In Loving Memory of Diana “Zaza” Oh: A Beacon of Light, Artistry, and Love
It is with deep sorrow and heavy hearts that we share the passing of Diana Oh, affectionately known by many as “Zaza,” who departed this world on June 17, 2025. Diana’s passing is not only a profound loss for their beloved family — including their devoted brothers, Soobin and Han — but also for an entire community that was shaped, healed, and inspired by Diana’s radiant presence, unyielding kindness, and indomitable spirit.
To know Diana was to feel seen. To be in their presence was to be held — in words, in art, in laughter, in a fierce and sacred kind of love. Zaza wasn’t just a person; they were a force. A vibrant, unapologetic truth-teller. A creator who breathed life into stories that often go untold. A friend who carried others through darkness with warmth, honesty, and the most generous heart.
Born with a soul older than most and a fire that refused to dim, Diana made space for everyone — especially those who often found the world too cruel or too loud to navigate alone. Whether through their work as a performer, writer, activist, or healer, Zaza challenged expectations, celebrated queer and trans joy, and insisted on building a world where every person had the right to be fully known and loved.
They used their voice not for applause, but for connection. Their art was political, personal, raw, and revolutionary — and yet always tender. Through theater, music, installations, and spontaneous gatherings that blurred the lines between performer and audience, Diana invited people to feel deeply and dare greatly. They used their own experiences, including their trauma, healing, and joy, to forge new spaces of liberation and radical care.
Beyond their public legacy, Diana was a sibling, a child, a protector, and a friend. Their love for Soobin and Han was profound and unwavering — a bond rooted in memories, mischief, and a fierce belief in family. Diana was the kind of sibling who cheered the loudest, listened the deepest, and held the hardest when life hurt. That love extended to chosen family too — to collaborators, co-conspirators, and a constellation of people who were lucky enough to walk with them.
“Zaza didn’t just talk about love — they lived it,” one friend shared. “They made you feel like your story mattered. Like you mattered.”
As word of Diana’s passing spread, messages poured in from around the country — from artists and activists, former students and fellow travelers, all echoing the same heartbreak: the world is dimmer without Zaza in it. And yet, their light lives on in every soul they touched. In every boundary they shattered. In every song, every poem, every late-night phone call, every vulnerable conversation that said: I see you, I love you, don’t give up.
In this time of grief, the Oh family has asked for space to mourn privately and has extended thanks for the overwhelming love and support. Plans for a celebration of life are underway, where friends, family, and community members will be invited to gather, share stories, perform, cry, laugh, and most of all — remember.
A memorial fund is being organized to honor Diana’s legacy. Donations will go toward supporting emerging queer and trans artists of color, mental health services, and the continuation of the community-building work that Zaza championed throughout their life.
As we hold this loss, let us also hold one another. Let us grieve as Diana would have wanted us to — together, honestly, fiercely, with our hearts open and our feet firmly planted in truth. Let us continue their work, speak their name, and keep the fire burning.
Rest in power, Diana “Zaza” Oh.
You changed us.
You are forever loved.
You are forever light.
