Zachary Fujisaki Mar didn't let a learning disability keep him from living a full life.

The 19-year-old from Kaimuki loved to swim. He attended Kapi'olani Community College. He was an assistant scoutmaster, and an actor and singer.

In 2007 he traveled to Shanghai, China, to compete in the Special Olympics' World Summer Games as a high school junior, placing second in the 100-meter butterfly, third in the 200-meter freestyle and fourth in the 100-meter freestyle.

The word "no" was not in his vocabulary, said his father, Dexter Mar.

"He liked all the sports," the elder Mar said. "He had a learning disability and Asperger syndrome. He didn't have an easy time, but he was quite courageous."

On Jan. 18, Zachary Mar was in the pool at practice, gearing up for his next challenge at the summer Special Olympics, when he died of an apparent drowning, said his father. He had just finished a lap at the 'Iolani pool and was hanging on to the edge of the pool. The next thing anyone noticed was that he had slipped underwater unconscious, Dexter Mar said.

He had been under water for about a minute, and neither his father nor lifeguards and paramedics could revive him.

"He was a year-round swimmer," said Dan Epstein, Special Olympics' vice president of sports. "Zach was the epitome of what we like to see in an athlete. He was humble, but he worked really hard. He listened to his coaches and always worked to improve himself.

"This is tragic, to be sure."

Mar graduated from Assets School in 2008 and began attending Kapi'olani Community College this fall, his dad said. He earned a 3.6 grade-point average, all without any special handling by his professors.

"We, of course, thought he was an exceptional kind of kid," Dexter Mar said. "When he went to college, he found it to be a perfect place for him.

"Everyone did everything they could at the time. It was just one of those things. We miss him a lot."

Mar is survived by his parents, Faye and Dexter Mar. Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin. Flowers are welcome and donations can be made to the "Zachary Fujisaki Mar Foundation to support Special Olympics Hawaii."