r with Michael Jackson (not that Michael Jackson), and dabbled in sculpture, etching, acrylics and watercolors. He was highly creative. Not one to sit idly by, he was active in football (#76), wrestling and intramural basketball as an adult. Many Sundays after church he would meet with buddies to hoop it up -- sometimes formally, sometimes less so. But he had a romantic side that was manifested when a 14-year-old girl's relentless pursuit brought out the lover in him. This is how the love story goes: It was in Arnold Epstein's band class where an 8th grade girl (first chair clarinet) caught the eye of a 9th grade drummer. (You know who we're talking about.) Every day at the end of class while waiting on the bell, Zachary was holding court with jokes that were hilarious to the junior high crowd. He had the woodwind section in stitches - especially the girls. At this adolescent stage of life, he had still retained his baby face. One girl in particular, (y'all know who we're talking about) paid a classmate a dollar to trade places in the parade lineup so that she could be next to him. His dad took a photo of that event. On their first date many years later, he showed her that picture that he'd cherished because such a cute girl was marching beside him. They attended different high schools and lost track of each other. With no Facebook or Instagram back then, stalking was much more difficult. As luck would have it, however, she was picking up her sister from UNO one afternoon and spotted him on campus. The next day she enrolled. In order to pay for school, she had a work study job at the Sweet Shop in the student center. A few weeks on the job, he noticed her working there and made visits a daily routine. A milkshake and brownie were what he said he craved. He did not let much time pass before he made his move. "I was going to invite you to a church event last weekend, but I didn't have your phone number," he said. (Play on, playa!) Giggling she tore off a blank receipt and scribbled her phone number on it. He grinned, took his snack and pimp-walked to his next class. The first date was a Star Trek movie - The Last Voyage and arcade games with pizza at Family Fun Center. Not wanting the night to end, he invited her to his house on 16th and Locust. He taught her the game of chess and they played until the sun came up. An entire week passed and no phone call. "I can't believe he wouldn't call after we had such a fantastic evening," she told friends. Fed up with the silence, she called his house. His mom answered the phone. "Zachary, one of your teachers is on the phone," she called to him. He came to the phone, concern in his voice. She quietly asked him why he hadn't called. Turns out he'd been in a bad car wreck that sent him to the hospital for a couple of days and totaled his car. She was shocked, saddened, and gleeful all at the same time. Relieved that the relationship wasn't over before it started, she urged two girlfriends to go with her to bring him a giant, chocolate chip get-well cookie. (his favorite.) They became as close as two coats of paint. If you saw one, the other was nearby. They got to know each other's families and spread their joy and happiness with those around them - especially their favorite local musicians. Zachary and Julia became the biggest jazz and R&B fans in town. But the story isn't all about sweetness and light. With those broad shoulders and club-like biceps, you'd think Zach was the intimidator. But when someone challenged him physically, it was "Scrappy" his ride-or-die chick who'd make sure they weren't messed with. "If you start with him, you'll finish with me!" she would tell anyone who got in their faces. But toward the end of his life, the pain of an arthritic hip, the disrespect from people who made assumptions about his health and severe asthma that made breathing a challenge won out over the fighter. Although many offered help, he tried to do as much on his own as possible - even cutting grass while walking with a cane. We ask that those who knew and loved Zachary to remember his smile, his happy, bouncy walk, and his pride for his family. He is gone but will never be forgotten.