Jericho District, Hartford, VT - Leo Richard Zacharski, MD, 81, died on August 23, 2019. He was born October 1, 1937 in Detroit, Michigan, son of Chester and Marion (Morrison) Zacharski. He and his wife, Patricia Isabelle (Barr) Zacharski lived in Hartford, Vermont since January 1970.

Leo grew up in Warren, Michigan graduating from Lincoln High School in 1955. He attended Wayne State University and then received his MD degree in 1962 from Wayne State Medical School in Detroit. He served an internship at Harper Hospital in Detroit followed by a residency in internal medicine and subspecialty training in hematology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He served as a Captain in the US Army Medical Corp from 1966 to 1968. He was appointed Assistant Professor of Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School and Staff Physician at the VA Hospital in White River Junction, Vermont in January 1970. He specialized in diagnosis and treatment of patients with bleeding and clotting disease, and also iron overload disease. While early motivations were toward medical missions, the heart of his career was devotion to biomedical research believing that he could best serve humanity through discovery and innovation. He was awarded Research Career Development positions at the VA hospital and became the Associate Chief of Staff for Research there in 1985, a position held until retirement from the VA in 2004. During his tenure with the VA he authored over 250 published papers and over 100 abstracts. He served as Chairman of three National VA Cooperative Studies. He achieved the rank of Professor of Medicine in 1985 and became Professor of Medicine Active Emeritus in 2013. Devotion to his "calling" prompted continuation of his research following retirement. His most productive years followed retirement during which he coined the term, "ferrotoxic disease", referring to diseases of aging caused by oxidative stress due to progressive iron accumulation. He was a member of the American College of Physicians, American Society of Hematology, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, International BioIron Society and East-West Iron Club; and served on the Medical Advisory Board of the Iron Disorders Institute ( irondisorders.org ). His personal Christian faith prompted deep appreciation of the elegant intricacy and beauty of the "natural order" which was the basis for his devotion to biomedical research.

Leo married his college sweetheart, the love of his life and best friend, Patricia Isabelle Barr, on May 25, 1963 in Hazel Park, Michigan, beginning a 56-year bond of love and devotion. They welcomed a son, Paul Leo, in 1968 (currently of Ovid, New York) and a daughter, Ann Patricia, in 1970 (currently of Camden, SC). Leo and Pat maintained their homestead in the Jericho National Historic District of Hartford as a place of comfort and rest for their children and three grand daughters, Emma Ann and Jenna Josephine Strobel of Camden, SC, and Zoe Brielle Zacharski of Ovid, NY. He and his wife were members of the Jericho Community Club, Hartford Historical Society, and Valley Bible Church where he served as Elder and both served as Sunday school teachers. He and Pat were avid students of the Bible that they found as an endless source of encouragement and guidance. Leo had a special love for the members of their home fellowship group which he helped to lead for many years. They enjoyed sharing their home and their lives for fellowship with others.

Leo loved music of all kinds (except Gregorian Chants and Hard Rock) and served as church pianist for many years. He had a special fondness for World War II era love songs and was known to shed a tear or two during romantic movies. He also greatly appreciated all things hand made, a love he acquired from his father (a carpenter) and paternal uncle (a professional cabinet maker). He made several items of furniture for their home and, together with his "Deere" friend, John, built several stone walls on their property. These characteristics compensated for his total lack of athletic skills. His only regret was that he rarely got his coveted jellyroll that he considered a fine desert.

Leo is survived by his wife, Pat, of Hartford, VT; son, Paul, of Ovid, New York; daughter, Ann, of Camden, SC; sisters Carol Cooper of Huntertown, Indiana, and Janice Guthrie of Lynchburg, VA; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and many precious friends and neighbors. Leo is predeceased by his parents and sister, Delores.

Visiting hours will be held Tuesday morning, August 27, from 10-11AM in the Parlor at Valley Bible Church (851 Fairview Terrace, White River Jct., VT).  Funeral services will be held at 11AM at Valley Bible Church followed by a reception.   Burial will be held later that day at 2PM in the Hartford Cemetery in White River Jct., VT.

Memorial contributions maybe made to the Jericho Community Club (c/o Becky Chollet, 2210 Jericho Street, White River Jct., VT 05001) or the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative and Hospice Care (1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03766).