Friends, family, music, sports, dogs
Zack was a people person, a bit of a troublemaker, and a trusted support system. He loved sports and knew endless details about his favorite teams. He lived for the Georgia Bulldogs and loved going to see the Red Sox. He played baseball, basketball, and roller hockey.
Zack wasn’t always the easiest kid in the classroom, sometimes goofing off and imitating the teacher to get the other kids to laugh. While he liked to play the class clown, this was not his only role at school; he was also exceptionally sharp and dearly loved by many of his teachers. He had an innate intellectual curiosity that lent itself to academics, scoring in the top percentiles on the SATs.
While Zack had many interests and hobbies, music was ranked above all else. And when it came to instruments, the electric guitar was his most prized possession. Springsteen, Phish, and the Grateful Dead were Zack’s idols. His mother, Robin, said she knew things had taken a turn when Zack pawned his guitar.
At four, Zack lost his father. As an only child, he grew up exceptionally close to his mom. The pair regularly went on trips with their extended family, skiing every winter and to the beach in the summer. Robin was an essential support for Zack, and one of the last texts he sent was to her. He wrote, “Mom, if it wasn’t for you, I would be really sunk.”
Zack was tough on himself, yet everywhere he went, he made friends. Regardless of background, age, or demographic, Zack connected with all types of folks. In his 12-step meetings, he was always a source of support, insight, and friendship. One of his former girlfriends said, “Zack had such a big heart. I wish he had made enough room in there for himself.”
Zack worked as a camp counselor, a server, and a dog groomer. He adored dogs, his own and other people’s. He planned on going back to college. He dreamt of finding true love and having a family. He was young and full of hope.
Zack’s persistent spirit lives on in Robin, whose activism on her son’s behalf has been a true force of nature. Robin helped pass the GA 911 Medical Amnesty Law in 2014, which provides legal protection for the victim and caller when they call 911 for medical assistance at the scene of a drug overdose. Robin also co-founded GA Overdose Prevention, which has distributed over 250,000 Naloxone doses in the state to high-risk individuals. She teaches classes on harm reduction and Naloxone administration at the Georgia Council for Recovery, the Georgia Association of Recovery Residences, and elsewhere. She dearly misses Zack’s heart, his wit, and his spirit.
Zack’s mother, Robin Elliott, provided the information for this narrative.
August 25, 1989–May 1, 2011–Age 21
Portrait Artist: Clayton Conner
Narrative Writer: Livia Cohen
