Zachary Wichot

Zachary S. Wichot, age 66, of Wayne, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, August 30, 2020 while his family was lovingly by his side.

Zak was born in Passaic and raised in Clifton. He graduated from Clifton High School with the Class of 1972 where he starred as a Clifton Mustang on the school’s football and field and track team.

After high school, he was recruited by William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa to play football for the William Penn Statesmen. While attending college, he studied chemistry.

After college, Zak returned to Clifton, New Jersey and began a 23 year career as a mechanic with Frank Taibi and Sons where he worked on diesel engines and installed commercial and residential boilers. In reality, it could be said that Zak’s career with the company actually spanned more years than that. Already as a young boy, Zak displayed a natural, God-given talent for taking complex mechanical things apart and putting them back together. Such activities fed his curiosity of how things work and, since he lived so close to this company, he’d often hang out at the shop to pick the skilled minds of the seasoned mechanics. They took a liking to him and by the mere age of twelve, Zak was driving the big, stick-shift company trucks around the parking lot.

Zak ultimately left that job and went to work for Breure Sheet Metal Company, also of Clifton, where he installed heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems in residential and commercial applications. After retiring in 2018, Zak still kept his license active to help out his brother Greg with jobs.

Zak met his wife Donna in 1984. His father Pete and brother Greg were in the plumbing business and were doing a big job at the company where Donna was working. One day Zak’s father got to talking with Donna and came to realize she was single. Not being a man to mince words, he let Donna know that his son Zak was single too and asked for her phone number, suggesting that maybe they should go out on a date. Although Donna was hesitant at first she provided her phone number and a few weeks later, Zak worked up the nerve and gave her a call. Their first date was to the former Victoria Station Restaurant on Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne. They fell in love and married on June 7, 1986 at the Preakness Reformed Church in Wayne. A year-and-a-half later, they welcomed a beautiful baby daughter which they named Kelly.

Zak was a man with many varied interests. He was a master at working on anything with an engine. This skill started at the age of thirteen when he and his brother Greg built a go-cart and got pulled over by the police while driving it on Route 46. Developing a keen interest in Harley Davidson motorcycles, he rebuilt a 1967 model from the ground up and later bought the 2003 100th anniversary Screamin Eagle Road King model as a homage to the brand and everything that he loved about motorcycles. He thoroughly enjoyed that bike and got a big kick out of accessorizing it with all kinds of personalized modifications. Most recently, Zak had been working on the restoration of a 1975 Chevy Corvette Stingray. Needless to say, much of this work took place in his garage – his getaway and happy place.

Those that knew Zak well will always have a fond memory of seeing him in that garage, working on one of his projects usually smoking his pipe and listening to music all while enjoying the company of his faithful sidekick and companion Nala.  He came to love Nala so much that it sparked an interest in supporting an organization called Long Island Bulldog Rescue whose mission is to provide education, prevention, intervention, and adaption services to ensure that all English bulldogs enjoy long, healthy lives in a loving, safe, appropriate homes where they are provided the life-long care they require.

Friendly, outgoing and approachable, whether greeting them while taking Nala for a walk, or hanging with the guys who would stop by his garage, Zak truly enjoyed the company of his neighbors. He had a heart of gold too. When a family member, friend, or neighbor needed help, Zak was always willing to fix the problem. And even though he is no longer physically in this world, his generous heart continues to bless others through his desire to be an organ donor. Through his gift of tissue and long bone donation, other humans in need will have a new lease on life because of Zak’s altruistic, caring spirit.

It was evident to all that Donna was the love of Zak’s life and he was hers. Every morning he would verbally express his love and admiration for her. Then, concerned for her safety, he’d tell her to be careful driving to work. He also called Kelly a few times a week to check in with her, tell her that he loved her and that he was always thinking of her, just because.

Zak will be truly missed by those whose lives he touched and who had the honor and pleasure of knowing him.

Zak was the beloved husband of Donna (nee Drake), blessed in marriage for 34 years. He was the loving father of: Kelly and husband Michael Messina of Wayne, and Melissa and husband Bill Kohlman of West Orange; adored grandfather of: Matigan and Allison Kohlman; dear brother of Gregory and wife Barbara Wichot of Wayne; dear brother-in-law of: Patricia Drake of Wayne, and Asuncion Drake of Chula Vista, CA and her late husband Robert Drake; uncle of Amanda and husband Marc Dreyer, Pamela Wichot, Jeffrey Wichot and Paul Drake; and great-uncle of Reagan Dreyer.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Zak’s name are asked to consider one of the following two charitable organizations:

The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research

By Mail:

Donation Processing,

The Michael J. Fox Foundation,

P.O. Box 5014

Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014

Online:  https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate

Long Island Bulldog Rescue

By Mail:

Long Island Bulldog Rescue

PO Box 239

Stony Brook, NY 11790

Online: http://longislandbulldogrescue.org/