Dr. Frank W. Zak

Dr. Frank W. Zak, age 94, of Lynn, died Monday, March 12, 2012.

Born in Gill, MA, Dr. Zak was the son of Polish immigrants, the late Frank and Mary (Niedbala) Zak. He attended Michigan State University and later Middlesex University (now Brandeis University), where he was awarded his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM) in 1942.

Dr. Zak served his country stateside during WWII as a food inspector for the United States Army. It was during his service in the Army that he met his wife, Leocadia Wolak, in Washington, DC. They married in 1946.

Dr. and Mrs. Zak moved to Lynn in 1947 where they raised their three children and owned and operated Zak Animal Hospital, which changed its name to Lynn Animal Clinic in the 1970s. He retired in 2009 and was able to practice veterinary medicine so long due to the love and support of his wife, Leocadia, who worked side by side with him.

Dr. Zak dedicated his life to the care and well-being of animals in the City of Lynn and surrounding communities. He was also a strong advocate for the advancement of the veterinary profession. Dr. Zak served as trustee for the Veterinary Scholarship Trust of New England, was a past president of the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association and was a past president of the Veterinary Association of the North Shore. He was a recipient of the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Zak was an active member of these organizations in addition to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Zak was also a long-time active member of the St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Lynn, until its closing in 2004, where he served as a past president of the Holy Name Society and was a member of the Polish National Alliance.

Dr. Zak is survived by his wife of 65 years Leocadia (Wolak) Zak, his son Francis Zak and his wife Patricia of Longmeadow, MA; his two daughters Mary Archambault and her husband Leo of Lynn and Leocadia Zak and her husband Kenneth Hansen of Washington, DC; his two granddaughters Elizabeth (Archambault) Stank and her husband Christopher of Lynn and Leocadia Archambault of Lynn; his two great- grandchildren Amelia and Aiden Stank of Lynn, and his brother-in-law with whom he practiced veterinary medicine, Dr. Mitchell Wolak of Salem, MA.

Dr. Zak’s funeral will be held from the CUFFE-McGINN FUNERAL HOME, 157 Maple St., Lynn on Friday at 10 AM, followed by a funeral Mass at St. Pius V Church, 215 Maple St., Lynn at 11 AM. Visiting hours will be on Thursday from 4-7 PM. Memorial donations may be made to the Dr. Frank Zak Award – Veterinary Scholarship Trust of New England, PO Box 3221, North Attleboro, MA 02761.