Don Zaik

William Donald Zaik of Middleton, MA died peacefully on April 12th at Beverly Hospital.
Don was born at home in Easthampton MA on August 29, 1935 to William Stanley Zajk and Jeanne Pajak Zajk. He received his BS in Business at American International College in Springfield MA.  
He served in the US Army in the Adjutant General Cap at Fort Dix, NJ from 1957-1959.  During those years, he met his future wife, Mary Esther and it was love at first sight.  They were married on October 1, 1960 and recently celebrated 60 years of marriage.  
Don’s first employment was as an underwriter at Massachusetts Mutual in Springfield MA.  In the evenings after eating a quick dinner of lamb chops or a Swanson TV dinner, he would rush off for courses at Western New England College and received his MBA in 1963.  
They were blessed with two children.  James Lawrence and wife Lynn, and daughter Elizabeth Anne (Liz) and husband Leonard Spada.  Then along came two beloved grandchildren, Jacob Louis Spada and Jessica Lani Spada.    
A move brought the family to Wayne PA where he worked at Fidelity Mutual and Provident Mutual Insurance Companies in Philadelphia.  He earned his Charter of Life Underwriting (CLU) designation in 1970.  
Don was active in the Upper Merion Jaycees serving as President.  The anit-Vietnam war movement was important to him and he became a delegate for George McGovern in 1972.  Don & Mary Esther were very active in the Marriage Encounter movement.  
In 1981, the family moved to Pittsfield MA, the beautiful Berkshires.  He became Director of Pension Plans at Berkshire Life Insurance and always loved his short daily drive to work. Upon retirement, Don served as Chairman of the Homeless Commission, volunteered at the Red Cross, and rang the bell for Christmas donations.  He found joy as he began a food pantry at St. Joseph’s Church.  He also worked as a docent at Norman Rockwell Museum. 
Don & Mary Esther loved to cruise and enjoyed wonderful adventures in Europe and the Caribbean Islands.  They moved to Danvers in 2002 to be closer to their grandchildren, Jacob and Jessie.  They loved attending all their school and sporting events and watching them grow.   They were the greatest joy in their lives and Don loved being their Papee.  
For over 20 years Don was an active member in Lifetime Learning and was President of the Salem Explorers in 2002.  Don was an active learner, loving books and listening to tapes ranging from religion, history and science.  Although a quiet man, he could always add to a conversation on any topic.  
He was involved in many Christian churches covering both Roman Catholic and mainline Protestant denominations.  He considered himself to be “born again” and was baptized in the Holy Spirit receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  He never stopped searching for God and our place in the Universe.  
Celebration of Life visitation will be held on Tuesday from 2-4pm at the Mackey Funeral Home, 128 S. Main St., Rt 114, Middleton, MA. All guests are required to wear a face-covering and follow all Covid protocols. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Boston Wounded Warriors Project or Doctors Without Borders at doctorswithoutborders.org. :

Wounded Warrior Project
P.O. Box 758516
Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516

Doctors Without Borders
P.O. Box 5023
Hagerstown, MD 21741-5023

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