Remembering Trevor Zohs
I wanted to take a moment to honour someone who shaped not just my life, but the way I approach my work and the people I help every day.
On 13 October 2025, my Poppa, Trevor Zohs, passed away after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Trevor was a beloved teacher and later an immigration and humanitarian lawyer. He loved the mountains, mountain biking, and lifting weights heavier than humanly possible. But more than that, he loved people — fiercely, selflessly, and without judgment.
He was my guiding light through life and a huge part of the reason I do what I do.
The Roots of Who I Am
Poppa played a massive role in shaping who I am today. On the surface, I inherited his obsession with fitness, followed him and his wife Carole into a career in immigration, and even find myself tempted by mountain biking.
But on a deeper level, he taught me how to think critically, love wholeheartedly, and lead with compassion, qualities that I draw on daily as an immigration adviser. Poppa always stood up for the people he cared about, and I was lucky enough to be one of them. No matter what kind of antics I got up to growing up, he made me feel like he was on my side. He had a gift for guiding you while making you believe the decision was your own, which is probably why he was such a beloved teacher.
The Early Days
Poppa’s home was the first place I ever lived when my parents were navigating new parenthood. He was there through my entire childhood, dragged into fairy shops on Saturday mornings, enduring endless hours of Care Bears videos (to the point he once called Blockbuster to ask them to hide the tape), riding my trike to the bakery for pink-iced buns, and even partaking in the synchronised swimming routines I created for us.
He was also notorious for experimenting with health trends. I’ll never forget the morning after my 8th birthday sleepover when he served a group of eight-year-old girls bran and soy milk for breakfast. Later, after reading about soy and oestrogen, he quickly declared, “Don’t want moobs!” and that was the end of that phase.
Teenage Years and Life Lessons
As I grew up, Poppa was still right there, patient, curious, and always up for a laugh. When I was a teenager, he tolerated giggly sleepovers and even offered “fit checks” before we went out. We’d cruise around Ponsonby blasting 2Pac, diving into deep conversations about life, purpose, and the world around us.
He was the person I could tell anything to, patient, never judgmental, and always wise.
Adulthood and Shared Purpose
When I first became a mum, he extended his love effortlessly to my husband and children. He took my son for his first fluffy, inspired my daughter’s love of history, and was the first person my youngest spoke to when she was too shy to talk to anyone else.
In my early 20s, I had the privilege of working alongside him as I learned the ropes of immigration. Whenever the “boss” (Carole) was out, I’d sneak down to his office where we’d gossip about the Kardashians or debate the politics of the time. Those chats meant more to me than he probably realised.
Resilience and Reflection
Over the years, life moved quickly. I relocated to the South Island but still bombarded him with photos from my adventures. During his two-year battle with cancer, he stayed resilient with a mantra of one step at a time. Even then, his focus was always on others, checking in, making sure everyone he loved was okay.
When we spoke, only a few minutes were about his illness. The rest was spent debating US politics, world events, and life’s bigger questions, just like always.
I was fortunate to visit him several times during this period and to sit by his side in his final weeks. While my heart aches, I find comfort knowing he was surrounded by the people he loved and that I was one of them.
Forever My Person
Poppa has always been my person, my sounding board, my biggest supporter, my quiet anchor. I’ll miss being able to pick up the phone for his gems of wisdom, but I know his lessons will stay with me forever.
He was kind, intellectual, and deeply compassionate, the kind of person who made everyone around him better. And when I help someone navigate their immigration journey, I like to think I’m carrying a piece of him with me — his belief in fairness, his empathy, and his courage to always stand up for others.
Thank you, Poppa.
For the guidance, the laughter, the lessons, and the love.
You are the reason I am who I am, and I will keep making you proud.
Written by Jamee Zohs
Licensed Immigration Adviser
IAA201200838