greatest satisfaction came from watching someone else discover what they were capable of.
His legacy will live on in every student who gained confidence, every friend he encouraged, and every person who chose to believe that small, consistent acts of effort and kindness can change a life.
![Zack Warfield [placeholder main photo, Hannah to pick]](https://i0.wp.com/warfieldbrothers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/19160014.jpg?resize=768%2C509&ssl=1)
Zachary Greene Warfield
Zack Warfield lived with an extraordinary combination of brilliance and joy.
He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in mechanical engineering before going on to earn a perfect 5.0 GPA in aeronautical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
His impressive career included work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, designing critical components of the Mars Rover. His name is on Mars, inscribed on the rover. Such a fitting legacy for a man always looking to the horizon of science and human potential. A real live rocket scientist.
He served our country overseas through his work in the intelligence community, and later co-founded Omnis Inc, a successful IC consulting firm. His work challenged him to solve some of the world’s most complex problems.
Yet those who knew Zack rarely begin by talking about his résumé. They remember his kindness and humility. We learned of many of his accomplishments after he passed away. Zack was never one to boast, or brag. Maybe that's because he knew there was always more to learn.
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Zack was endlessly fascinated by the world and the people in it. He looked at the world with the wonder of a child. He asked thoughtful questions, listened carefully, and had an uncanny ability to make everyone around him feel seen and important. Conversations with Zack often left people thinking a little differently than they had before.
He approached life with excitement, always learning and discovering something new. Friends often described him as giddy. There was a lightness in Zack. We all knew he was extraordinary, but he was also just a big kid sometimes. He loved donuts, candy, ketchup, condiments of any kind, junk food, more candy, cartoons, travel, and anything that sparked wonder. He never lost the ability to be delighted by truly simple things.
For all of his accomplishments, Zack remained remarkably humble. He never sought attention or recognition. He cared far more about ideas than accolades and far more about people than titles.
His intelligence was exceptional. His kindness was unforgettable. That combination continues to inspire everyone fortunate enough to have known him.
