George Zakarian
Newport News, Va. — George “Zak” Zakarian, 72, of Newport News, and formerly of Norwich, died peacefully in his home on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018, under the loving care of his family. He was born in Cambridge, Mass., on Feb. 21, 1946 and enlisted in the Navy in 1966. He served 10 years as a torpedoman in the service, including tours on the USS Francis Scott Key, USS Entemedor, USS Bergall and USS Batfish. He would spend the next 31 years working in the Heavyweight Torpedo Program as a federal employee until his retirement in 2008. He was revered as a “pioneer” in the program with significant contributions in development and deployment of this significant defense program during the height of the Cold War. He mentored hundreds of young sailors and civilians during his career and was the “go-to guy” for problem solving regarding his vast knowledge and experience. His dedication and initiative was rewarded in 2003, with him receiving the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service award, a distinct honor among Navy civilians.
He was loved by all who knew him and was always willing to lend a “helping hand.” He had a great love for riding his motorcycle and playing his guitar. His fondest memories were vacationing in Gatlinburg, Tenn., and riding his bike through the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains.
He is survived by those left to cherish his memory, his loving wife, Barbara; his daughter, Carolyn Trasko and husband, Tom; son, Christopher and wife, Rhonda; stepdaughter, Emily Hyde; brothers, John, William and Roy; sister, Roseann Lake and husband, Bob; and grandchild, Kyle Holland.
Funeral arrangements are private at the request of the family. — Committee of the Whole, 7:30 p.m., Municipal Building.
— Board of Assessment Appeals, 4 p.m., Town Hall, Finance Conference Room; Board of Education Finance Committee special meeting, 5 p.m., Town Hall Annex, Community Room 2; Board of Education, 6 p.m., Town Hall Annex, Community Room 1.
— Town Council Committee of the Whole, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall Annex, Community Room 1; Town Council special meeting, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall Annex, Community Room 1; Noank Fire District Park Commission, 7 p.m., Noank Fire House; Planning Commission, 7 p.m., Town Hall Annex, Community Room 2.
— Groton Housing Authority, 3 p.m., Grasso Gardens; Inland Wetlands Agency, 7 p.m., Town Hall Annex, Community Room 2; Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m., Town Hall Annex, Community Room 1.
— Noank School Public Gardens Task Force special meeting, 6 p.m., Town Hall Annex, Community Room 2.
— Water Pollution Control Authority, 7 p.m., Town Hall Annex, Council Chambers.
— Senior Citizens Commission, 1:30 p.m., Senior Citizens Center; Town Council, 7 p.m., Town Hall Annex, Council Chambers. — Open Space Commission, 7 p.m., Town Hall. — Public Safety Commission, 6 p.m., Town Hall, Council Chambers;
— Affordable Housing Committee, 7 p.m., Wheeler High School, Media Center.
— Affordable Housing Committee, 6 p.m., Wheeler High School, Media Center; Board of Education, 7 p.m., Wheeler Gymatorium Band Room.
— Conservation Commission, 6 p.m., New Town Hall, Conference Room; Water Pollution Control Authority, 7 p.m., Old Town Hall, Conference Room.
— Redevelopment Agency, 5 p.m., City Hall.
— Harbor Management Commission, 5 p.m., City Hall; Commission on the City Plan, 7 p.m., City Hall, Council Chambers.
— Board of Education Policy Committee, 4 p.m., central office, 90 Town St.; 19 North Cliff St. Committee of Sale, 60 Sixth St. Committee of Sale and Board of Review of Dangerous Buildings, 5 p.m., 23 Union St.; Recreation Advisory Board, 6 p.m., Recreation Department.
— ADA Committee, 11 a.m., Town Hall; Cedar Hollow meeting, 1 p.m., Town Hall; Sound View Commission, 7:30 p.m., Shoreline Community Center; Town Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, Auditorium. — Eightmile River Watershed Committee, 5 p.m., Town Hall, Room 1. — Planning and Zoning Commission, 7 p.m., Town Hall, Room 1. — Zoning Board of Appeals 7 p.m., Town Hall, Room 2. — LEARN Executive Committee, 8:30 a.m., 44 Hatchetts Hill Road, Old Lyme.
— Recreation Commission, 6 p.m., Human Services Building; Conservation Commission,7 p.m., police station.
— Water Pollution Control Authority, 6:30 p.m., police station.
— Board of Selectmen,7 p.m., police station.
— Board of Education Teaching and Learning Committee, 6 p.m., Stonington High School, library.
— Design Review Board, 4:30 p.m., Town Hall; Planning & Zoning Commission, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall.
— Senior Citizens Commission, 4 p.m., Community Center, 24 Rope Ferry Road; Recreation and Parks Commission, 4 p.m., Community Center; Senior Citizens Commission Planned Giving Sub-Committee special meeting, 4:30 p.m., Community Center; Board of Selectmen special meeting, 5 p.m., Town Hall.
— Conservation Commission, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall.