| By Amy Conlee on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 4:20 pm: Edit Post |
This is tragic news. I served with Zack Merrill in Mali for a short period of time. When I first met Zack it was in his village on EFBT. I was fortunate enough to see him in action and I can tell you that Zack was an exceptional Person and Volunteer. He was caring, charming, funny and so passionate about what he was doing in Mali. I think everyone who knew Zack would say that he was amazing and so many people will miss him. My heart goes out to the Volunteers in Mali, the Village of Kompolosso and Zack's Family and friends at home. I'm so sorry; this is a terrible, terrible loss.
Amy
Kadiatu Diallo
| By Tom Goodwin on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 4:42 pm: Edit Post |
I knew Zach in high school though I did not know that he had joined Peace Corps. He actually graduated in 1997 and not 98. This is very tragic. He was a really good guy in high school and sounds like he was an amazing volunteer. My heart goes out to him and his family.
Tom Goodwin
PCVC Dominican Republic 01-04
| By Gurney Kimebreley on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 3:50 pm: Edit Post |
zach, hey man its been a long time since you and i rode bikes together on radcliff road, the neighborhood of our childhood. i remeber you and your brother so well, whenever i have my moemnts of nostalgia i think about all of the kids in the neighborhood who we played cops and robbers with, BMX'ing everywhere, Basketball etc... You lived in my aunt and uncles old house and had a great back yard that connected to the Kit's house via a stream in the back. I would have loved to known what moved you to Mali, what made you a man of the world-stretching your social concsious and physical fibers far beyond protected bubble of dunthorpe, i am so happy to hear that you chose a path of selflessness, compassion and aggressive peace keeping. Zach, i study poltics at pizter college and am actually looking into the field of international conflict resolution. It hit me really hard when my sister lessie wrote and said you died in Africa on a peace keeping mission, i read about Africa everyday in the news and hear on NPR. emotionally and concientiously Africa is not far away and your death brought the mother country even closer. I have immense respect for you and, in my eyes, you died with courage, hope and obvioulsy fatih in something-other wise you would not have put yourself in such hostile conditions. thnak you for servicing the world. Gurney Kimberley@hotmail.com
| By michael on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 2:25 pm: Edit Post |
I'm saddened to hear that Zach is dead. His family has informed my own family that he committed suicide, hanging himself to death in his hut in his Malian village. Why did he kill himself? Some people say it was maybe Larium, who knows? But it should be a wake-up call to everyone that Larium is not as safe as it purports to be. Sad news.
| By Terri A. Nagan on Saturday, September 13, 2003 - 6:13 pm: Edit Post |
Why are there no answers? This brave young man deserves a closer investigation.